The economic climate has made it difficult for businesses to develop a strategy for growth but it is vital that companies begin to look forward. With the right guidance, a clear picture of what your company does and where it aspires to be, even the most 'stuck in its ways' business can flourish.

1. A failure to distinguish your product and/or service in the marketplace
Even being a really good 'me-too' is not enough. Re-examine your products and services and how they relate to the emerging needs of your customers. Highlight those aspects which distinguish your business from those of your competitors - it's about being different and being seen to be better.

2. Letting your competitors set the trading agenda
Examine your opportunities to take a leadership position in some aspect of your market and marketing - again you need to be different and be the first.
Re-examine your products and services and how they relate to the emerging needs of your customers

3. Selling your products/services at the same price-points in the same way
How many different ways could a potential customer gain access to the benefits your products or services offer? Be different and easier to do business with.

4. Changing too fast, not changing enough, taking too many risks
This comes down to investing in sustained changes in your business to the point where 'change' becomes a seamless aspect of what you do. It's about being effectively and consistently different because you are clear about what the difference needs to be, and why.

5. Managing 'change', not leading it
Only you can help your team change but it requires inspirational, authentic and supportive leadership of change so your employees have the confidence and competence to think differently. This is when your company's 'normal' is everybody else's' 'different'.

6. Being too busy chasing your relentless 'task-list'
Being a slave to a task-list, coupled with being too reactive will ensure you and your business will be anchored to the spot. Adopt a process-based way of working. Think and act holistically taking into account and responding to all the factors affecting performance in a coherent and coordinated way.

A good business coach is able to help you unlock your thinking, help you view your issues and opportunities differently and, through a process of exploration and discovery, help you find the answers you need to breakthrough the barriers to growth and in particular sustained growth.

When coaching and coaching skills become part of leadership values and management behaviours, then quite startling improvements in business performance follow. This is because individuals, teams and organisations are able to make their own learning breakthrough to discover how to thrive in the future.

For more information please visit www.achievementcoachinginternational.com