5 Things Most Executive Coaches Won't Tell You
Roberta Matuson
Strategic Advisor on Talent | Global Executive Coach | Public Speaker I HBR Contributor I Helping organizations attract & retain the best people.
I help people become the best version of themselves as a living, and it's taught me a lot about human behavior.
I’ve been coaching my whole life. As a young girl, other kids would seek me out for guidance. As I moved into my teen years, I found myself dispensing advice and helping others see the light.
Fast forward a number of years later, and I’m still helping people become the best version of themselves. I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. Here are five of them.
It takes courage to hire a coach. If you’re over a certain age, and you’ve rallied up the nerve to stand in front of a mirror naked, then you probably have a good idea what I mean by courage.
Taking stock of where you are currently at can be scary. However, what’s worse is knowing you should look in that mirror and refusing to do so because this means you have a new reality to deal with.
I’m the mirror for many executives, except they get to keep their clothes on.
I gather feedback from their peers, direct reports, and those above them, and report back on my findings. Most have a good idea what I’m about to say, which makes it a bit easier for them to take in the information. However, it still takes courage to be open to hearing this.
If you’re thinking about working with a coach, and you’re not ready to hear the truth, then don’t waste time or money proceeding. Your odds for success are better in Vegas.
Not everyone is coachable. Please don’t write to me and tell me I’m wrong about this or tell me that I do not have the skills required to be a coach since I can’t fix these people. The world’s number one coach, Marshall Goldsmith, whose two-day Stakeholder Centered Leadership Certification session I attended, has a vetting process, as do I.
We ask the following questions, before accepting a new client.
- Is the prospective client committed to making behavioral changes? You can’t want more for people than they want for themselves.
- Is this person in over their head or in the wrong job? If the answer is yes, we say no, as what’s needed is a job change–not a coach.
- Is there an ethical problem, such as lying or cheating, that the client wants fixed? We’re not therapists. We’re coaches.
- Has the organization or the boss already written this person off? Is coaching being used as a possible legal defense, should this person sue after being fired? See question #1.
Coaching isn’t something you do to someone. It’s something you do for yourself. Working with a coach is a lot like working with a personal trainer. You’re not going to see results if you’re not willing to put in the work.
In the old days, one used to be assigned a coach for remedial reasons. Thankfully, we’ve moved past the dark ages. Even one of the best quarterbacks in history, Tom Brady has a coach. In fact, he has several. If he can still improve, so can you.
Be very selective when choosing a coach. It doesn’t take much to hang out your shingle and call yourself a coach these days.
When seeking a coach, look to hire someone who has been where you want to go.
This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I mean it’s nice that someone may have read a book or taken an online course on parachuting out of a plane, but would you want this person coaching you, as you look to make your first jump?
I think not!
Ask a trusted colleague for a referral. When doing so, ask specifically about how they are better off today than before entering into this relationship.
Buyer Beware. I’m sure you can get some great deals on coaching, as fees vary. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. For example, you can get to the same place driving a Honda Civic or a Jaguar. However, you’ll get there a lot faster in the Jaguar.
Leaders seeking a promotion or those whose job is on the line should think twice before choosing a low-cost vendor. In fact, don’t hire anyone who considers themselves a vendor.
What you need is a partner. Someone who will be by your side through thick and thin, and preferably one that doesn’t have the meter running every time you call.
Reach out to me if you've got a question about coaching.
Want more tips like this? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter, The Talent Maximizer?
Emotional Intelligence Coach
3 年Roberta, Here is a link to the Executive Coaching that I provide and the associated assessments that I use. Please note, my entire fees are paid in advance and it is always the organization rather than the client who pays. Do you believe that an organization will pay for the goals that are the focus of your coaching? Since you and I are connections, I would ask that you help me just I am trying to be candid with you. I just began a major contract with Saudi German Hospital Group to provide EI assessments and coaching for physicians at ten hospitals in Saudi Arabia, one medical school along with one hospital in Germany and one in Egypt.
Emotional Intelligence Coach
3 年Do use the 360 Assessment in your coaching: What Is the Global Leadership Assessment? ? The Global Leadership Assessment (GLA360) is a 360 leadership assessment rooted in groundbreaking research conducted by Marshall Goldsmith (#1 Leadership Thinker and Executive Coach), involving CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, global thought leaders, and international business executives of organizations on 6 continents.?GLA 360 has been used worldwide companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500. Whereas most assessments are created by a coach or statistician, the GLA360 is the first and only assessment in the market created and validated by research with actual leaders at multinational companies.
Emotional Intelligence Coach
3 年In my opinion, Executive coaching typically includes: skill-focused, performance focused or development focused coaching. Regardless of the concentration, it works best to begin with an evidenced based assesment, client workbooks and ancilary coaching material. Following the completion of the coaching, the same. instrument along with the 360 assessment may be used to determine to what extent the coaching was successful. Without valid instruments, what is being offered is probably "Life Coaching" that does not require training or experience. I am an advocate for State licensure for all coaches.
Emotional Intelligence Coach
3 年This is what most coaches wont tell you: A Professional Coach in your area makes on average $59,819 per year, or $1,384 (2%) more than the national average annual salary of?$58,435. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Professional Coach salaries. Everyone has an unclle who knows someone who makes 7 figures as a coach yet the U.S. Department of Labor cant' find even one.