What is Confidence Coaching?
16 Nov
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration

What is Confidence Coaching?

In a world where there seems to be a coach for every career, sport, hobby, and life pursuit, the coaching industry is becoming more and more saturated. It seems like nearly everyone has their own “coaching hustle” as a side pursuit, making it harder and harder to differentiate between the kinds of coaches and what value they claim to bring to the table.

One of the newer kinds of coaching is confidence coaching. While at first glance it may seem cheesy or gimmicky, this kind of coach is someone who could potentially turn your life around and help you establish successful habits in the long term, so it’s nothing to thumb your nose at.

Instead, read on to learn more about what they do and why you may be a good fit for a future coach. 

What is Confidence Coaching?

The coaching profession has made a marked increase in popularity and acceptance in recent years. While many people think of coaching as something confined to sports, there are actually many areas of coaching that most people could benefit from, whether in their personal or professional lives. 

Though coaching is more varied and expansive, coaching typically falls in these three categories:: 

Career Coach

A professional coach who is skilled with helping individuals navigate their careers, whether they’re just beginning, stagnating, or transitioning. These coaches may help with career planning, interviewing, resume building, or negotiating to develop strong candidates and employees. 

Executive Coach

A professional coach skilled at developing future leaders and influencers. They help clients and teams increase awareness of their brand, set up business goals, and unlock their true potential.

Life Coach

A type of wellness coach who helps individuals assess their present state in life and determine their next best steps to reach their personal goals. They help clients clarify their goals, identify the obstacles that are keeping them from them, and develop a plan to overcome them. 

While all three of these kinds of coaches will work with you to help you get back on track professionally or personally, there’s another kind of coach that can benefit people in a variety of circumstances.. Before we dig fully into this kind of coaching, let’s look at the definition of the main focus of their guidance: confidence. 

“Confidence: The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. The state of feeling certain about the truth of something. A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.”

While it may be easy to define the word “confidence,” it’s not always as easy to clarify what it means for an individual or how to attain it. That’s where a confidence coach comes in. And really, how many people could better themselves from partnering with one?

A confidence coach is someone that helps an individual move past their lack of self-esteem, fear, and limiting self-beliefs. They work to help a person overcome their doubt and empower them to trust their own abilities and reach their potential.

Coaches typically accomplish this by finding out what is triggering the person’s insecurity and strategically working with them to identify and overcome it. 

What Does a Confidence Coach Do?

While the basic definition and career description likely sound all well and good, you may still be wondering what a confidence coach actually does. This process will vary based on an individual’s background and how deep their client’s insecurities lie. 

In general, a confidence coach will work with someone to quiet the voices telling them they’re inadequate and find the freedom to live fully and confidently. 

This may be accomplished in one of several ways. Let’s explore the primary methods a confidence coach will help their client move forward. 

Finding the Next Best Step

Instead of focusing on the end goal, which may feel insurmountable, a confidence coach may work with their client to decide what the best small (or baby) steps are to avoid becoming overwhelmed. By defining and achieving these small goals, the person will gain confidence every step of the way, and their coach will be there to cheer them along and offer guidance as needed. 

Banishing Limiting Beliefs

Oftentimes, a person’s lack of confidence comes from a limiting belief that’s rooted deep in their psyche. A confidence coach can help their client identify and eliminate these beliefs one at a time. The coach may help them challenge assumptions they have by asking them questions that shine a light on the falsehoods plaguing them. Once the truth is revealed, it’s easier for them to move forward and gain confidence along the way.

Some beliefs that confidence coaches often have to work past include:

  • – I’m not enough to deserve good things in life. 

  • – I’ll never be good enough at my job to get a promotion. 

  • – I’m too stupid or ignorant to express myself to anyone. 

  • – If I show up as my authentic self, I’ll never be accepted or loved. 

Cross-Reference Areas of Confidence

This approach can be more abstract, but still quite effective. A coach may take an area in which the client lacks confidence and channel it into an area in which they exude confidence. By doing this, the focus is switched to the aspects of themselves they’re more comfortable with, and the area of doubt can take a backseat. 

Characteristics and Skills Needed for a Confidence Coach

While one may think that the biggest qualification for a confidence coach is to be confident, that’s not the most important aspect. Plenty of other characteristics and skills are equally, if not more, essential for a person to possess to have a successful career in this field. 

If you’re considering a career as a confidence coach, you should take an honest assessment of yourself to make sure you have most, if not all, of the characteristics and skills needed. Keep in mind that some of these skills can be developed. Read through the following list to see if you have what it takes!

The Ability to Build Rapport 

In order for a client to feel comfortable opening up, a coach has to be able to build rapport with them quickly. This means the coach has to be able to put people at ease and make them feel as though they’re in a safe place to open up about their insecurities, which are at the core of confidence coaching.

Realize that your new clients will come in feeling awkward and shy, so this is an important part of your job as a coach. Work with them to find something in common, approach their insecurities with openness and acceptance, and then build your rapport from there. 

Patience

As you’re likely aware, coaching isn’t typically something that’s finished after one session. Depending on the client, coaching can often take months or even years to complete.

Because of this, a confidence coach has to bring a healthy dose of patience and perseverance to their practice to stick with a client until they reach their goals. Coaching is not the place to bring judgment or a deadline mentality. It takes time. 

Strategic Mindset

In order to navigate the client’s insecurities and deeply rooted triggers, a confidence coach has to have the ability to strategize and plan the steps to overcoming insecurities, addressing setbacks, and gaining confidence.. This plan is crucial to the client’s success and must be achievable and thoughtfully executed. 

In addition to having a plan for your client, you also need a plan for your business that you can commit to. Building a brand and client base as a coach takes a lot of drive, determination, and business acumen. It doesn’t happen overnight!

Confidence

While it’s not the only skill needed, it’s definitely a top requirement that confidence coaches have a healthy level of confidence themselves. Whether this is a quality they were born with or something they acquired over time, it has to be understood and present to be taught to others.

With confidence coaching, you can’t just talk the talk – you have to walk the walk. Aside from the fact that you can’t teach confidence if you don’t possess it, being a coach in general and promoting your services takes confidence. Let your clients see the confidence in you that they’re wanting to build in themselves. 

Reasons Why People Hire a Confidence Coach

Now that we’ve covered what a confidence coach does and what they need to be successful at it, you may be wondering why a person would need one in the first place. The answer is simple: we’re human. In other words, it’s only normal for a person to go through periods or experiences where they lack confidence in themselves, either personally or professionally.

Confidence is something that can either make or break you, especially in some professions, so hiring a coach to help you find it again is a wise decision that more people should be making. 

For example, people may turn to confidence coaches when they’re up for a new promotion at work or they just got promoted/hired and are feeling inadequate.

Other people may come in after going through a divorce and are now questioning their worth or how to move forward. Many clients are finally ready to face a deeply rooted fear and are simply needing the push to conquer it. 

Benefits of Working with a Confidence Coach

The main benefit of working with a confidence coach is the most obvious one: you’ll gain confidence like you’ve never had before. What is it in your past or present that is holding you back from going after the goals or desires in your heart and mind? Chances are, a confidence coach can help you recognize what’s holding you back, face your fears, and reach your goals.

Beyond gaining confidence in yourself and your abilities, you can expect to walk away from your time with a confidence coach with one or more of the following benefits:

  • – You’ll be a better leader, both professionally and personally.

  • – You’ll become a more courageous member of society as you feel more confident to speak up about the causes you care about and reach out to contacts in your life. 

  • – You’ll be an empowered individual, ready to push past your comfort zone and live life to the fullest. 

Becoming a Confidence Coach

If you already have the confidence that others are seeking, perhaps you should consider becoming a confidence coach. The pay scale for Confidence Coaches varies widely from anywhere around $26k to over $200k. Since a degree and certification aren’t required to enter the field, you’ll see that coaches come from all types of backgrounds and offer a variety of services, all at different price points. 

While certification isn’t required to be a confidence coach, there are several courses available that may be beneficial for someone looking to start their career in the industry. These classes will walk you through how to handle the typical situations you’ll see as a coach and give you the best practices to have in place for your business.

These courses aren’t required, but they do add a level of credibility and legitimacy to your coaching business and help you learn how to run a successful business. 

The best way to ensure  that you have a successful career as a confidence coach is to do everything that you can to get favorable word-of-mouth referrals. Since this is a newer field, clients will feel more comfortable hiring you for your services if they get a referral from someone they are personally connected to.

If that person used your services in the past and had positive results, they can expect the same for their own experience. Referrals build confidence in your skills and gets your working relationship off on the right foot. 

Calling all Coaches

Today’s world is driven by social media influencers selling a lifestyle that seems unattainable, leading many people to feel insecure and inadequate. People’s confidence in their abilities has taken a major blow, but hiring a confidence coach can be the key to getting it back.

For anyone that has moved past their season of doubt and is now walking confidently and living an empowered life, it may be time for you to share your wisdom. 

Almost anyone with confidence and drive can start a career as a confidence coach, but only the ones that have a clear vision for their coaching business and a strategic plan of action will be able to make it in the highly competitive field.

By bringing your own confidence and patience to the table, you’ll be setting yourself (and your clients) up for success. One thing is for sure though – the world needs more confidence. Luckily, there’s a coach for that. 

Why You Should Always Look For New Clients
14 Nov
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Marketing, Productivity

Why You Should Always Look For New Clients

If you’re in the middle of a successful season in your business, you may find yourself coasting along and neglecting prospecting for new clients. After all, it’s only natural that you don’t feel the need to look for future customers when you have plenty of work. It simply doesn’t feel necessary when you’re up to your ears at work!

In reality, you should always be on the lookout for new clients even when you’re busy and your books are full. Why? Because finding and nurturing clients requires time and proven methods so by the time you’re needing them, it’s too late to start if you’re behind the ball.  

You may be busy right now but you can also bet there are people out there, right now, who need and want the services you offer and are a perfect match for your business. Now is the time to connect with people online and start interacting with them. 

Another reason to always be on the lookout for clients is the likelihood that, at some point, you’re going to lose a client that you depend on. What would happen to your business if you lost one of your biggest clients? Would you be able to manage the gap in income? Do you have prospects to pursue if you need to bring in more revenue?

So, how do you maintain your current business while always looking for more? The key is being organized. Here are three easy tips you can use right away: 

  • – Come up with a strategy for finding new clients and then systematize it so you don’t have to think about it.

  • – Create regular content to post on other people’s blogs as well as your own. 

  • – Search regularly for new people to connect with on social media.

Take these tips or choose a few simple strategies of your own for finding new clients that you can do on an ongoing basis while still performing work for your current clients. Then, spend a bit of time each day on client acquisitions using your chosen strategies. By investing even just a half-hour into this goal daily, you’ll be on your way to stockpiling your leads for a rainy day. 

What To Do When You Have a Difficult Client
13 Nov
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Business

What To Do When You Have a Difficult Client

As a business owner, the unfortunate truth is that not every client you take on is going to be a walk in the park. Inevitably, you’ll have a client come along that will prove to be quite difficult. 

The challenge with difficult clients is that they tend to be overly demanding and may even clash with your working style. You know you have to finish whatever work you’re doing with them, but you want to figure out how to do so with the least amount of pain. So, what do you do? 

Since your professional reputation is at stake, you need to come up with some strategies for dealing with a difficult client ahead of time so that when the inevitable happens – you’re ready. 

Tips for Dealing with Difficult Clients

When dealing with a challenging client, choose your words carefully to avoid confrontation and escalation.

  • – Listen well and acknowledge without apologizing. 

  • – Take breaks whenever you need to and/or limit communication, but be careful to do so in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re ignoring them.

  • – Emphasize that you’re working together toward a common goal. Discuss things in terms of the results you’re trying to get and make sure they understand you’re on the same team.

  • – If they’re asking you to do more than you offer, set clear boundaries and remind them gently of the job’s terms and your business’s capabilities. 

Even though they may be driving you insane, try your best to find a solution that’s quick and that will make them happy and get you both moving forward. Remember, the best-case scenario is to leave them satisfied and then avoid working with them in the future, if possible. 

As trying as these kinds of clients can be, keep in mind that it’s likely not personal. Simply chalk it up as a learning experience and move on knowing you’re better, and wiser, than you were before. 

7 Easy Steps For Better Business Communication
29 Oct
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Business, Marketing

7 Easy Steps For Better Business Communication

Great communication is one of the most important skills for running a successful business. Overall, business communication is responsible for improving workplace efficiency, boosting morale, and creating a more open and collaborative environment for employees to thrive in. 

7 Ingredients For Unstoppable Business Communication

Despite the fact that 89% of people believe in the importance of effective business communication, only around 17% feel as if their workplace possesses it. Here are 6 ways to get started on improving your business’s communication style: 

#1: Find The Right Communication Channel

In today’s highly digitized workplaces, communication can take place on a multitude of platforms, so make sure that you are using the right one! Whether it’s an email, slack message, in-person meeting, or video call, it is important to think about the communication channels that you are using to deliver your information most effectively. 

For example, sending a couple of reminders can probably be accomplished in an email, whereas explaining a complex project might land better in a face-to-face meeting. 

#2: Value Listening Skills 

Business communication is so much more than just articulating YOUR thoughts and ideas. It is equally important to take a step back and listen to the needs and feelings of the coworkers around you to ensure that everyone feels heard and valued in a space. 

#3: Make Yourself Accessible 

Especially if you are a boss or leader, it is crucial for employees to know you are accessible to chat if they need to run something by you or have any questions or concerns. If employees don’t feel comfortable speaking out in the workplace, passive aggression and resentment are bound to happen. 

#4: Be Mindful of Body Language 

While the exact percentage of what communication is nonverbal versus verbal has been debated, the body language that you put out to others in the workplace oftentimes speaks louder than words. Great nonverbal communication starts with making eye contact, nodding, not crossing your arms, and leaning forward. 

#5: Keep It Simple

Many employees fall into the trap of using overly complex language and jargon while communicating with others, in turn leaving less experienced employees confused. To avoid this, always be mindful of the vocabulary you choose and keep communication simple whenever you can. 

#6: Ask Questions

Asking clarifying questions works wonders at clearing up any confusion or assumptions early on in a project or task, in turn saving stress and confusion down the line. Remember that if you have questions during a meeting, odds are other people in the room feel similarly and will appreciate your courage in asking. 

#7: Tailor Your Communication 

The way that you speak to your boss might look a little different than how you are speaking with a peer. In order to have effective business communication, it is important to know the audience that you are speaking to ensure you are tailoring your language and format of communication to best fit that specific dynamic. 

Maximize Your Business Communication With Allison Todd Today 

For more advice on improving your business’s operations from an experienced business coach and consultant, feel free to reach out today! 

For more advice on improving your business’s operations from an experienced business coach and consultant, feel free to reach out today! 

Signs It’s Time To Exit: Leaving A Hostile Work Environment
28 Oct
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration, Productivity

Signs It’s Time To Exit: Leaving A Hostile Work Environment

Finding fulfillment in your job is a nearly impossible feat if you are in the midst of a hostile work environment. You can be leading the best projects and interacting with the clients of your dreams, but none of this will matter if the workplace environment is harmful to your mental health and wellbeing. 

In fact, a shocking 50% of employees in the United States workforce are unhappy with their current jobs. This number can be greatly reduced if more individuals have the tools to understand the signs of a hostile work environment.

4 Signs That It’s Time To Leave Your Job 

When the downsides of your workplace environment begin to outweigh any of its benefits, it might be a sign that it’s time to leave. Here are 4 of the most pressing signs that a workplace is no longer serving you: 

#1: People Don’t Listen To You

Whether it’s a fellow coworker shooting down your ideas on a project or your supervisor ignoring your input at a meeting, one of the first signs of an unhealthy work environment is when your opinions and ideas aren’t being considered. Each and every member of a team brings a different perspective to the table, and if yours isn’t valued, you should probably look elsewhere for a team that values collaboration and open communication. 

#2: It’s Difficult To Focus On Tasks

If you find yourself struggling to focus on the tasks of your job, it might be a sign that you are no longer passionate and motivated to accomplish the objectives of your position. Trouble focusing can also occur when the stressors of the workplace’s culture are at the top of your mind instead of the job itself. Either way, be mindful when this feeling starts showing up more often than not.  

#3: Your Identity Is Marginalized

Even in 2021, marginalization in the workplace is still a pressing issue that many people in underrepresented communities (LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people of color) face. Some of the biggest signs that you are being marginalized in the workplace are when your work is accredited to someone else, not getting a promotion or raise despite your accreditations, or not feeling as if people have confidence in your abilities. 

#4: Stress and Sadness Is Taking Over Everything 

When an employee is undervalued and overutilized, the stress in the workplace can easily take over. While any workplace is bound to have periods of busyness, if extreme stress and pressure are commonplace even in the slower months, it is probably a sign that your company’s culture isn’t taking your work-life balance and mental health into account. 

Find Your Dream Job With Coach Allison Todd Today 

You deserve to be in a job where you are heard, seen, and valued for who you are and what you have to offer. If you’re ready to improve your business’s workplace culture and environment, or perhaps want to quit your job and start the business of your dreams, I am here to help you get started today!

What Is A Life Coach? How 1:1 Coaching Can Help You Move Forward And Crush Goals
08 Oct
Allison Todd and Friends, Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise

What Is A Life Coach? How 1:1 Coaching Can Help You Move Forward And Crush Your Goals

Have you ever found yourself stuck in life? Whether you’re at a loss for what you want to do or you have an end-goal in mind but no clue how to get there, feeling stuck in life is all too common. And chances are, a life coach is someone you could benefit from greatly to provide that necessary nudge in the right direction. 

Life coaches are specialists who help their clients analyze where they are now, where they want to be in the future, and how to connect the two. They help people who aren’t sure how to move forward or what their next best step is by looking at what obstacles are getting in the way and helping an individual find solutions to overcome them. 

How Does it Work?

While the process of working with a Life Coach is similar to how therapy works, it differentiates itself by focusing more on the future rather than looking at your past and understanding your present. Life coaching is more direct in nature and gives individuals the encouragement they need to move past any resistance that’s keeping them from their goals. 

Typically, a coach will begin your relationship with a discovery call during which they’ll ask questions to get to know you a little better and to figure out how they can best help you.

You’ll discuss the frequency of your meetings and if there is any “homework” that they may want you to do before your time together. More than likely, they’ll send you some paperwork to fill out that will help them identify your current obstacles and background. 

Once your sessions start, your time together will be spent discussing what goals you have for your future and the things that are keeping you from achieving them. While your coach won’t tell you the exact roadmap or steps to take, they will help you define them for yourself. At the end of your time with a life coach, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to get you on the path to where you want to go. 

Work with Me

I’m a Life Coach based out of Atlanta and I have over 15 years of experience in the coaching industry. I like to call myself a “confidence coach,” because I feel like my mission is to empower driven, passionate entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale their businesses and achieve the success they deserve. 

I found my way into the coaching industry after serving in several leadership roles including my current position as Corporation Relations Manager for United Way of Greater Atlanta.

I earned my Masters of Arts in Human Resource Management and Development from Webster University and my Bachelors of Arts in Communication Theory and Rhetoric from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

In conjunction with my coaching business, I created a Business Clarity Mastermind that’s open to the public and teaches practical strategies and tools to take action and grow your business. 

If you’ve been spinning your wheels about where your life is headed and still haven’t found any traction, I would love to talk about how I can get you back on track and moving towards the future you envision. Your path to progress is just one click away. 

Customer Journey Map - Part 2
14 Sep
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Productivity

Customer Journey Map – Part 2

A few months ago, we talked about what it means to have a [customer journey map] and how to create a customer journey map.

Today, we’re going to unveil the five stages of the consumer decision process so you can include them in your customer journey map. Then, you can build your business, increase your conversion rate, and, ultimately, succeed as a brand owner. 

Quick Re-cap: What Is a Customer Journey Map?

As we defined in Part 1, a customer journey map is a diagram – or many diagrams – that show each of the stages your visitors go through when interacting with your brand. This can be from visiting your website for the first time to interacting with your brand’s business Instagram page, to even buying a product or service. 

What Does Any Good Customer Journey Map Need? 

The main contribution to any functioning customer journey map is research and data. Without data, these are simply drawings without any underpinning evidence. 

The customer journey maps need to reflect the customer’s search intent and sentiment, individual goals, and touchpoints. 

There should be multiple customer journey maps to cover all bases. That means having a single customer journey map for your website will not suffice. Instead, you need to consider the different directions and journeys each individual will take. Use a heat map to determine the patterns and trends of the activity on your site.

It also demands journey maps for your other platforms. Think about how someone may navigate through your social platforms or blogs. Customer journey maps are effective but only when they’re used properly. 

What Are The Five Stages Of The Consumer Decision Process?

Customer journey maps rely on understanding the lead. The first factor in determining is where the lead is within the five stages of the consumer decision process:

1. The Awareness Stage

At this point, the lead becomes aware of your brand. This could be through a search engine, word of mouth, or any other marketing platform you’ve been using to advertise and promote your business. 

2. The Consideration Stage

This stage includes careful consideration of your product or service and often demands intense research. The consideration stage lasts longer depending on the price of your offer. The higher the price, the longer this phase lasts. This is down to the price being more of a risk. Competitors will be considered at this stage, too. 

3. The Decision Stage

Your prospect makes their decision at this stage. They will either purchase from a competitor, move back a stage, or purchase from you. 

4. The Retention Stage

If a purchase has been made, this stage is where the magic happens in terms of ROI. Research proves that if someone has already made an initial process, they’re more likely to purchase again. Adobe has demonstrated that 8% of website visitors who are existing customers constitute 40% of overall revenue.  

5. The Loyalty/Advocacy Stage

This phase takes the retention stage to a whole new level. This phase includes writing reviews and spreading positive comments through word-of-mouth. This phase encourages new leads to enter through the first stage, and so the cycle repeats once again. 

Why Do I Need To Consider The Buyer’s Stage In My Customer Journey Map?

As mentioned, the most effective customer journey maps are deeply rooted in research and data. But it’s also fundamental to understand your audience in depth.

The buyer’s stage will help cater to your customer journey maps with their current stage in mind, allowing you to personalize strategies to help each lead climb up the ladder, phase by phase, until they reach stage 5. Once there, they can help bring in new leads for you, playing their own part in guiding new leads up the ladder. 

How To Use The Buyer’s Stage In My Customer Journey Map

Now you’re clear about why you need to include the buyer’s stage within your customer journey maps, let’s consider how you can do this in practice. 

As with many marketing strategies, the key lies in understanding your target audience well. Once you are able to track data and view the common patterns and trends, you’ll be able to sort and categorize this data into buyer’s journey sections. 

This will allow you to consider the best methods to help them move up a stage. 

You will need various methods for each individual stage, focusing on techniques and elements that will help them up a level. 

For example, consider the consideration phase. At this point, your leads are locked in an internal battle trying to make a choice whether to spend money on your product or service, take their business elsewhere, or simply not buy anything at all. Therefore, you need to consider techniques that will help bring them over to the right side: purchasing from you. 

Some strategies that could help with this are using social proof or offering a discount. 

Implement The Buyer’s Journey Into Your Customer Journey Maps Today

As you can see, the buyer’s journey is absolutely critical when mapping out the navigation journey of your lead. By incorporating it, you can tailor your strategies to help them reach the top of the tower. Without it, though, you’re shooting blind, and you’ll find it challenging to achieve stage 5 status. 

business confidence
06 Sep
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business

Does Business Confidence Affect Business Clarity? Why is it Important for Business Growth?

The three business essentials are clarity, confidence, and conviction. But can you have one without the other? And does the level of one essential impact the others? 

Ultimately, does confidence impact clarity? Why? And what does that mean for your business and it’s growth? 

We’ll be exploring the direct link between business confidence and business clarity in this post and how you can leverage it to maximize brand growth. 

What Is Business Confidence? 

As you’ve probably guessed, business confidence involves being sure of one’s decisions when it comes to their business. 

Business confidence levels have a direct impact on the overall well being of a brand.

If, for example, a business owner isn’t sure about the decisions they’ve made, this will be communicated to the audience. A lack of confidence is difficult to disguise. 

What Is Business Clarity? 

Business clarity is how clear your business is. This ranges from being able to clearly articulate what your business does, how it does it, and why to having a clear vision of where you want your brand to go. 

Many entrepreneurs would argue that clarity is the most important factor in any business. But, can you have clarity without confidence? 

How Business Confidence And Business Clarity Work Together

To build a meaningful business with purpose, you’ll need both business confidence and clarity. Without confidence and clarity, you’ll quickly spiral out of control, which can have devastating consequences for your brand. 

Imagine you’re hunting treasure. For this, you’ll need a map. If the map is muddy and stained with little clarity, it becomes tricky to read it. 

If you have little confidence in map reading, you may decide early on that the task of finding treasure is too difficult, making you throw in the towel without giving it a go.

Now, imagine these two challenges together.

First, you have no confidence in map reading.

Second, the map is almost impossible to read due to the physical state of it. 

With these two together, the chances of you finding the hidden treasure – in this case, building a successful business – are slim. 

However, if you were more confident in map reading and the route was clear, your determination levels would be higher, and you’d be a massive step closer to uncovering the treasure. 

Ultimately, business confidence and clarity work together. You gain confidence when you have clarity over your brand. And you gain clarity over your brand when you are confident in your skills and what you have to offer the world. 

How To Find Business Confidence and Clarity 

If you feel your path to success is muddled, you’ll need to revisit your foundations. That means documenting your strategy, your audience avatar, and understanding where you want your business to go. 

With clarity, you’ll gain confidence. And, as we both know, you need both to succeed.

Business confidence plays a massive role in business clarity, so ensure you factor in both of these elements to your business fundamentals. 

The Business Fear List: 7 Things Stopping You From Business Growth
03 Sep
Business Coach, Confidence Culture

The Business Fear List: 7 Things Stopping You From Business Growth

Running a business demands juggling many plates at once. Additionally, you’re forced to make investments – whether that’s an investment of your time, energy, or money. 

You’ve read hundreds of business books, listened to all the podcasts, and downloaded every freebie going. 

And while your love for your business is burning bright, you’re left confused about why your brand hasn’t quite hit stardom level. 

The Business Fear List

Here are 7 things that may be stunting your business’s growth.

1. Your ‘Why’ Isn’t Clear. 

If you were asked ‘why did you launch your business?’ and your response revolves around earning money, your values will communicate that you’re in this to make a fast buck. Your why should revolve around your brand’s core beliefs and how it impacts the world on a wider level. If you haven’t yet discovered your why, this is a fundamental you need to address before you can expect to see sales. 

2. You’ve Invested In Business Growth But Not Self-Growth. 

You cannot have business growth without self-growth. As you’re the owner of the business, you need to grow before the brand can. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake leaders make. They believe it’s all about strategies that will make their business boom, when that can’t happen until the leaders invest in themselves, first. 

3. Imposter Syndrome Is Prohibiting Your Growth 

Everyone – and I mean everyone – has felt like they’re ‘winging it’ at one stage. Imposter syndrome is a real crux to many business owners. It’s crucial to manage imposter syndrome productively and learn how to quiet the voice inside your mind telling you you aren’t worthy of success. 

4. Your Expectations Are Unrealistic 

There’s a difference between ambition and naivety. In our modern world, patience is a quality that’s running thin. You should aim to grow 1% every day. Smaller steps are sustainable, but massive leaps ahead make it tricky for growth to be consistent. 

5. You Haven’t Got A Clear Business Vision. 

Visions can adjust as you grow, but you must have a clear idea of where you want your business to go before it can evolve. There needs to be a documented plan of the direction you want your business to head in. Only then can you create a strategy to help you get there. 

6. You’re Trying To Do Everything Yourself 

It’s a well-known fact that to make money, you must first spend money. Determine your zone of genius, alongside elements you’re comfortable doing. Those that you feel are weaknesses to you should be outsourced to a professional. 

7. You Have A Dysfunctional Relationship With Money 

If you struggle to talk about money with others or even with yourself, it indicates that you have a toxic relationship with money. Sometimes, business owners fear success just as much as failure, though it’s not often spoken about. We can worry about what the consequences of success are. Nail down the route of your fear, specifically when it comes to business growth and success. Once identified, you can work on addressing and solving this issue for the well-being of your business. 

Business Growth Isn’t A Given 

Many startups make the mistake of buying into ‘if I build it, they’ll come.’ They also believe that if they invest in all the latest technology and gadgets, they will be able to build a thriving business that grows while they sleep.

But, this isn’t the case for the vast majority of business owners. First, you must nail your foundations, which includes self-work around mindset, visions, and goals. The strategies can then be built on top of this. 

I’m here to help you create the foundations you need for building your dream business. Ready to make a true change and clear the path to progress? Contact me today and let’s GROW!

Relationships Are Currency—Especially In Business
26 Jul
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Business

Relationships Are Currency—Especially In Business

Relationships are currency—and in business, they’re worth more than money 

The days of one-sided transactions and cold, impersonal interactions are long gone. Nowadays, people want to do business with those they like and feel comfortable around. 

We’re all busy, but it’s worth taking the time to build relationships because those connections can lead to great opportunities for your brand—opportunities you might not have otherwise had access to. Read on to learn more about the importance of relationships and how to start building them!

How Relationships Can Help Your Brand

You know that saying “it’s all about who you know?” Well, it’s true.

Never underestimate the power of a good relationship with your peers, contractors, clients, and even former co-workers. Having strong connections can lead to increased referrals and job opportunities, introductions to people who can help you reach your goals, and much more. 

In fact, in the same way that networking is an important step in advancing your career, relationships are just as vital when growing a brand. The more people you have on your side supporting, promoting, and recommending you, the more successful you’re likely to be.

While solid connections can absolutely hype you up, they can also provide you with feedback on your website, or advice on getting more clients. They can act as mentors who provide invaluable guidance as you grow your business —especially if the connection is someone who has been in your shoes before.

Not to mention the opportunity to meet a future business partner or podcast co-host!

Building strong business relationships requires time, effort, and consistency. Sometimes it’s hard work, but it’s worth it if you want your brand to succeed.

Best Practices For Forming Strong Business Relationships

Nobody reaches massive levels of success on their own. They almost always had help and support from other people to get there.

So now that you’re aware of the importance of business relationships, it’s time to go over some of the best practices to start forming and maintaining yours.

Be Kind & Generous

Look—everyone is busier than ever nowadays. And no one is going to be interested in connecting with you if you come off as unfriendly or pushy.

The most important thing to remember is that you should always be kind and generous with everyone, even if they’re not in a position to connect at that moment. Show grace in all of your introductions and meetings, and be open to connecting in the future.

Be Valuable

The best way to attract people who are willing to give you value is by giving out value yourself first. More than anything else, people will pay attention if you tell them what you can do for them. Offer one of your services for free or a discounted price, suggest a collaboration, or provide a connection that could help them with a problem.

Don’t Expect Something In Return

Even if you do give them something, don’t expect anything in return. This mindset will attract very different people than if you approach it with the assumption that everyone in your network is there to benefit you. Express genuine gratitude and appreciation for any kind of help, even if it’s just a simple answer to a question or quick introduction.

If you’re inconsiderate or disrespectful of their time, they won’t trust your intentions.

Build Your Brand By Building Relationships

Relationships can open up a ton of opportunities for everyone involved. If you want to learn more about building relationships that can help your brand, click here to discover about working with Alison Todd.

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