Top 10 Reasons to Partner with an Executive Coach

A client recently asked me to write a piece on coaching to share with a friend; something that explained how it is different from other modalities like mentoring or counselling, and who can benefit from it.

So here it is!

Who can benefit?

Anyone can benefit from a coaching program, from young professionals to C-suite executives.

The Coach Mindset

I love the analogy of the gold miner. In coaching we believe the client has infinite potential within, which = Gold. Professional coaches are like gold miners, using a systematic set of methods and evidence-based strategies to help clients to find and polish their inner treasure.

The Performance Formula

We also believe that our clients' full potential is often prevented by hindrances. Our role is to help them to uncover blind spots, and then identify and overcome those obstacles so that they can become the best version of themselves.

What is coaching?

It might be good to start with what coaching is NOT.

Coaching is not mentoring, it is not counselling, and it is not therapy.

Coaching is a collaboration, a partnership between the coach and the client (an individual or group) with the purpose of enhancing the life experience, skills, performance, capacities or wellbeing of the client.

Professional coaches focus on setting goals, creating outcomes and enabling transformation.

What is the role of the coach?

Coaches are experts in human behaviour; they are able to identify patterns and guide you to your own conclusions through questioning. Great coaches have at least some experience in your domain (whether it be the tech industry, leadership, strategy or people management) so that they are able to relate on a certain level to your context. They believe that you have the answers within you, so they prefer not to give you the answers, but have you come up with them yourself.

A professional coach will challenge you and help you to stretch your thinking once a trusting relationship has been established. They will hold space to enable reflection and insights. The coach will also encourage you to take action, serve as your accountability partner and celebrate your wins with you.

As per the International Coaching Federation (ICF) code of ethics, a professional coach will maintain strict confidentiality and a non-judging attitude at all times.

What are the types of coaching?

There are many other types of coaching available to you. Here are the coaching areas I specialise in:

• Executive Coaching | Coaching services provided to executives and line managers for the purpose of improving skills, performance or work-related professional and personal development. The focus of Executive Coaching is typically on leadership or career?progression.
• Performance Coaching | Coaching that is aimed at improving the client's ability to achieve work-related goals such as specific metric-based organisational outcomes. This is what I call the "Good to Great" coaching. It is about stretch goals, or perhaps pursuing a promotion.
• Remedial Coaching | Coaching aimed at the remediation of problematic attitudes or behaviours. This is typically a result of feedback or inner reflection. It could also be useful to prevent burnout or assist with its recovery.

Top 10 reasons to hire a coach

There are several reasons why someone might seek support from a coach. Some people will look for a coach because something is going wrong (reactive), while others will seek coaching when all is well, because they want to become better humans (proactive).

You might benefit from hiring a coach if you:

1. Want to become a better leader.
2. Are seeking a promotion or career change.
3. Have received constructive feedback in your last 360 performance review.
4. Want to identify and leverage your core strengths in your current role.
5. Need an accountability partner.
6. Are conscious that you have blind spots and are keen to uncover them.
7. Are stuck at a crossroads and feel the need to re-evaluate life and work.
8. Want to be challenged by an expert in human behaviour, who is neutral and has your best interests at heart (rather than a biased friend or partner).
9. Would like to carve out time for reflection.
10. Have not realised your full potential.

What if life is already great?

If life is fantastic but you are obsessed with personal development (like me!) then you might want to explore the "Good to Great” themes or bigger questions like:

• How can I live in better alignment with my core values?
• How can I become a better leader, parent, son/daughter, friend or community member?
• How can I achieve my ultimate life vision?
• How can I tackle my bucket list?
• How can I prepare for my next sabbatical?

How long should you see a coach for?

Significant mindset shifts or new habits/behaviours do not happen overnight.

While a 3 month program can deliver tangible results and make you feel excited, a one year engagement is ideal for you to see long-lasting results and genuine behaviour-mindset shifts.

Are you ready for coaching?

In order to be coachable, you need to be open-minded, curious, keen to explore and willing to expand your thinking, be challenged, and be interested in growing as a human and as a professional. You also need to be ready to take action and have some level of courage.

What is your role as a client?

You will drive the sessions by bringing the topic you would like to delve into. You are also expected to implement the actions agreed upon at the end of each session and provide an update to your coach in the following meeting.

Tip: Hold your goals lightly!

Change is the only constant, so it is okay if in between sessions and upon reflection your goals need to change. Be prepared to update your coach, redefine your goals given the new circumstances or insights, and continue to move forward in the right direction.

Keep your momentum going!

?????Keen to learn more??Book a FREE Consultation now!

To learn more:

• The What, Why and How of Executive Coaching

• What is Coaching (ICF) 1-minute video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpmeQj-LFoY&feature=emb_logo
• What is Coaching (EI) 3 minutes video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esh75mbmucY
• 7 Ways to get the most out of your coaching session: https://www.executiveforum.com/seven-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-coaching-session/
• How to get the most of your next coaching session https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/08/22/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-next-coaching-session/#61ceae762a8d