What do you do if your executive coaching relies heavily on logical reasoning?

Consider blending in emotional intelligence and creative thinking. Diversifying your approach by incorporating self-awareness exercises, empathy practices, and creative problem-solving can enrich the coaching experience. Encouraging coachees to explore their feelings and the emotional aspects of their decisions can provide a more comprehensive growth opportunity. This holistic approach enhances the dynamic of sessions, ensuring leaders develop not just logically but also emotionally and creatively, making for a well-rounded leadership skill set. It's about creating a more balanced and flavorful coaching experience.

Unlike IQ, EQ can be developed in adults, but it takes some time and there is no magic wand that will instantly equip executives with EQ after they are promoted to executive roles. Even if you ask them to understand their own and others' emotions, they don't get it. One approach I often use is to ask about their aspirations when they joined the company. What motivated them the most? What were the things they badly wanted to achieve? By revealing those initial myths within them, they can connect with their own emotions and feelings. Furthermore, these innate drivers can help them redefine themselves and accelerate their passion for contributing to the company and society in their executive roles.

There's no issue with logical reasoning.. as a coach, one can steer the person to deeper aspects of the issue by asking questions that go below the psychological waterline and touch upon the emotions, beliefs, values etc Some examples: How does this make you feel? What happens when you feel that way? What values are at play here? What does that tell you about you? Making a coachee reflect and think about themselves ups their self awareness and they see more choices opening up from that place. It's still a very logical conversation. It just happens at a deeper level. That's all.

As an Executive Coach, I really think our main objective is enabling the transformation of the coachee. The capacity of the coach really lies into using the right powerful question or the exercise at the right moment. But I would say that most of the significant change in a coachee comes from more emotional self couciousness and especially resonance : with what fulfills me, with my values, with what is important for me...). Many exercises are possible, the ones I found very impactful are the ones related to geography (change place), time (projection in time) or embodiment (express through the 5 senses the current feeling or projected state, person or object....).

People find it easy to be logical and difficult to understand emotions. Yet, emotions are powerful cues to your behaviour. For example, you do not invest because of fear. Or you take too much risk because of greed. You do not negotiate because of doubt! You do not assert because of a feeling of insecurity. In my practice, I use feelings charts to help my coachees identify their feelings. Feeling are signals that help you understand why you do or do not do something. Feelings help you also to delve into your positive or negative beliefs. My feelings chart which has a list of feelings, helps coachees to label their feelings and that leads to a depth of information about them and the situation.

Creativity can be fostered because people have feelings. This is also why the intelligence quotient of the mind has attracted so much attention. It is also said that logical thinking skills are also necessary. This is because logical thinking ability is important to show evidence.

Staying in a comfort zone can limit your personal growth. It also has a major impact on health as well as mental health, having anxiety, depression and being fearful to change. Helping the client what are the road blocks which are holding back and not allowing him to get out of his comfort zone, to explore new ideas, innovate and creative. This helps the client to overcome barriers and have new insights with forward-looking mindset.

Sustainable behavior change requires courage, humility, and discipline. While leaders may pride themselves on being problem solvers (a skill that is valued and rewarded), logic will only get them so far if they lack self-awareness or are not able to productively engage colleagues in addressing challenges together. Skills and behaviors that are honed and refined through coaching complement the superpower of problem solving and provide leaders with additional tools to better enhance relationships and their ability to accomplish success through others.

What I have found in my coaching practice is that the fundamental aspects of fostering creativity are facilitating curiosity and promoting autonomy of the coachees. Encouraging curiosity by asking thought-provoking questions, fostering a sense of wonder, and promoting a mindset of inquiry and discovery expand worldview and enable noticing new perspectives. Inspiring to explore in turn results in a higher sense of autonomy and agency, which does wonders.

El grado de gestión e inteligencia emocional es inversamente proporcional al grado de burnout que sufre un directivo en el trabajo. En un acompa?amiento de coaching profesional no podemos ponernos de perfil ante un hecho tan demoledor. Más del 90% de nuestras decisiones y acciones en el proceso de toma de decisiones son puramente emocionales. Tener conocimiento, claridad, reconocer y acoger las emociones y regular la respuesta es fundamental para las habilidades de liderazgo y el desempe?o.

Is communication, teamwork, and conformity enough for leadership? Empathy, collaboration, flexibility, responsiveness to change, instantaneous decision-making, and execution are also necessary.

Learn to ask powerfull Questions. Coaching is not about telling but about to help your client to explore it’s own potential. There are many different types questions types to use. Use open questions (the ones you can’t answer with yes or no) starting with, what, how, when etc. You also can think of dream questions, rate questions in total there are over twenty different questions types

In today's VUCA world, having the skills such as, communication, teamwork and adaptability are essential for effective leadership. As the coach, encourage the client to work on these areas to enhance their soft skills, which can help him/her to better lead their team and have them engaged, resulting into better productivity.

These skills enrich logical reasoning and facilitate nuanced interactions, deepening understanding of organizational dynamics. Advise clients to refine these areas through hands-on activities and constructive feedback. Strengthening soft skills empowers leaders to guide their teams more effectively, creating a positive, productive work atmosphere that boosts engagement.

A balance of logical reasoning and soft skills is crucial for success in executive coaching. To help you improve your coaching effectiveness. Incorporating emotional intelligence and empathy into your coaching approach is crucial. Understanding and connecting with your clients emotionally can significantly improve their receptiveness to your guidance. Second, focus on developing your communication and interpersonal skills. Effective communication is essential for building trust and rapport with your clients, ultimately leading to more impactful coaching outcomes. Elevate your executive coaching practice to new heights by honing your soft skills alongside logical reasoning.

As an executive coach, I understand that while logical reasoning is important, it's not the only factor that contributes to effective leadership. If I find that an executive is relying too heavily on logical reasoning, I would work with them to balance their approach with emotional intelligence, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Leadership is not just about being right or making the most logical decisions; it's also about understanding and relating to people, inspiring and motivating teams, and fostering an environment where innovation can thrive. I would encourage the executive to embrace a more holistic view of leadership that includes empathy, listening, and collaboration.

An increase in self-awareness is a key aspect of growth in a coaching relationship. The practice of reflection - active curiosity about what's working and what could be done better - builds awareness, reveals biases, and uncovers gaps between expectations and reality. Reflection can lead to more intentional and thoughtful action as well, and promotes a growth mindset, as leaders pause to celebrate what has gone well and consider the lessons of failure and missteps.

Reflection especially self-reflection is key for someone to recognize how they think and how they show up. Connect the heart to the brain (logical thinking) is key to get the whole person involved in how they show-up and work. Reflection creates the pause or the slow-down that allows them to go faster in the end. By combining a sharp logical reason and heightened self-awareness helps create the best leaders to help their teams/organizations the best!

Reflection not only aids in recognizing past decision-making patterns but also serves as a crucial step in developing emotional intelligence (EQ). By encouraging executives to engage in reflective practices, we enable them to better understand their emotions and how these emotions influence their decisions, thereby fostering a more holistic approach to leadership that balances logic with empathy.

Time to think should be scheduled in everyone’s diaries! Thinking time is vital and enables growth and value add to individuals, teams and business. Thinking environments are key to success in business and understanding how to motivate thinking and giving time to think will supercharge success across all areas of business.

If I find that an executive is relying too heavily on logical reasoning, I would work with them to balance their approach with emotional intelligence, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Leadership is not just about being right or making the most logical decisions; it's also about understanding and relating to people as well as inspiring and motivating teams. I would encourage the executive to embrace a more holistic view of leadership that includes empathy, listening, and collaboration. By integrating these softer skills with their logical capabilities, they can become better leaders who are able to connect with their stakeholders on a deeper level and drive their organization forward in a more inclusive manner.

Encourage your clients to proactively engage with varied opinions and methodologies. This practice not only enhances their comprehension of complex issues but also fosters an inclusive and collaborative team culture.

Em um contexto de coaching executivo, onde o raciocínio lógico desempenha um papel central, é fundamental equilibrar perspectivas. Embora a lógica seja valiosa, ela pode levar a uma vis?o estreita, na qual outras abordagens s?o negligenciadas. Portanto, ensine aos seus clientes a buscar ativamente diferentes opini?es e considerar abordagens diversas. Isso n?o apenas amplia a compreens?o das quest?es, mas também promove a inclus?o e a colabora??o dentro das equipes. Uma perspectiva equilibrada pode resultar em solu??es mais inovadoras e um ambiente de trabalho mais coeso.

Aim to make a fundamental distinction between coaching & mentoring. In both disciplines there is a need for BOTH logical and emotional intelligence-based applications. Skewing one's coaching style to either extreme consistently would leave your client disadvantaged. If you note as an executive coach, you do have a bias towards logical tactics and do not give sufficient space in your engagements to EQ, there is an opportunity for growth and transformation for you as well. As exec coaches, it can be easy for Egos to take the place that servant leadership deserves to occupy. Persons come to us for guidance and that can cause us to believe we have no need to work on our craft continously. This would not be accurate. Evolution is key to us.

One of my favorite coaching clients was a very linear, logical thinker, and yet she learned to actively seek fresh perspectives, asking 'what am I missing?' before making key decisions. As the Dalai Lama has said, "When I speak, I only repeat what I already know. When I listen, I learn something new." This is particularly important for leaders who may have limited access to information if they offer proclamations that everyone aligns around, rather than seeking diverse opinions and then reflecting on those perspectives before making a judgment call. The result can be growth for those around the leader, as well as more creative and innovative solutions that all embrace.

Integrating learning with logical reasoning is crucial, but it's equally important to incorporate body, gut, and intuition into decision-making processes. Often, we can become disconnected from our bodily instincts, relying solely on cognitive reasoning. Encouraging executives to attune to their physical and intuitive signals can enhance decision-making. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, or somatic exercises can help executives reconnect with their body's wisdom, providing a more holistic approach to problem-solving. This integration ensures decisions are not just logically sound but also deeply aligned with one's instinctual understanding and values, leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes in their leadership roles.

Continuous and integrated learning is vital for executives to stay ahead in this rapidly changing VUCA business world. Logical reasoning is enhanced with continuous learning and adopting best practices and able to apply more effectively. As a coach encouraging the client to embrace continuous Learning through training, online courses, workshops or self study to keep abreast himself with latest technology and knowledge.

Learning is an integral part for any professional. If we wish to earn well, we need to learn well. Earning is not only money... The earning can also be in the following spectrums which are Good name Better fame Trust Brand Success etc.., Without learning, we cannot get any of the above.

In my experience, when executive coaching leans heavily on logic, I pivot towards 'holistic integration.' This entails weaving emotional intelligence (EQ) and creative problem-solving into the fabric of our sessions, fostering a well-rounded approach. By championing reflection and soft skill development, we craft a coaching environment that values both the head and the heart. This dual focus not only enriches the coaching experience but also prepares leaders to navigate the complex, multifaceted challenges of modern leadership with agility and empathy.

Pure executive coaching thus happens at the confluence of IQ, EQ and SQ (spiritual quoteint). IQ is ego based, mind/brain or process oriented. The client pays for deeper work. Reflective coaching and other practices lead to developing the intuition. Developing this coaching intuition is a gradual process that requires dedication and practice.

When executive coaching leans heavily on logical reasoning, one of the ways is to guide the client by inviting them to talk about a leader they admire. By unpacking the qualities of that admired leader, we can draw parallels to their own leadership journey. Through reflection, they can identify their unique leadership qualities and the superpower they want to develop to become the leader they aspire to be. It's important to allow clients the space to reach these realizations in their own time, ensuring a personalized and effective coaching experience. They will see it when they are ready. I coach the person, not the problem.

Practice somatic awareness by paying close attention to bodily sensations and emotions during coaching sessions to deepen connections with clients and enhance the effectiveness of coaching interventions.

The logic also heavily comes due to the leader's upbringing as well. As we always say, coaching is not about coaching only the problem. It is about coaching the whole of the client. By doing 360 degree analysis/feedback, we can help them to understand the value of rich emotional side of a leader & how will that help them to scale up from a normal performer to a great reformer.