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When clients start working with us to develop a credible business brand based on a memorable and visible personal brand, we find it often works well if the client is also working with a life coach or has received some type of coaching in the past.  This is especially  true for those clients who are working on establishing a new business for the first time or have transitioned out of corporate America.  I interviewed Sara Clark-Williams of Launch Your Life to help our readers understand what a life coach really does and how it could be of benefit.

Puris:  What type of coach are you?

Williams: I am a professional life and business coach. I work primarily with fempreneurs (female entrepreneurs) to create the life they want and get the best business results possible. This process often includes a variety of focus areas including clarifying desires and goals, developing a realistic plan of action and the stuff that can help or hinder us like how we manage our time, prioritization skills, perception of balance, habits and mindset.

Puris: How did you get started in coaching?

Williams:  It’s a bit cliché, but true- I have always served the role of “coach” since I can remember. People have come to me for support, insight, advice, guidance and encouragement for years across a variety of work and volunteer roles. I didn’t realize it was coaching until I began to research alternatives to my corporate job. I started a corporate job just out of graduate school in 2004 and although I had learned about and had experience with leadership and management coaching, I hadn’t even thought about having my own coaching business. Within 2 years I discovered that although my corporate job grew me, I knew it wasn’t truly allowing me to express my true purpose and gifts to the fullest extent.

My journey has been an inspiration and source of wisdom with my clients and in assisting others to embrace their passion and purpose and make their dreams a reality. Anything is really possible even if where you are isn’t where you want to be. It all plays an important role and all the experiences (successes and failures) are most useful when you gather lessons along the way.

Puris: How does someone know they need a coach or would benefit from working with one?

Williams:  If you have been thinking about it already that’s an indicator that it’s’ time to take action and work with a coach. Some might be thinking, “I really need to kick my business into high gear, but I’m not sure where to start,” “I am excited to launch my business and could really use some direction and support” or even “I’ve been in business for many years and need a new perspective, someone to hold me accountable to push myself to greater levels.” Another common sentiment I hear is “I feel overwhelmed and scattered in my time and energy and could use some help to get focused and more efficient with my time.” If you are thinking any of these or something similar you are in a great spot to benefit the most from hiring a coach. Listen to your gut and heed your own insight about what or whom you need to move forward.

So stop and think to yourself, what areas of your personal and business life could be enhanced via the use of a life/business coach?  Are you managing your time and resources as best you can? Only then can we build you a brand that is well-rounded and successful and represents a credible and memorable you.

If you know me, you know I can relate anything and everything to personal brand management.  This week’s post is no exception.

dreamstime.com

I work with many business owners and CEOs on the topic of compassion. Sadly,  it seems the word does not have a place in business for many people.  Long ago, I realized the importance of compassion in business and realized that my business thrived as a result of it.

Compassion is simply a means by which we put ourselves in another’s shoes and see the world through their eyes.   It may not always be a pretty view. In fact, the other party’s view point may be completely foreign, hard to get to and even ludicrous at times. 

However, that is the point of success and personal brand optimization.  If we are able to stretch ourselves to a point where we can, and are willing to, see the other party’s point of view, then the end result is success- success as an individual and success as a business owner. 

In order to see what your prospects and clients need from you, you must be able to put yourself in their shoes.  Strong personal brands are made of those people who know what it is like to be on the “other side” of the equation- this allows you to understand my needs and my emotional triggers so you can communicate with me well.

Women are more natural at displaying compassion in part because of our mothering instincts.  Notice, I did not say that men cannot be compassionate.  In fact, compassionate men are very powerful and effective.  So if you are a man reading this, please don’t dismiss your capacity for compassion and personal brand growth.

Stop and think- do you have compassion for your colleagues, prospects, and clients?  Do you get that their needs may be different from yours and that their emotional quotient may be higher or lower than yours?  When you do, you’ve got a successful brand.