The Destination for SMB InsightsVol. 5

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How a Business Coach Helped Identify Unique Strengths in Leadership

Small Biz Leader · February 19, 2025

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Small Biz Leader · February 19, 2025

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The perspectives in this article were written by the named contributors and submitted through Connectively. Connectively's automated system selected them and used AI to write the headline, introduction, section headings, summary sections, and illustration, and to make minor edits for clarity. Articles are assembled and published automatically. Report errors to corrections@connectively.us. How we make our content

How a Business Coach Helped Identify Unique Strengths in Leadership

Recognize and Leverage Your Own Gifts
Focus on Big-Picture Strategy and Innovation
Bridge Clinical Expertise with Toy Development
Lean Into Your Strengths for Growth
Build a Structured Organizational Framework
Identify High-ROI Opportunities and Optimize Funnels
Surround Yourself with Knowledgeable Entrepreneurs
Leverage Analytics for Strategic Growth
Set Vision and Trust Your Team
Expand Beyond Therapy to Leadership Roles
Humanize Your Brand Through Storytelling
Establish a Strong Digital Footprint
Trust Creative Instincts for Business Success
Build Strong Partnerships for Sustainable Growth
Lean Into Natural Talents and Gifts
Blend Expertise, Passion, and Innovation
Uncover and Focus on Unique Strengths

Jennifer Maher · Max Shak · Mona Hovaizi · Justin Belmont · Shah Dudayev · Georgi Petrov · Vasilii Kiselev · Brenton Thomas · Zarina Bahadur · Malka Shaw · Mohamed Moussa · Justin Abrams · Natalia Lavrenenko · Bram Louwers · Sylvie Di Giusto · Tessa Schwall · Sebastian Petrosi

Recognize and Leverage Your Own Gifts

Jennifer MaherSoulful Prosperity Coach, Prosperous Jenn

How a Business Coach Helped Me See What Was Already Mine

I've always been a leader, a strategist, a way-shower—but for a long time, I didn't fully own it. I was so caught up in doing everything for everyone else that I wasn't recognizing my own gifts in the way I should have. Working with a business coach wasn't just about strategy for me—it was about seeing myself clearly and stepping into my power in a way that felt aligned, purposeful, and mine.

Here's what my coach helped me recognize and leverage:

1. My Ability to Cut Through the Noise and Create Clarity

I've always had a gift for seeing what's really going on beneath the surface—whether in business, leadership, or life. My coach helped me realize that this wasn't just something I did—it was my superpower. Instead of just giving advice, I help people find the truth, align with it, and take action from a place of certainty. That's not just coaching—that's transformation.

2. My Leadership and Coaching Strengths

I was so used to being the one people turned to for advice, but I hadn't structured my business in a way that truly honored my leadership. My coach helped me step into the role of CEO, set better boundaries, and create a model that let me lead from a place of power instead of exhaustion. Now, I help others do the same.

3. The Power of My Story

For years, I thought my past was something I overcame—but my coach helped me see it as one of my greatest strengths. My journey through addiction, rebuilding my life, losing and regaining everything, and coming out stronger, wiser, and more aligned is exactly what makes me so damn good at what I do. People don't just want strategies—they want a leader who's walked the path before them.

4. Soulful Prosperity Over Hustle Culture

I used to think success meant grinding, pushing, and proving. My coach helped me unlearn that and rebuild my business in a way that actually supports the life I want. Now, I help others break out of survival mode and step into a version of success that feels good—one that's abundant, aligned, and completely their own.

The biggest lesson? Sometimes, we're so close to our own gifts that we don't see them for what they are. Having someone reflect them back to you, challenge you, and call you into your next level is priceless. And now, that's exactly what I do for others.

Because when you truly see yourself, everything changes.

Sending you love, light, and prosperity,

Prosperous Jenn

Focus on Big-Picture Strategy and Innovation

Max ShakFounder/CEO, nerDigital

As the Founder of Nerdigital.com, working with a business coach was a game-changer in helping me recognize and leverage my unique strengths. Like many entrepreneurs, I was juggling multiple roles, but my coach helped me step back and focus on what truly moved the needle.

One key strength they identified was my ability to see market gaps and develop scalable digital solutions. While I was spending too much time on day-to-day operations, my coach pushed me to lean into big-picture strategy and product innovation-the areas where I add the most value.

They also helped me refine my leadership style, showing me that my strength wasn't just in execution but in empowering my team. By delegating effectively and trusting my leaders, I was able to shift from being in the weeds to driving long-term vision and growth.

The result? A more efficient company, faster product development, and a stronger culture. Sometimes, you need an outside perspective to truly unlock your potential.

Bridge Clinical Expertise with Toy Development

Mona HovaiziFounder & CEO, Gaux

Having trained as a dentist, I initially struggled to see how my clinical expertise could translate into creating developmental toys - it felt like two separate worlds. Sarah, my coach, helped me recognize that my deep understanding of children's oral development and safety considerations was actually a powerful differentiator in the toy market.

Through our weekly sessions, Sarah guided me to see how my combined background in dentistry and child development created a unique lens for product design. For example, she helped me realize that my expertise in how children's oral motor skills develop could inform the creation of safer, more developmentally appropriate toys. This insight led to our signature line of sensory toys that support both fine motor skills and oral development.

What really clicked was when Sarah helped me connect my passion for screen-free, travel-based learning with my professional knowledge. She showed me that my experience teaching parents about dental health through hands-on demonstrations could translate into creating educational toys that make learning tangible and interactive. This realization helped shape our company's focus on experiential learning products that parents can use during family travels.

The most valuable strength Sarah helped me identify was my ability to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and practical parenting solutions. Rather than seeing my dental background as separate from toy development, she helped me embrace it as a foundation for creating products that support holistic child development. This perspective has become central to our brand identity and has helped us stand out in both the dental and toy industries.

Lean Into Your Strengths for Growth

Justin BelmontFounder & CEO, Prose

A business coach called me out on something I didn't even realize—I was too stuck in the business to work on the business. I was grinding on tasks that weren't my zone of genius instead of doubling down on what I do best: strategy, storytelling, and big-picture thinking. They helped me see that my real strength was positioning—knowing how to craft messaging that actually lands. Once I leaned into that, I delegated more, streamlined operations, and focused on high-impact work. The result? Faster growth, better clients, and way less burnout. Sometimes, you need an outside perspective to tell you what's been obvious all along.

Build a Structured Organizational Framework

Shah DudayevFounder, Frootful Ventures

A business coach helped me realize that marketing wasn't going to solve all of my organizational problems. For a long time, I thought that if I just improved my marketing, everything else would fall into place—more leads, more sales, more growth. But I kept running into bottlenecks, and no matter how much I optimized the marketing, I wasn't seeing the level of efficiency I wanted.

My coach helped me step back and see the bigger picture—my business wasn't just a marketing engine; it was a system, and every part of that system needed structure. Once I started implementing an organizational framework that focused on efficiency, clear processes, and operational discipline, everything changed. Marketing and sales became significantly more effective because the business itself was built to handle growth, not just attract it.

This shift completely changed the way I coach entrepreneurs today. I don't just focus on growth tactics—I help founders look at their business as a complete system, with each department operating as its own system within it. When you approach business this way, you don't just grow—you build something scalable, sustainable, and capable of lasting success.

Identify High-ROI Opportunities and Optimize Funnels

Georgi PetrovCMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER

Working with a business coach helped me see strengths I had overlooked, especially in strategic thinking and scaling paid ad campaigns efficiently. I used to focus too much on execution, but my coach pointed out that my ability to identify high-ROI opportunities and optimize marketing funnels was what set me apart. One breakthrough moment came when they helped me shift from just running ads to building an entire growth system-integrating lead nurturing, upsells, and retention strategies. This change not only increased revenue but also reduced acquisition costs and improved customer lifetime value. Having an outside perspective made all the difference, showing me how to lean into big-picture strategy rather than getting stuck in the daily grind.

Surround Yourself with Knowledgeable Entrepreneurs

Vasilii KiselevCEO & Co-Founder, Legacy Online School

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned as a founder is that you can't scale a business alone—and a great business coach doesn't just help you develop skills, they help you build the right ecosystem around you.

Early on with Legacy Online School, I believed that working harder was the key to success. My mentor or rather the co-founder at Legacy really challenged that thinking and pushed me to surround myself with entrepreneurs who had already solved the problems I was facing. I started joining communities of founders, having deep, unfiltered conversations with people who had built and scaled businesses, and suddenly, I wasn't just relying on my own experience—I was tapping into a collective wealth of knowledge.

The biggest shift? I learned that my true strength wasn't in doing everything myself, but in identifying what actually moves the needle and doubling down on it. My coach helped me refine my ability to spot industry shifts before they happen, think in systems, and build a business that runs efficiently without being dependent on me.

If there's one piece of advice I'd give any entrepreneur, it's this: Don't just seek advice—embed yourself in rooms where people are thinking bigger than you. The right business coach doesn't just show you your strengths; they help you build the network, mindset, and strategy to scale them.

Leverage Analytics for Strategic Growth

Brenton ThomasFounder, Twibi

A business coach helped me recognize strategic problem-solving and data-driven decision-making as key strengths. Through guided sessions, they identified my ability to analyze market trends and optimize campaigns for maximum ROI. For example, refining our lead generation strategy based on performance insights significantly improved conversion rates. This coaching reinforced my confidence in leveraging analytics for growth. By focusing on strengths like adaptability and strategic execution, I streamlined operations, enhanced marketing impact, and positioned the business for long-term success.

Set Vision and Trust Your Team

Zarina BahadurCEO and Founder, 123 Baby Box

Founders get stuck thinking they're the best at everything. My coach helped me realize that my real strength wasn't in micromanaging, it was in setting the vision and trusting my team to execute. Once I stepped back and focused on scaling, revenue jumped 245% in a year. Letting go felt risky, but trying to control every little detail was the bigger risk.

Now, I ask myself: Am I the only person who can do this? If the answer is no, I pass it on. That shift let me focus on strategy, partnerships, and funding. My business grew faster the moment I stopped trying to run every part of it.

Expand Beyond Therapy to Leadership Roles

Malka ShawPsychotherapist, Private Practice

Working with Julie Riga, MBA, as my business coach was a transformative experience that helped me recognize strengths I didn't fully see in myself—and, more importantly, gave me the confidence to step into them. For years, I had built a successful independent private practice as a trauma therapist. That was my comfort zone: one-on-one work, deep in the clinical space, creating safety for others. But after October 7th, I felt a sense of urgency and responsibility to do more—to speak up, educate, and help people understand the intersection of mental health and antisemitism. That mission was clear, but the path forward was anything but.

I knew I needed to move beyond the therapy room—to speak publicly, lead workshops, and step into more visible leadership roles, but I was wrestling with impostor syndrome. I kept thinking, "Who am I to do this? I'm a therapist, not a speaker. I'm not a leader." That's where Julie came in. She helped me reframe those doubts, not by ignoring them, but by helping me see that the very skills I had honed in therapy—deep listening, holding complexity, guiding others through uncertainty—were leadership strengths.

She pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and reminded me that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room—it's about showing up with clarity, empathy, and conviction. She helped me develop my voice as a speaker, not by teaching me to perform, but by helping me trust that what I had to say mattered. Most importantly, she helped me claim my expertise, something that so many of us, especially women, struggle to do.

I learned that being a leader doesn't mean abandoning who you are—it means expanding who you are. I'm still a therapist, but I'm also an educator, speaker, and advocate, and Julie helped me see that those roles are not separate—they are all part of my calling. My advice to others is this: Get support. We don't grow in isolation. Sometimes it takes someone else—someone who believes in you before you fully believe in yourself—to help you step into the work you were meant to do.

Humanize Your Brand Through Storytelling

Mohamed MoussaManaging Director, Tornado Marine Fleet

Working with a business coach was a game-changer for me. I was so focused on day-to-day operations that I didn't take the time to step back and see what made our liveaboard business truly stand out. My coach helped me recognize that our biggest strength wasn't just our top-notch vessels—it was the personalized, high-quality experience we offer. While competitors focused on volume, we focused on building deep connections with our international guests, creating a loyal community that kept coming back time and again.

One specific strength they helped me lean into was storytelling. Instead of just marketing trips, we started sharing the adventure—our crew's passion, guests' incredible underwater moments, and the behind-the-scenes of running our fleet. That shift humanized our brand, making it more relatable. If you ever work with a coach, be ready to have your blind spots challenged—it's uncomfortable at times, but that's where the growth happens.

Establish a Strong Digital Footprint

Justin AbramsFounder & CEO, Aryo Consulting Group

Like most business owners, I'm extremely knowledgeable in my subject but fastly unaware of things like marketing, sales, and the technology side of the business. Additionally, I'm aware of my limitations from a business planning perspective, so I worked with coaches in the past to help with each of these concerns-particularly marketing, because it's just so out of my subject matter expertise.

By far the best part of this is that most marketing is centered around tools that never existed when I was starting my business. They've been able to establish my footprint on places like Facebook and Instagram by also developing our backend SEO and website. These are all vastly underrated parts of our sales process but are extremely fruitful for something with such a long sales cycle.

Trust Creative Instincts for Business Success

Natalia LavrenenkoUGC manager/Marketing manager, Rathly

A business coach once helped me see my unique abilities in a new light. My coach pointed out my knack for connecting with audiences and my talent for spotting trends early. Practical examples from our sessions opened my eyes to the power of my creative approach. Feedback was clear, and it made me feel both understood and valued.

I learned to trust my creative instincts and break down complex ideas into simple messages. The coach shared hands-on exercises that boosted my confidence in these areas. That advice helped me focus on strengths that truly drive my work at Rathly. The experience shows that clear feedback and real examples can sharpen your focus and fuel growth.

Build Strong Partnerships for Sustainable Growth

Bram LouwersDirector, BrainManager

A business coach helped me identify my strengths in strategic planning and relationship-building. Through coaching, I gained clarity on how these skills were directly impacting my business growth. They helped me recognize my ability to connect with people, which I leveraged to build strong partnerships and expand my network. The coach also pushed me to focus on long-term goals, encouraging me to refine my leadership style to be more inclusive and collaborative. This insight allowed me to align my strengths with business strategies, creating more sustainable growth and increasing my confidence in decision-making.

Lean Into Natural Talents and Gifts

Sylvie Di GiustoKeynote Speaker & Author | Helping professionals lead better, sell faster, persuade instantly, Sylvie di Giusto

Many business coaches focus on skills, competencies, expertise, experience, or accomplishments when working with business owners and leaders-all measurable, tangible assets that undoubtedly contribute to success. But my business coach helped me realize something far more valuable: it's my inborn, natural talents and gifts that truly set me apart.

Each of us has unique strengths-abilities that feel effortless and instinctive, the ones we've had since childhood that make work feel more like play. But because they come so naturally, we often overlook them or assume they're not special.

Once I became aware of my natural strengths, I stopped:

- trying to master skills that didn't align with my talents.

- comparing myself to others who excelled in areas that weren't my natural fit.

- overlooking what came easily to me, assuming it wasn't valuable.

My natural talent is deeply rooted in visualization and aesthetics. I've always been that child who could turn a blank sheet of paper into a beautiful, intricate drawing. My bedroom? A perfectly curated space where every color, texture, and object had a place. Later, as a teenager, I took pride in designing my surroundings, experimenting with fashion, and ensuring everything I touched looked just right.

Fast forward to my business today-those same instincts remain. But for the longest time, I struggled with delegation. When my team provided me with work-presentations, designs, layouts, or anything involving visual execution-it was frustrating. Not because they weren't talented, but because I could see exactly how it should look in my mind, and the execution didn't always match my vision. I felt the constant urge to tweak, adjust, or redo things myself.

But here's what changed: My business coach helped me realize that this wasn't a flaw-it was a gift. Instead of trying to suppress my instinct for aesthetics, I leaned into it. Now, with confidence, joy, and full ownership, I keep those creative responsibilities in my corner-which has made it exponentially easier to let go of the ones that are not.

Ask yourself:

- What have I always been good at as a child?

- What do I do effortlessly that others find difficult?

- What have people always complimented me on?

- What are the things that energize me instead of draining me?

- If I stripped away titles and experience, what abilities would still make me valuable?

Would love to share more insights if this helps your piece! Looking forward to reading it.

Blend Expertise, Passion, and Innovation

Tessa SchwallCEO and Founder, Aligned Designer

The best business coaches are able to identify and cultivate a blend of (1) expertise, (2) passion, and (3) innovation through business offerings in order to leverage ALL available unique selling points (USPs). It is the curated combination of these elements that creates a palpable energy behind our marketing that can be not only seen but felt by prospective customers. I've personally experienced this when a mentor and I worked to blend my brand design expertise, creative brainstorming, and energy & life coaching to offer a collaborative partnership approach that helps my clients elevate their brand while attracting business.

Uncover and Focus on Unique Strengths

Sebastian PetrosiHead of Content Marketing, Howtostream.co.nz

Working with a business coach was transformative for me. Through personalized assessments and in-depth discussions, they helped me uncover my unique strengths, such as strategic thinking and effective communication. By focusing on these areas, I was able to enhance my leadership skills and drive my business forward with renewed confidence.