What Are The 6 Things That An Executive Coach Will Do For Me?
By
Beverly Bradstock
Tom Desch
Have you had a conversation like this with yourself? “I am a smart person. I have gotten along quite well on my expertise, common sense and drive. Coaches charge a lot of money. Expensive cheerleaders. What can they do for me that I can’t do for myself?”
Here is what an executive coach can do for you.
As you are contemplating whether or not to engage an executive coach, keep in mind that an executive coach is focused solely on your development and success. An excellent coach will always help you by doing the following 6 things:
1. Listen carefully, looking to hear what you are really saying. And while your coach is listening, he or she is looking to connect the dots – looking for nuances and fine points that will help to move you toward your goal.
2. Ask the hard questions. “What do you really mean when you say that?” “What reaction did you get from your team when you took that position?” “Where will you end up if you follow through on that strategy?” Your coach's questions should challenge your viewpoint and encourage you dig deeper into your own process.
3. Provide new insights. "Have you considered...?" "It doesn't appear that your approach is working the way you thought it might. What if you were to try..."
4. Challenge your experience, helping you to solve difficult problems by looking inside of yourself for hard to see solutions that are waiting to be discovered.
5. Hold you accountable, by consistently checking in with you to learn about your progress on the areas you decided to work on.
6. Give you the truth. Not what you always want to hear, and not what always makes you comfortable. But always designed to help you stay in touch with what is really going on.
Selecting the right choice for your executive coach is crucial to the success of the program. Look for these six items and you will be well-positioned to have a truly exciting and profitable coaching experience.
