Hiring a business coach can be an important step forward for interior designers who want to take their interior design business to the next level. Here are some important things to keep in mind before making this decision.
Why Hire a Business Coach?
I believe you can't do everything alone all by yourself. Many people have figured things out before you. They tested, failed, and succeeded. It's a waste of your creative energy and capacity to reinvent the wheel. It's great to have a sounding board, to strategize together, and so on. Together, you can go further and faster than alone, right?
But there's more than that:
One additional benefit of working with a coach is that they help you take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Often, you're so involved in your daily tasks that you lose sight of what you're actually doing—both the good and the bad. It's like the Dutch saying, "can't see the forest for the trees." You get caught up in the details so that you miss the overall view. A coach helps you zoom out and see things more clearly, providing insights that you might not notice on your own.
Another reason could be accountability. When you set goals with a coach, you have someone to hold you accountable. This makes you more likely to follow through on your plans and take consistent action, rather than getting sidetracked or procrastinating. It's like having a personal cheerleader who keeps you on track and motivated.
Also, a coach brings fresh perspectives and new ideas. They can introduce you to different strategies and approaches that you might not have considered or even heard about. This can open up new opportunities and ways of thinking that can transform your business. By challenging your assumptions and encouraging you to think outside the box, a coach helps you innovate and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Benefits of Working with a Business Coach as an Interior Designer
I have always had a coach to grow as an entrepreneur. Sometimes it was a business coach, other times it was more about personal development or spirituality. Each time, I was challenged, went deeper, gained insights, and became a better person and a better entrepreneur. These breakthroughs were significant, not just small steps. I would never have reached them on my own.
A few years ago, we hired a marketing coach for our interior design firm. It was a huge financial investment. But after one or two sessions, they found words we had been searching for years, which perfectly explained our vision. Even though it felt like we were not achieving much during the sessions, now, 4-5 years later, I still draw lessons from what they taught me. Every design project I do at this level, I owe to that coaching. Every designer I work with The Beyond Interior Design Club, I owe to that coaching.
Choose the Right Business Coach
There are so many business coaches, but they often help every entrepreneur. You get generic tips and advice. For example, an interior designer once heard that the intake on location should last no more than half an hour. That just doesn't work in our field. Our conversations take longer because people need to really trust you. Better to have good screening and fewer, in-depth conversations than many short ones with no results.
Avoid These Pitfalls when Hiring an Interior Design Business Coach
One of the biggest pitfalls is choosing a coach who is too soft. You want to know the 'how' directly, right? And also the 'why' firmly anchored in your mindset with evidence. Only with a mindset shift is change lasting.
We once hired a coach/trainer to help us grow a part of our business. I remember it was quite expensive, but what he taught us was valuable. We implemented everything he taught us. The weird thing? It didn't work. We copied his scripts and tools exactly, but it didn't work for us.
At first, we thought he was a fraud.
But later, I learned that what he taught us was actually true. It should work. But he never taught us the 'why,' and we simply copied his 'how.' So, Marc and I started to dig deeper into his lessons and developed our own personal voice. The moment we discovered that was a major breakthrough for us. 'How' is of no use if you don't know the 'why' and if you don't have the right mindset. It just becomes inauthentic. That's why we developed our method in a way that is easy to copy but also shifts your mindset to the next level, so you can never 'unlearn' it.
Set Clear Goals with your Coach
Coaches always ask about your goals. And what do you come up with? Revenue? Number of projects? Growth percentage? A certain type of client? Those are not goals that are helpful for a creative person. What you need to be clear about is how you want to live. What makes you happy? What are your conditions? Do you want to work 100 hours a week on 'success,' or do you want to build a life on your terms, doing what you love?
A bit of a bad example:
We had a coaching client who wanted to grow her studio, in the form of a team. In a matter of months, she grew to being a single designer, to having two fulltimers working for her.
Sometimes, however, you find out that's not what you want.
So together with her we adjust her goals. It's not nice to set a goal that you later realize doesn't make you happy but you stick to it anyway because it's the goal you set. Stay agile. Keep moving, keep reflecting, keep adapting.
Another bad example: 😆
This has never been a goal of mine, but years and years - I think it was 2014 - ago the tv was on, playing some music, and I wasn't really watching, but all of a sudden, when I looked up, I saw my own interior design on tv! A restaurant I designed was featured in a music video clip. 🤩
So, what is your next step?
Hiring a business coach can have a significant impact on your career as an interior designer. It can help you achieve breakthroughs and grow your business. Make sure to choose a coach that fits your specific needs and goals. And remember, the most important thing is to be clear about how you want to live and work. With the right guidance, you can fully utilize your creative energy and achieve your dreams.
If you're up for it, we can have a bit of a chat and see if we can help you.
Click here to see when we have time.
