When Roger Federer was at the top of the world tennis rankings, he often did not have a coach. Then, every now and then, he would. My question was, if he is the number one player in the world, what os a coach going to do for him? I mean, how can a coach help him if the coach is not better than him?

OK, I admit, I was being a little dumb. While Roger may be the best player in the world, the is not to say there aren’t people who are better at one particular thing or another. If there are things he needs to work on, especially when transitioning between surfaces or after having a not-so-great tournament, then having another person to provide guidance can be a good thing.

You should consider this too: there may be times when it is right for you to consult with a business coach. A coach can be useful for helping you develop specific leadership or management skills, maybe teaching you how to counsel people or helping you get better at marketing. Leaders in small and medium-sized companies tend to be the bulk of the clientele for coaches, but that may simply be because many large companies already have in-house coaching teams.

When should you consider getting a coach? A great time is during a period of transition. If you are changing the direction of your firm drastically, a coach can help you make that adjustment. Similarly, if you are the one in transition — say, going from being a worker bee to being a leader — a coach can help get you established in your new position. This is especially useful as you move from a technical position to a leadership job with little advance development of leadership skills. You might also consider a coach when things are going well, because you have time to work on lesser issues that others might go unaddressed during busier, more stressful times.

The coach can work with you as regularly as you want…some people prefer weekly sessions, others every two weeks. The session may be in person or might be by phone. When you start out you need to work with the coach to set clear objectives and lay out a roadmap, with metrics for measuring progress and some kind of timeline so this does not just drag on and on and on.

You should consider looking for a coach who has some experience in your field so they can understand your unique needs and opportunities. Ask around among your friends and peers for any info they have on coaches with whom they have worked. Hire someone by reputation, not by price. The cheapest coach may not be the best…then again, the most expensive one might not be, either.

There is nothing wrong with turning to someone for some outside help. Star athletes do it, actors and singers do it, CEOs of major corporations do it, and you might do it too. Sometimes, an outsider’s view provides the insight you really need.