Are you thinking about working with a productivity coach in your business?
Do you want to learn how to make the most of your time with a productivity coach?
In this article, you’ll learn how you can thoughtfully work with a productivity coach in your business or career.
What is a Productivity Coach?
A productivity coach is a professional who helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals work more efficiently in their business and careers.
These professionals can teach you important productivity, time management, and organizational skills, tools, tips, techniques, and approaches to help you be more effective in your work.
What’s more, productivity coaches can also help you improve your productivity mindset, or what you think and believe about productivity.
What Can Productivity Coaches Help You With?
Productivity coaches can help you address a variety of work-life balance topics in your business and personal life.
Broadly speaking, they can help you with your productivity mindset, productivity tools, and productivity techniques.
Let’s take a look at each of these items in a little more detail.
Productivity Mindset
In my work as a productivity coach, I believe that what you think about productivity influences how you work.
For instance, let’s say you think you must work long hours in your business on weekdays. If so, you’ll work long hours. If you think you must attend to a non-urgent client request, you’ll address it right now.
For me, how you approach your work is important, if not more important, than productivity tactics, tools, and tips. And until you address your mindset, the tactics you select just won’t work.
That’s why I think addressing your productivity mindset can be such a powerful tool in your productivity toolbox.
When you create a positive mindset for yourself, your relationship to your work and how you go about the work, can ultimately change for the better.
Productivity Tools
Choosing the right productivity tools can be a big help to you in your business and work. And that’s only if you know how and where to look!
Like any other tool, productivity tools work best when you clearly define your problem and identify the type of solution you seek.
For example, digital productivity tools can range from productivity apps like to-do-list trackers, habit formers, online schedulers, online calendars, customer relationship management software, project management and financial systems.
Likewise, other physical tools include smart watches, smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
Analog productivity tools do not require electricity or devices in order to run.
Analog tools many include items like paper planners, calendar printables, wall calendars, wall charts, wall clocks, hourglasses, trackers, checklists, paper to-do lists, wristwatches, and notebooks.
Productivity Techniques
Productivity techniques are methods of performing one’s work at any particular time. These can include tips, tricks, methods, and approaches for completing one’s work.
Some other examples of productivity techniques include time boxing, delegation, decision matrixes, task batching, focused work, and working with your natural preferences and habits.
While there are countless productivity techniques, what matters most is that you find techniques you’ll enjoy and will actually use in your work.
What are the Benefits of Working with a Productivity Coach?
Working with a productivity coach can provide you with a thoughtful way to create lasting change in the way you think about, learn, and hone work-life skills and habits.
Some possible benefits of working with a productivity coach may include:
- Creating positive productivity habits such as planning, prioritizing, delegating, and punctuality
- Feel more confident about your work and ability to get things done
- Developing efficient systems that can help you save time and energy in your business
- Setting regular schedules so you feel more rested throughout the workday and week
- Reducing feelings of stress, overwhelm, and frustration in your work and life
- Improved professional reputation when working with clients, customers, employees, vendors, and contractors
Who Should Work with a Productivity Coach?
Generally speaking, I think if you’re interested in improving your productivity, you may want to consider working with a productivity coach.
Of course, not everyone has the same needs. Your needs for productivity coaching may be different than someone else’s.
Let’s take a look at how a productivity coach might help specific groups of individuals in the professional world.
Solopreneurs
For the most part, these professionals own their businesses. While they may outsource virtual assistants, vendors, or contractors for specific functions in their business, they tend to work mostly by themselves on a daily basis.
If you’re a solopreneur, you may need help with such things as work-life balance, setting up your schedule, maintaining deadlines, and finding the right time of day to do your best work.
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs are known for starting, managing, and selling new businesses. These individuals may work with many different people on a regular basis, from investors, contractors, and staff. That’s why it’s so important to have top-notch productivity skills under one’s belt in this role.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you may find you need help staying focused on projects, managing your busy schedule, keeping ideas organized, and staying energized throughout the day.
Small Business Owners
Small business owners manage the day-to-day affairs and the broader aspects of running their business. They may need to supervise services, oversee product production, deal with deliveries, develop marketing campaigns, or manage sales.
As a small business owner, you may need help delegating tasks to your team, setting firm boundaries for your schedule, managing business information, or creating daily and weekly routines.
Professionals
Even if they are not working for themselves, some professionals may have business-like positions. If this is the case, they may be responsible for managing divisions, groups, and practice areas. They may need to supervise staff in addition to their own work.
If you’re a professional, you may need help with planning projects, delegating tasks, juggling multiple deadlines, completing to-dos, and dealing with work delays.
When Should You Consider Working with a Productivity Coach?
Do you feel as if you’re always too busy in your business? Have you been feeling more tired and stressed out at work than usual?
Do you get the feeling that you’re not being as productive as you could in your work, especially since you’ve been super-productive in past ?
If so, then those are probably signs you should consider working with a productivity coach.
In my experience, it’s not uncommon for clients to come to me when they are feeling completely overwhelmed, frustrated, or embarrassed by their business.
Other times, people come to me when they realize they can’t keep doing the same actions over and over, and getting the same results in their work. Still others were recently promoted and want to start their new position off on the right foot by improving their skills.
You may wish to consider working with a productivity coach when:
- You know practically how to do the work (e.g. plan) but can’t seem to figure out how to get started
- You’re spending more hours than usual working in your business, both on weekdays and weekends
- You’re feeling tired, exhausted, frustrated, embarrassed by how you’re managing your time and energy
- You find yourself working on non-urgent and non-important tasks simply for the sake of staying busy
- You find yourself having more delays in client work, a backlog of administration work, and procrastinating on projects
If you’re thinking about working with a productivity coach online, then take some action today. Do some online research, send an email inquiry, or schedule an introductory call.
At best, you’ll start working with a productivity coach sooner rather than later. At the very least, you’ll walk away with more knowledge about productivity coaching than you did before.
What Should You Look for in a Productivity Coach?
As I mentioned earlier, finding a coach can be a somewhat personal matter. But. I think it’s important for people to work with a coach whom they like, know, and trust.
Here are some things you may want to keep in mind when searching for a productivity coach.
Personality
Ideally, you should work with someone who compliments your personality in a natural way. For instance, do your personalities mesh or work well with one another? Or do you tend to clash over the smallest detail?
You should be able to enjoy your coach’s company and work together in a supportive and enjoyable way. You’re investing time, resources, and energy into your coaching, so it’s important to find the right fit!
Experience
Everyone has different experiences and backgrounds in life. Fortunately, this can be of benefit to you when selecting a productivity coach. What type of experience do they have? Is it important to you that they have any certifications or degrees, or is this not an issue for you?
Are they well-regarded in their industry? Have they been in a similar situation to yours and become more productive? Or are they naturally skilled and have a talent for helping people increase their productivity? All of these questions are worth considering.
Approach
How does your coach approach productivity? For instance, are they focused on helping you improve your overall relationship towards productivity? Do they teach a certain productivity system?
Do they teach people how to use a particular piece of software or app? Or do they help people learn how to use different productivity methods?
There’s no one way to improve your productivity skills. But considering your coach’s approach can be a very important factor.
Offerings
What types of offerings does your productivity coach offer? Do they offer 1:1 private coaching packages where it’s just you and the coach for your sessions? How about group courses where there are many participants?
Do they offer consulting packages? If you’re interested in DIY solutions, do they offer books, eBooks, online courses, programs, workshops, or more you can do on your own time? These are all things that you should consider carefully.
How Can You Make the Most of Your Time Working with a Productivity Coach?
I like to view working with any professional as a veritable gold mine. Why? Well, you can look at this in this manner.
You’re choosing to work with someone because of their expertise in their field. You want to learn as much as possible from them so you can better your skills and work more productively for the long term.
Think of it this way. Imagine you bought a front row ticket to see your favorite musical artist in concert.
You’re wearing your favorite outfit, singing along with your friends, and dancing your way into the night. What a once-in a lifetime experience! You’re enjoying yourself in the moment and will have memories for years to come.
Now, imagine going to the concert, putting on noise cancelling headphones, an eye mask, and turning your back to the stage. That would be quite a different experience to the one above. You’d miss out on the entire concert experience.
It’s the same way when working with a coach. You want to be fully present. This is so you can make the most of your investment and reap the benefits for years to come.
How to Work Well with a Productivity Coach
Okay, so you know more about why you might want to work with a productivity coach.
What’s the best way to work with a productivity coach? Take it from a productivity coach herself!
Here’s my step-by-step process for working with a productivity coach, from booking that first getting-to-know-you call to celebrating your progress along the way.
Schedule a strategy session or discovery call
For me, setting up a strategy session is the first step in working with a coach. The idea here is to learn more about what they do, how they can help you, and to see if you’re a good match for one another.
For instance, I offer strategy sessions for my potential clients so they can get to know me better, tell me more about their current challenges, and to see if we’re a good fit.
To get started in setting up your call, you can do research online, visit a coach’s website, contact them via social media, phone, or email. Simply setting up that call can be an important step towards your future success.
Clearly describe your goals and desires
Many people say they want to be more productive. In my professional experience, that’s just the symptom of the problem. As a productivity coach, I often work with clients to uncover their true desires and goals.
It’s important to let your productivity coach know about your goals and desires. Doing so will help them formulate a plan to help move you closer to those desires.
If you don’t clearly describe what you want, it will be more difficult for them to coach you towards your goals.
And if you’re unsure about your goals, don’t worry! Your coach can work with you, ask you questions, and help you better articulate what it is you do want.
For example, I have a relaxed casual conversation in my strategy sessions with potential clients. I ask a lot of questions to better understand my potential clients’ needs, wants, and desires.
Ask lots of thoughtful questions
Your curiosity and thoughts are part of the coaching process. If anything, asking thoughtful questions can open up a good dialogue between you and your coach. Even if you think a question seems silly or obvious, don’t be afraid. Go ahead and ask it anyway!
Questions like, “What key areas do you think I should focus on improving?” or “Where am I not seeing the complete picture in my work?” are good for the initial strategy session.
Likewise, ask questions such as, “Where do you see me in my progress?,” “What are some strengths of mine that I’m currently not seeing?” Other options include, “Where am I missing opportunities in my work?,” or “What’s something I might consider letting go of or reducing?” These are good questions to ask once you’ve officially started working with one another.
Schedule time with your productivity coach
Working with a productivity coach requires time and energy. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will need to spend multiple hours per week working side-by-side with your coach.
But, simply adding your sessions to your calendar or schedule is a good first start. Another thing you can do is to set aside some self-reflection time for yourself. This gives you time to think about your recent session.
You can note what you learned, observed, or noticed. You can also note what you’d like to do differently in future. This need not take long. Even 10 minutes of reflection time can provide value to you and your coaching.
Be honest with your Productivity coach
Your coach cannot help you if you’re telling wild tales about how you magically did the work of five people in one day! If they don’t know the real problem, then they can’t help you find a practical solution.
Here’s an example for you. I once worked with a client who was only telling me part of the story in her highly successful business. She thought there was an issue in her business that was holding her back from successfully serving her clients.
But as we talked and uncovered her concerns, it became clear that what was really holding her back was a personal issue. She successfully dealt with that personal issue and was able to be more productive in her business.
As you can see, this type of situation can be a frustrating on for both parties. So, moral of the story, be honest. Doing so will ultimately help you in the long run. You owe it to yourself to be honest for your own sake.
Consider putting some activities on the back burner
You’ll be spending a good amount of time with your coach. That being said, you’ll want have sufficient time to attend and make the most out of your coaching investment.
If your schedule is already very busy and you have additional voluntary activities on your calendar, then you may want to consider limiting your voluntary activities. In some cases, you may wish to temporarily cut back on or reduce the amount of hours spent in these extracurricular activities.
This allows you to have the time and energy needed to work with your coach. You may also consider pushing back the start date of any new activities. This is so you can get into a regular routine in your coaching.
Of course, deciding whether to postpone or delay your participation in activities will ultimately come down to you. However, you may wish to discuss your options with your coach for their perspective.
Keep a journal of your notes or progress
Keeping track of your coaching progress can be helpful. Why? Because it can show you just how much you’ve changed over the course of several days, weeks, and months.
A simple notebook can be useful because it forces you to be present and reflect upon your day.
Taking time to journal your thoughts, ideas, and experiences at the end of the day can be helpful. Even if you only spend 10 minutes writing down your progress daily, that’s 10 minutes of progress noted!
Another benefit in taking notes is that it allows you to revisit past entries. You can see how you changed your mindset and approach to your work.
Celebrate your accomplishments
Lastly, one of the joys of being a productivity coach is celebrating my clients’ wins with them. And these don’t have to be big wins either.
Small wins matter. This can be as simple as saying “no” to an unsolicited request to having a relaxing dinner with family on a Tuesday evening without being disturbed. Or, it could mean getting a good night’s rest.
Every accomplishment, no matter how small, means you’re moving one step closer in improving your productivity overall.
Besides, it’s always fun to recognize and celebrate one’s progress!
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
If you liked this article and want more, here are a few ways you can stay in touch:
Sign up for my newsletter. Every Tuesday I send out my latest blog post with practical tips to help you work and live more productively.
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Learn about my courses. I’ve created online courses to help you tackle your to-do list, declutter email, and organize a notebook.
Read my blog. There you’ll find tons of practical articles with tips, tricks, how-tos, tutorials, and a spot of inspiration, too.
Check out my services. If you want help when it comes to being productive in your business, work, and life, take a look at my services.
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