20 Lessons From Real Clients Who Hired A Business Coach
An entrepreneur's initial knowledge and experiences, along with the skills they gain over time, play a crucial role in the early success of their business. However, continued success requires an ongoing commitment to learning new skills, taking on different responsibilities and developing as a leader.
Rather than attempting to go it alone, an increasing number of entrepreneurs are turning to business coaches to gain insights and level up. Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members discuss their experiences with hiring a business coach. Read on to learn more about important lessons they've learned, as well as how those lessons still impact them today.
1. Seek Feedback From Outsiders
I've hired a business coach and still use one to this day. The biggest impact my coach had on my business was giving me an outsider's perspective; they always gave me honest feedback and didn't sugarcoat things. We tend to believe that the processes and systems we build are the best, but we need to hear true feedback to learn and grow. - Andrey Shelokovskiy , Nomad Painting
2. View Time As A Resource
My coach completely changed how I see time, helping me understand that time is a resource like money or talent. Every meeting I accept has a cost. Audit your calendar like a budget to determine which tasks truly need you. What can be delegated or cut? I'll be honest and say that my calendar is still too full, but I now reflect on this more often before auto-accepting requests. That awareness alone has shifted how I lead. - Patricio Larrea , The Humphrey Group
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
3. Use Reflection To Learn And Grow
My coach taught me how to use reflection to learn and grow. I'm a founder without a manager to guide my development, and my coach empowers me to pause and process. After every milestone, my coach asks, 'Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?' That one question turns every experience into a lesson I carry forward as a leader. - Ahva Sadeghi , Symba
4. Understand Your Values As A Whole Person
I hired a business coach when I turned 40 to help me evaluate where I wanted to take my business as I moved into the second half of my career. They helped me check my ego and really understand what I valued as a whole person, not just as a lawyer. I'm now in my 50s, living by the beach, running a new 'early retirement' business and pursuing research and work that has meaning for me. - Jennifer C. Wolfe, Esq., APR , Whisper Creek Spa
5. Focus On Clarity
I hired a business coach who taught me to focus on clarity in vision, goals and communication. This lesson still shapes how I lead, helping me make faster decisions and align my team more effectively toward shared objectives. - Vladyslav Drapii , Legarithm OU
6. Think Like A CEO
I have a great business coach I've been working with for three years. The most important lesson I've learned is to think like a CEO. Operate and manage your company as the CEO. You cannot be the worker, manager and CEO. These conflicting roles can get in the way of your vision, energy and results. - Loubna Noureddin , Mind Market
7. Be Ready To Confront Yourself
Hiring a business coach was a major turning point for me. One highly important thing I discovered about working with a coach is that they won't solve your problems for you, as that's not their job. Instead, what they are going to do is help you ask uncomfortable questions that push you forward. All the answers about your business can be found inside; you just need to be ready to confront them. - Valentina Drofa , Drofa Comms
8. Identify Your Business's Strengths And Weaknesses
A business coach is a must-have when you want to scale your business. With their know-how and experience, they help you take a business selfie that ultimately highlights your business's strengths and weaknesses. A clear outside perspective and a business-oriented mind are always helpful—it's like an optometrist who gives you the right prescription so that you can have a clear vision of the next few years to come. - Magda Paslaru , THE RAINBOWIDEA
9. Stop Building Alone
I've hired a business coach, and the most important lesson I learned was to stop building alone. My coach helped me shift from doing everything myself to building systems, hiring support and scaling with strategy, not stress. Today, I lead with vision, not exhaustion. - Michelle Gines , Purpose Publishing
10. Surround Yourself With A Great Team
A business coach provides guidance, support and mentorship to help leaders make decisions with more confidence. Through this process, I've learned the importance of surrounding myself with a great team. The business requires my role to stay strategic, putting trust in my team and focusing on continued growth for the organization. - Sarah Goodall , Tribal Impact
11. Learn To Delegate Both Tasks And Outcomes
Being in New York and leading a growing company, I hired a business coach when I realized I was constantly in execution mode. The biggest shift has been learning to delegate outcomes, not just tasks. It has helped me step back, trust my team more and finally focus on building the business, not just running it. - Daniel Levy , GovernmentOfficeFurniture.com
12. Focus On Outcomes, Not Effort
The best lesson I've learned is to focus on outcomes, not effort. Rather than hours worked, my coach taught me to measure results. Today, we set clear KPIs for every role to boost productivity while eliminating wasted time. Every leader should adopt this performance mindset. - Albert Golukhov , ExcessLogic
13. Look For Personal Blind Spots
Hiring a coach helped me with blind-spot detection. The 360-degree coaching I received revealed gaps between my intent and my impact, dramatically sharpening my self-awareness. I now run mini-360s for myself on a regular basis and for most of my coachees, because structured 360-degree feedback is the quickest way to turn insight into measurable progress. - Marie Holive , Proteus International
14. Prioritize Solving Real-World Problems
My business coach taught me the importance of solving painful, real-world problems rather than just building impressive or complex products. That mindset continues to shape how I prioritize features, structure offers and guide my team. It's a constant reminder to stay focused on outcomes that drive real value for customers, not just internal goals or vanity metrics. - Ken Thomas , BOND
15. Avoid Confusing Movement With Progress
I hired a business coach during a tough transition when we were pivoting our product. The most important lesson was, 'Don't confuse movement with progress.' I was chasing 10 things at once—new features, partnerships, hires—thinking it was momentum. The coach helped me refocus on what actually moved the needle. To this day, I use that lens weekly to prioritize with ruthless clarity. - Shubham Nigam , Questera AI
16. Work On The Business, Not Just In It
I've worked with a business coach, and the most valuable lesson was to work on the business, not just in it. That shift in mindset helped me delegate more effectively, build scalable systems and focus on long-term strategy rather than daily tasks. It has been a game-changer for sustainable growth. - Pranav Dalal , Office Beacon
17. Understand Delegation As More Than A Catch-All Solution
I had the honor of working with Dan Silvert, from the Velocity Advisory Group, who taught me that 'delegation isn't one-size-fits-all.' Effective delegation takes nuance, intentionality and clear communication, tailored to each person and situation. This insight changed how I lead and collaborate. Clarity in delegation creates confidence in execution. - Jacob Orrin , Merit
18. Change Your Circle
For nearly 10 years, I worked as a business coach myself. One story that stuck with me is the 'crabs in a bucket' lesson, where when one crab tries to escape, the others pull it back. Your environment matters. If you're surrounded by people who don't grow, your vision will feel farther than it is. You will have to shrink yourself to fit into their beliefs. Changing your circle changes everything. - Kristina Fitzpatrick , Paper & Flowers
19. Do Your Due Diligence
I've invested tens of thousands of dollars in coaches and consultants. Find someone who's five steps ahead of you, allowing them to proactively spot the challenges that you're likely to hit. Do your research about them, including the way they operate and what their business is actually like. Don't rely on the 'highlight reel' of their social media to make a hiring decision. - Willow Kai , Becca Luna Education
20. Avoid Thinking One Coach Can Do It All
The most important lesson I learned from a business coach is that there is no such thing as a 'business coach.' You can find specialists in accounting, taxation, leadership, negotiation, public speaking and procedure writing, but it's impossible for one person to be an expert in all of these areas. If someone tells you they can do everything, then most likely they are just a clever manipulator. - Dmitrii Khasanov , Arrow Stars
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