This week, Tom Hanratty speaks to business coach Derek O'Dwyer about business coaching in tighter times.

In these difficult days for business, one could be forgiven for craving a little helping hand. It is said that a business coach is just like a sporting coach, where a sporting coach pushes an athlete to achieve optimum performance and provides support, the role of the business coach is to coach business owners to improve their business through guidance, support and encouragement.

Derek O'Dwyer is the franchisee of Action Coach, based in the Liosban Industrial Estate. The aim of Derek and the Action Coach team is to help owners of small and medium sized businesses with their sales, marketing, management, team building and so much more.

Derek returned to Ireland in a more positive period in 2002, having lived abroad with his family since 1989. On his return, he set up what was at the time, the first Action Coach franchise in Europe.

"I had always wanted to run my own business and while I was planning my return, I became aware of Action Coach, who were just launching in Europe," Derek explains. "The concept had already been proven in New Zealand and Australia in demographic areas very similar to Ireland. My qualifications and work experience lent themselves to the Action Coach system so I purchased the franchise and set to work"

While Derek admits the Celtic Tiger certainly helped create a space for people to operate in areas like business consultancy and training, he is remaining positive about the role of the business coach in these tighter times.

"The Celtic Tiger allowed many businesses to grow, probably at rates that they had not experienced before. Growth like this brings with it many challenges such as managing cashflow, managing larger and more complex teams and also managing customer expectations. Many business owners realised that while they and their businesses were successful, they lacked certain skills which would allow them to run better businesses and that has created the opportunity for businesses like ours.

"During the Celtic Tiger and boom of recent years, many of these businesses were making money and may or may not have been aware if their business was being run well or not. The credit crunch has meant that people have to watch and measure all aspects of their business. Knowing what to watch and knowing what steps to take to improve the business is very important and that's where we can help clients."

For most business in the current climate, they are simply for some words of advice. Derek is keen to point out some of his own.

"In summary, every business lives and dies on its ability to generate cashflow. Collecting monies owed in a timely manner is important. Ensure that any work being done is being done in a professional and profitable manner.

"Too many businesses try and win business based purely on price. This is unsustainable and the customer ends up losing because service invariably suffers. Having the right team in the business is probably the single biggest factor in the current climate. Too many small businesses tolerate poor performance from team members.

"There is a responsibility on the business owner to lead the team and there is a responsibility on the team member to give 100 per cent to the business while at work. That does not just apply to the current climate. It's so evident in companies where the team are working for the good of the company – it does exist and it's brilliant to see it in action."

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