Why Should a Designer Hire a Coach?

If you’re in the online business space, you’ve probably seen coaches popping up in every industry. In a time where information is so loud and accessible and there’s a guru around every corner trying to tell you what to do, hiring a coach to give you 1:1 guidance without all the noise is invaluable.

If you’re a designer, hiring a coach might not have crossed your mind before. But just like any other business in any industry that might hire a coach, designers are fully capable of elevating and scaling their business through coaching. Hiring a coach as a designer is not hiring someone to take over your creativity or tell you how to design projects. It’s much more business-minded than that, while still keeping your creativity and your niche at the center of what you do.

What a coach can do for a designer

1. It's beneficial to learn from someone who has been where you are and has achieved what you hope to.

Hiring a coach that has been a designer is key. Every industry is different, and some business coaches simply might not "get it". A coach that has been where you are knows your struggles, your victories, your concerns, and what you face day-to-day as a designer. And through all of that, they have achieved a goal you would like to achieve! Learning directly from those who have been in your shoes is huge for someone in a specialized niche.

2. Working with a coach can keep you accountable to your goals

Your coach will know the distractions that will try to steer you off track from your goals because they have been there. With any coach, there’s regular check-ins, whether that’s daily or weekly to make sure you’re on the right track.

3. They can help you build a support system and be a cheerleader

Community can’t be understated when you’re building a business. Most people aren’t entrepreneurs these days, so it can feel a bit lonely. Coaches get you. They help you build a support system, cheering you on the whole way!

What a coach shouldn't do for a designer (or any business)

1. Make big promises that you'll reach all of your goals with their step-by-step process

If you’ve seen a coach present an exact route to success, keep on walking. Every business is different (especially creative businesses) and there’s no one-size fits all answer. Coaches are here to guide, not control.

2. Shame or pressure you into signing up for their program

A good coach knows that every business owner is at a different stage in their journey. Some will want to hire them, and some won’t. If you’re being pressured to join a coaching program, you might actually be being pressured to be just a customer. 

3. Tell you all you need to do is change your mindset or manifest your goals into reality

This one’s tough. You’ve changed your mindset. You’ve written your goals in a journal over and over again. But still nothing. The truth is, just like there’s not a one-size fits all approach, there’s more work to do than just “manifest.” While mindset is key, a coach should help you navigate tough decisions and make the right moves, not just give you mindset affirmations. 

So if you’re a designer ready to elevate your business in 2023, consider hiring a coach! Weigh all of your options. Look at where you are and where you would like to be. Coaching might be on the horizon for you. 

Interested in coaching from Hayley or the Studio Seaside team? Check out your options here.