The frequency of your meetings with a business coach depends entirely on the level of support you need to move your business forward, how motivated you are to make the necessary changes to your business, your working style and whether stress and overwhelm are something you struggle with.
Most coaches have a pre-determined schedule for how often they meet their clients, whether once a week, bi-monthly or monthly. I take a very different approach. I offer all my clients unlimited meetings, which is unusual in business coaching practice. When I take on a new client, I tell them they can have as many meetings as they want. This choice gives the client control over how quickly they progress and means I can provide the right support for their current needs.
In practice, during the first meeting with a client, we set action points and agree on how long it will take to implement the agreed action points. Then we agree on when we should next meet, which could be the following week or in two to three weeks’ time. In between meetings, I remain available in case my clients want to reach out and discuss a problem they are going through or need to ask me a question. I am happy to help them overcome their problem by talking it through with them over the phone, via email or by hopping on a Zoom call.
How much time should pass between meetings?
People often ask me this, and my answer is that it depends on their circumstances and what the client and I agreed on in our previous meeting. Most of my new clients initially prefer to meet once a week and then move on to a more spaced-out frequency once they have tackled the most urgent issues in their business. In my opinion, it’s never a good idea to meet too often and have a meeting for the sake of it or waste time discussing what the client hasn’t done.
What is the most common frequency for business coaching meetings?
The frequency depends on the client, the kind of business they are running and how effective they are at implementing the action points agreed upon in our previous meeting. Most clients initially want to meet weekly, as there is a lot more to do in the early days. Over time, they usually settle for a meeting frequency of every two to three weeks. This seems to work for most business owners as it gives them plenty of time to work through the list of tasks we have set and enables them to remain on track, motivated and focused on moving their business forward.
I find that meeting every two to three weeks also gives the client time to reflect on what they’ve experienced in their business and what’s coming down the pipeline and enables them to share business events in real time so that we can discuss the best pathway forward.
Is meeting a business coach once a month enough to effect change?
Absolutely, provided that you use the space between meetings to effect the necessary changes in your business. In my business coaching experience, I find this frequency works particularly well for more established businesses. Due to only meeting once a month, the business owner can look at their business objectively and identify what issues have cropped up and what decisions they need help with. These meetings are usually fast-paced and highly effective.
The advantage of meeting your business coach once a month
One advantage of meeting once a month is that the meetings are focused, and I can help my clients go through their business decisions and help them make speedier, more efficient decisions. Meeting once a month works well for clients who don’t have the time or inclination to meet more frequently.
In fact, I have one client who prefers to meet once a month and, as a result of this, has reduced his working days from six to four and increased his turnover by 75%. Our meetings are punchy with a clear agenda. He is very good at picking things up from our meeting and acting on them before our next meeting. He doesn’t need to be nagged or constantly held to account. Depending on a client’s working style, this frequency can work well for some clients and less well for others.
Factors that determine the frequency of business coaching meetings
Several factors are instrumental in determining how often you should meet with your business coach. In my experience, if you are considering working with a business coach, these are the main points to consider:
- Do you need to be held accountable?
- Do you complete tasks independently or do you respond better to nagging?
- Are you mentally strong and resilient enough to meet once a month?
- What level of support do you need?
- Do you suffer from stress and overwhelm?
- Can you remain on track and focused in between meetings?
- How often can you fit a meeting into your schedule?
To conclude, asking how often you should meet your business coach is the wrong question. You should ask yourself, “How effective can I be between meetings with my business coach?”.
Some people I have coached in the past have fallen apart between meetings, leading me to ask them if it’s fair for me to take their money if they are unable or unwilling to effect meaningful change. The outcomes of working with a business coach in achieving your vision and goals do not depend on how often you meet but on how committed you are to making the necessary changes by working through the action points identified in each meeting.
If you would like to book a free discovery call to find out how I can help you manage your business better by looking at your problems from a different perspective and sharing the decades of experience I have accrued from running my own businesses and coaching others, click here to book a free discovery call.
About the author
Jason Cornes has had the good fortune of never having been employed and has supported himself throughout his working life by leveraging his business acumen and creating many successful businesses. In his almost 40 years of experience in running businesses, he has faced the many challenges that running a business presents in various economic peaks and troughs.
He now shares his own and his clients’ successes and failures to help clients avoid the pitfalls often encountered in business. Jason has a Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). He also studied counselling and psychotherapy for five years. During this time, he further cultivated his natural ability to actively listen and empathise.
Jason knows what it’s like to feel frustrated and at a crossroads, not knowing which direction to take. His wealth of business experience, both positive and negative, makes him an excellent business coach able to assist other business owners in overcoming problems that may be preventing them from moving their businesses forward.
Jason specialises in supporting single decision-makers who run small businesses in any sector, whether self-employed and offering professional services or a Director of a Ltd Co with or without employees. His clientele comprises Architects, Accountants and Tax Advisors, Web Designers, Solicitors, Doctors, IT Professionals, Teachers, Trainers and Consultants. He has been a full-time business coach since 2017.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Jason Cornes for around 6 months now, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. His knowledge and expertise in the business world is invaluable, and he provides me with the guidance and support I need to get my business up and running and reach that next level. He is always available to answer questions, provide advice, and brainstorm new ideas all in a confidential manner. His enthusiasm and dedication to my success is a real inspiration.”
Matt Cranfield, Cranfield IT
Read what Jason’s clients say about working with him here: testimonials
