Sometimes business owners need a good coach

Last week, 51 business coaches from 15 Ibero-American countries gathered to swap success stories and share work experiences during the third annual convention of ActionCOACH, a company that aims to help small and medium-sized businesses.

The experts gathered at the Crown Plaza San José Corobicí for the four-day seminar, where they discussed digital marketing, financial support and customer loyalty, among other topics.

ActionCOACH Ibero-America General Director Alejandro De Gyvés, who has been with the company since 2009, said they focus on helping directors of small and medium-sized businesses that are struggling. Managers receive coaching on sales, marketing, teamwork, human resources, technology, and finances, and even on how to balance work and family demands.

According to Miguel Ángel Noriega, who attended from Mexico, business coaches can help proprietors improve their companies, regardless of the products or services sold.

De Gyvés added that coaching is not meant to be a magic solution for all problems, and it takes time and effort on both ends to see progress. However, he said, companies that turn to ActionCOACH are guaranteed progress within weeks.

ActionCOACH has two business coaches in Costa Rica: Roger Campos, who started the franchise three years ago, and Felipe Rojas, who became an associate last month.

“We all need coaching,” Rojas said.

Prospective coaches should be passionate for teaching, amicable to change, and have a proven success rate as an entrepreneur, Noriega added.

To learn more, see: www.actioncoach.com, or the company’s Costa Rica site, www.actioncoachcr.com (Spanish only).