Are you or your company considering working with an executive coach? In making your decision, would it help you to know what an executive coach thinks about when they first meet with a potential client, how they prepare for coaching sessions, what goes on while they’re coaching, and what they contemplate afterward to ensure they’re supporting their client’s leadership development needs in the best way possible? Buckle up, because you’re about to take a ride through the mind of an executive coach!
Meeting a Prospective Client An executive coach wants clients who will be wide open to feedback about limiting behaviors as well as effective ones, is 100% committed to optimizing their leadership performance and doing the work necessary to get there, is willing to take risks with trying new behaviors, and can engage honestly and authentically with the coach. It doesn’t really matter if the leader is inexperienced, recently promoted, identified as a high-potential, or has a destructive leadership style – as long as the above criteria exist. An executive coach prepares for the exploratory conversation by thinking up a raft of questions to assess these client characteristics.
Preparing for a Coaching Session An executive coach prepares for a coaching session by reflecting on . . .
the client’s definition of success for the coaching engagement
the business results their client is accountable for
the client’s leadership strengths and derailers
the client’s company culture and political dynamics
the client’s team and how well they work together
the client’s work and personal values
the information gleaned from the client’s 360 or any other assessments
. . . and then forming a loose and flexible agenda for the coaching session. The coach knows the client will be in the driver’s seat during their meeting, but still may need to think quickly to guide the client’s focus on the leadership behaviors and actions needed to deliver business results.
During a Coaching Session In the coaching session, the coach uses their head and gut to come up with deep questions, listens intently to the client’s responses, and probes for further clarity. In doing so, the coach enables the client to come up with their own revelations, fresh perspectives, and ideas for action that they may not have been able to access without the coach’s support. Coaches typically don’t tell their clients what to do to be a better leader; they help the client create and own their leadership development, and they’re constantly figuring out in real-time how to do that.
After a Coaching Session An executive coach is all about helping clients improve performance, so they reflect on how well – or not – they supported the client to move the needle. A coach contemplates, “How did the client respond to the coaching? What questions worked well, what could I have done differently, what could I have asked that I did not – and why? What would I change the next time we meet? What follow up between now and the next session would benefit the client? What’s my gut telling me about how the client showed up that I will investigate next time we meet? What did I do/did not do to help my client become more self-reliant?”
Now that you have some insight into the mind of an executive coach, are you ready to engage a coach for you or your company? Still not sure? We’d be happy to have you pick our brain!
Stay connected and join our list of world-class leaders, innovators, and human resource professionals. Be among the first to receive event invitations, industry reports and company-wide messages when you sign up to receive our newsletter.
The “Is it Worth It?” podcast series is a top leadership podcast that hosts conversations toshare rare and unfiltered advice from leaders in the trenches. We aspire to empower ourlisteners – that’s you – to be leaders worth following regardless of title or position.Explore previous episodes and subscribe to get the latest series sent directly to yourinbox.
ICC is excited to announce that we have joined forces with Keystone Partners. With our shared commitment to providing innovative solutions as trusted advisors, Keystone Partners and ICC are set to revolutionize the HR industry and redefine the way organizations address their professional development and career transition needs.
Get Inside the Mind of an Executive Coach
By: Jodi Grossman
Are you or your company considering working with an executive coach? In making your decision, would it help you to know what an executive coach thinks about when they first meet with a potential client, how they prepare for coaching sessions, what goes on while they’re coaching, and what they contemplate afterward to ensure they’re supporting their client’s leadership development needs in the best way possible? Buckle up, because you’re about to take a ride through the mind of an executive coach!
Meeting a Prospective Client
An executive coach wants clients who will be wide open to feedback about limiting behaviors as well as effective ones, is 100% committed to optimizing their leadership performance and doing the work necessary to get there, is willing to take risks with trying new behaviors, and can engage honestly and authentically with the coach. It doesn’t really matter if the leader is inexperienced, recently promoted, identified as a high-potential, or has a destructive leadership style – as long as the above criteria exist. An executive coach prepares for the exploratory conversation by thinking up a raft of questions to assess these client characteristics.
Preparing for a Coaching Session
An executive coach prepares for a coaching session by reflecting on . . .
. . . and then forming a loose and flexible agenda for the coaching session. The coach knows the client will be in the driver’s seat during their meeting, but still may need to think quickly to guide the client’s focus on the leadership behaviors and actions needed to deliver business results.
During a Coaching Session
In the coaching session, the coach uses their head and gut to come up with deep questions, listens intently to the client’s responses, and probes for further clarity. In doing so, the coach enables the client to come up with their own revelations, fresh perspectives, and ideas for action that they may not have been able to access without the coach’s support. Coaches typically don’t tell their clients what to do to be a better leader; they help the client create and own their leadership development, and they’re constantly figuring out in real-time how to do that.
After a Coaching Session
An executive coach is all about helping clients improve performance, so they reflect on how well – or not – they supported the client to move the needle. A coach contemplates, “How did the client respond to the coaching? What questions worked well, what could I have done differently, what could I have asked that I did not – and why? What would I change the next time we meet? What follow up between now and the next session would benefit the client? What’s my gut telling me about how the client showed up that I will investigate next time we meet? What did I do/did not do to help my client become more self-reliant?”
Now that you have some insight into the mind of an executive coach, are you ready to engage a coach for you or your company? Still not sure? We’d be happy to have you pick our brain!
About Me
Zulia Maron Duo
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore.
Popular Post
ICC is featured as a Top 100
June 28, 20236 Steps to an Effective Leadership Training
June 19, 2023How to Choose An Outplacement Firm?
June 14, 2023Popular Categories
Popular Tags
Archives
Meta
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Stay connected and join our list of world-class leaders, innovators, and human resource professionals. Be among the first to receive event invitations, industry reports and company-wide messages when you sign up to receive our newsletter.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Download ICCs latest ebooks featuring today’s hottest topics in leadership, managementdevelopment, coaching and outplacement.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
The “Is it Worth It?” podcast series is a top leadership podcast that hosts conversations toshare rare and unfiltered advice from leaders in the trenches. We aspire to empower ourlisteners – that’s you – to be leaders worth following regardless of title or position.Explore previous episodes and subscribe to get the latest series sent directly to yourinbox.