The Great Game of Business Blog

Sign up to receive our blog posts conveniently in your email box

5 Signs You’re Ready to Work With a Business Coach

Aug 23, 2025 by Great Game Team 0 Comments

Sometimes, running a business feels like a constant push, and nothing moves unless you make it happen. Especially when growth stalls, team alignment slips, or you’re stuck in the weeds instead of leading the business forward.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need outside help, you’re not alone!

Many leaders wait too long to explore small business coaching, assuming it’s only for big companies or that they should “figure it out themselves.” But great coaching isn’t about handing over control— it’s about helping you build clarity, confidence, and a team that shares responsibility for your success.

So, how do you know it’s time?

Let’s explore five signs that you’re ready to hire a business coach and how to take the first step through The Great Game of Business®.

How to Know You’re Ready for Business Coaching

1. You’re Driving Results, But You’re Driving Alone

You’ve got big goals, but your team isn’t moving with the same urgency. You’re constantly chasing buy-in, putting out fires, or wondering why people don’t take initiative. Sound familiar?

That’s often a sign of misalignment, not a motivation problem. The right coach helps you shift from a top-down structure to an ownership culture, where employees understand the numbers and feel responsible for improving them.

GGOB coaching focuses on building financial transparency and shared accountability. Through open-book practices, huddles, and shared goals, you create a culture where people care about the outcome, not just the task.

Collage of GGOB coaches

2. You’re Hitting a “Growth Ceiling”

You’ve grown through grit and hustle, but now things are plateauing. You’re stretched thin. Margins are tight. It feels like you’ve maxed out what your current systems (and team) can deliver.

This is one of the most evident signs you’re ready for business coaching.

Rather than spending money on more tools or staff, a coach helps you assess your existing resources, streamline your priorities, and build repeatable processes that scale. 

Whether it’s forecasting, setting targets, or developing your leadership bench, coaching turns chaos into structure.

Our certified coaches don’t just bring inspiration. They bring a playbook, the scoreboard, and the strategy. You’ll leave each session with clear goals and renewed energy to lead forward.

Pro Tip: See how other small businesses broke through their growth ceiling at the Great Game of Business Conference!

3. You Know What Needs to Happen, But It’s Not Getting Done

You’ve got a strategy on paper. You’ve even shared it in meetings. But weeks go by, and the needle doesn’t move. This is where coaching becomes a game-changer.

Great business coaches don’t just help you plan—they help you execute. 

With weekly coaching calls, in-person sessions, and ongoing team planning built around your Critical Number™, GGOB coaches help you bring your business strategy to life, turning big ideas into weekly wins your team can see and act on.

When your team can connect their daily decisions to broader goals and see progress in real-time, it becomes easier to drive performance without micromanagement.

This is especially powerful in small businesses, where owners wear multiple hats. Coaching adds a layer of accountability and structure without adding more to your plate.

Businessman looking at financial charts and graphs

4. You Want to Build Leaders, Not Just Manage People

Your team is capable, but they’re waiting for your direction. This usually isn’t a talent issue. It’s a system issue.

A business coach helps you shift from reactive management to proactive leadership development. Free tools like MiniGames™, forecasting sessions, and huddles turn every role into a leadership opportunity and every win into team momentum!

Employees begin to think like owners and speak the language of business. They’re no longer just fulfilling tasks; they’re contributing ideas, solving problems, and helping the company grow from the inside out.

Client testimonials about GGOB MiniGames

5. You’re Ready to Lead Differently, But Unsure Where to Start

You’ve heard the buzz about financial transparency and people-powered performance, but you're unsure how to apply it to your business. That’s a strong sign that you’re coachable!

Coaching is most effective when you’re open to change, curious about new ideas, and committed to achieving long-term success. If you’re starting to ask different questions, it usually means you’re ready for better answers.

According to the International Coaching Federation, 86% of companies report that they recoup their coaching investment, and more than 70% experience improved performance across leadership and teams. 

You don’t need to commit to a coach today. But you can take the first step by immersing yourself in a community of growth-minded leaders who are already doing it—and doing it well!

All In Graphic

See the Transformation Up Close at the Great Game Conference

Whether you're just exploring coaching or ready to get started, our annual conference is designed to meet you where you are!

Join us for two high-energy days filled with hands-on learning, strategic planning tools, and real-world case studies from companies using Great Game to drive results.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Proven ways to grow your business
  • Inspirational success stories from companies like yours
  • Tools you can implement the next day
  • Clarity on what coaching could look like for your team

You’ll also get access to peer-to-peer discussions, interactive sessions, and keynote speakers that show you what business coaching looks like when it’s done the right way.

Eliminate the Guesswork and Start Growing with Confidence

Ready to see what’s possible? Reserve your seat at the conference or schedule a free coaching call and take the first step toward a stronger, more aligned team!

Written by Great Game Team
More than 376,500 Times the GGOB Blog Has Been a Trusted Source for Information on OBM

Lists by Topic

see all

About The Great Game of Business

Our approach to running a company was developed to help close one of the biggest gaps in business: the gap between managers and employees. We call our open-book approach The Great Game of Business. What lies at the heart of The Game is a very simple proposition: The best, most efficient, most profitable way to operate a business is to give everybody in the company a voice in saying how the company is run and a stake in the outcome. Let us teach you how to develop a culture of ownership, where employees think, act and feel like owners.