When to invest in Founder Coaching?
As a founder CEO scaling a business, there’s plenty to keep you occupied, from building and managing a team to developing services and products - not to mention keeping investors and board members happy. But with the rapid pace of innovation and growth, it’s crucial that you invest in a support structure. Founder coaching might be exactly what you need to keep you grounded and ensure you feel supported by someone outside your company.
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Understanding the right time to invest in Founder Coaching
When is the right time to invest in a founder coach?
In our article ‘What is Founder Coaching?’, we examined the value of founder coaching and how it differs from mentoring and consulting. One of the most frequently asked questions we’re asked is 'when is the right time to invest in a service like this?’
Here are a few example scenarios in which a client might most benefit from a Founder Coach relationship:
When the business has reached a plateau and the founder doesn't know the next step
The founder requires help addressing a specific issue in their business
The founder wants to scale the business, and is unsure where to start
The founder has hit their capacity but there is more they want to achieve
The dynamic isn't quite right, with the team or board for example, and the founder can't put their finger on why
The founder isn't enjoying their work anymore and is perhaps spending more time on pet projects
When should investors or board members suggest Founder Coaching?
Although you might think that Founder Coaching is a service only sought out by founders themselves, there are times when those with a vested interest in the business; such as stakeholders, board members, or investors recognise that a coach would be a valuable support to the Founder and resource for the business.
There are a few red flags which can identify the need for interested parties to suggest the services of a Founder Coach:
The founder has disengaged from the core business and is over-investing time and funds into pet projects
The management team and others in the company are disengaging from the company and / or founder
The company is experiencing Founder Syndrome. This is when a founder sees the business as an extension of them and they are using it for their own means, rather than seeing it as a separate entity with other stakeholders and interested parties that needs to stand alone
The founder refuses to delegate, and will only pursue projects if it was their idea. They accept no contributions.
Founder coaching is an opportunity for a founder CEO to re-engage with their ambitions for the business and their role in achieving those ambitions. The coaching relationship is with the founder and is confidential.
Founder Coaching is a service which is of value to more than just the founder
What will Founder CEOs gain from the services of a Founder Coach?
Whether a Founder Coach has been contracted to work with a client as a result of a recommendation by an investor or board member, or by the founder CEO themselves, it’s important to make clear that a professional coach only works for their client - the founder CEO.
A coach is an independent resource wanting to offer support with no ulterior motive or vested interest in the outcome (such as; an exit for an investor, employment for the team, increased profits for board members, stability for a partner, etc).
A coach provides assured confidentiality. Nothing is reported back to the investors or board members.
Coaching gives a founder CEO a space to be selfish. This is a one-way relationship all about the founder’s needs and the founder’s agenda in support of their business.
Coaching gives a founder CEO the opportunity to re-engage with their original purpose and find direction in their role.
A coach gathers insights from the founder’s team to grow ‘other-awareness’. The coach will speak with members of the team and interested parties to learn how the founder is being perceived, and then work with the founder to bring this into alignment as part of 360° feedback.
Coaching provides a balance between personal goals, goals within the role of founder CEO, and business goals.
Founder Coaching is a great option for investors and board members wanting to offer support to their founder CEO from an independent resource - as the challenge for many founders is that everyone has a vested interest in an outcome.
Want to find out more about founder coaching with Aata?
Whether you’re a female founder CEO looking for clarity and increased confidence in your role, or an investor or board member who wants to support a founder CEO to achieve their full potential - we’d love to hear from you.
Begin by reviewing our suite of founder coaching services.
Then, when you’re ready book a chemistry call.