One can define business coaching as the practice of providing support and advice to an individual or group to help them recognize ways to improve the effectiveness of their business.

Though this definition does get to the heart of what business coaching is about it seems too simple as compared to what business coaching really does for a client.

Business coaching is a relationship between 2 or more people that are committed to a common goal and future for the business. It isn't simply a matter of someone coming in a telling you how to make more money.

It actually involves rethinking the way the client approaches their organization in order to transform it. In many cases business coaches deal with the client's personal lives as it may be impacting their professional life.

For the client to work cooperatively with their business coach they have to be willing to reinvent themselves and this means they need to be open to change. In addition to being open to change, they need to be open to learning and growth.

Therefore, it undermines the growth journey taken by the client to define business coaching as merely the working relationship of individuals improving their business.

Many clients have praised their coaches for helping them find or rediscover their passion in both their business and personal lives. Often we need to draw motivation and inspiration from our personal lives to move us in our professional lives.

Business coaches can help bring these things to spotlight. They also may intervene if they notice their client losing focus.

It is only natural for a business owner to drift from their goals from time to time. Business coaches make it easier for clients to find their way back on track because the client is not doing it on their own.

Business coaches reemphasize the future the client envisions. This is something we cannot always do for ourselves. When we are facing great challenges it's hard to keep the vision in our heads and continue to work towards it. But for business coaching clients they have someone who will work with the client to help them face the challenge and is committed to their success.

Business coaches don't take it upon themselves to build the business for their clients or do the work for them. The ideal coach is committed to helping the client achieve their goals rather than forcing their personal ideas upon the client.

Business coaches create an environment for the organization to help them see its potential. They are not there to undermine the client or the organization's mission but rather to uncover some of the elements restricting action and profit growth.

By discovering these limitations they can then facilitate new ways of doing things that will produce positive results and help to eliminate some of the "unsatisfactory" areas.

If a client and a business coach were to define business coaching they might say it is the extraordinary relationship between individuals committed to a common goal.