SELECTING AN INDIVIDUAL OR EXECUTIVE COACH WITH FAQ’S
Executive coaches are not quite business consultants, whom you’d hire to address a particular operational or technical problem. And they’re not psychotherapists, whom you’d tap to work through emotional issues. Coaches generally focus on one thing: improving your performance as a leader. They do this in much the same way sports coaches work with athletes: by helping you make the most of your natural abilities and find ways to work around your weaknesses. A good coach will make sure you meet your commitments, behave like a grownup professional, and otherwise stay out of your own way. These are all things nearly all of us can use a little help with.
Frequently asked questions
The same reasons a professional athlete uses a coach.
- To keep them focused on, and toward, their desired outcomes (keeps them from getting sidetracked).
- To incorporate a structured, guided approach to goal achievement into their lives.
- To help them define what success really means to them and identify what they want out of life.
- To achieve more balance between work/career and the rest of their life.
- To identify core strengths and how to best utilize them.
Coaching is generally done via in-person meetings, video conferencing or telephone calls. All three techniques are beneficial to clients, and how your individual coaching is conducted will often depend on your physical proximity to your coach and your personal preferences. Meetings or telephone calls are scheduled in advance on a regular basis at intervals you and your coach determine will best meet your needs and your budget.
Varies based on a number of factors but typically it begins with 9 weekly sessions that run about two hours. This is followed by weekly or monthly sessions on a mutually agreed upon basis. In between sessions, your coach will expect you to take actions on the issues discussed.
Be committed to doing the work. A coach is only successful when you succeed and helping you succeed is your coach’s ultimate goal!
Take courageous action in alignment with your goals and aspirations – even when it may be uncomfortable. It’s about changing behaviors.
Be on time and be present.
Be willing to challenge existing attitudes and beliefs.
Accept small failures as progress.
Help identify your personal motivators and prioritize your personal values and priorities.
Help you identify your strengths and capitalize on them – Help you identify your weaknesses and minimize them.
Help you identify and remove potential obstacles or barriers to your success.
Keep you Focused, Challenge you, Encourage and Support you.
Introduce you to new ways of thinking.
Hold you accountable for your actions (or lack of action).
Confidentiality and professionalism.
A commitment to your success.
Success has more to do with your level of commitment than the coach. The coaching relationship will supply the support and encouragement you need to excel beyond what you thought was possible. You will get back what you put into it.
The more an individual is involved in identifying problems, in working out and applying solutions for them and in reviewing the results, the more complete and the more long-lasting the learning is.
Fees can vary and are usually stated along with a Scope of Work that is developed after an initial consultation that determines your needs and expectations, the type of coaching and the length of the engagement.
Most coaches charge a flat fee with some or all of the fee upfront. However, there are month-to-month arrangements where appropriate.
