Executive Coaching often involves an external, well-trained, and qualified executive coach, coaching a senior leader or manager in an organization, through either one-off or a series of coaching sessions. These coaching sessions are one-to-one and as a result confidential, by default. The coach will work with the executive or senior leadership team to help maximize potential, encourage reflection, and explore the ‘here and now’ to help the individual.
In some cases, there will be an assessment before executive coaching takes place. This can unearth strengths using tools like Gallup Clifton Strengths to help both the individual and their coach in understanding how they can best apply their strengths in their day-to-day working life, routines, goals, and objectives. If an executive has gone through an assessment first, then this can also ensure the coach can fine-tune and further develop existing skills. At the same time, executive coaches will often be able to provide guidance on weaknesses, to help the executive to avoid and leverage these weaknesses to their advantage.
Each coaching session is between 45-60 minutes in length, and this is optimal for success. Anything less than 45 minutes and the coach and executive are unlikely to really be able to get into the detail of a discussion. Anything more than 60 minutes and the focus is likely to drift. Coaching can be pretty exhausting and intense! The first couple of sessions are usually about the coach and the person their coaching (sometimes called the ‘coachee’) building rapport, and going through the coachee’s goals and objectives.
After goals and objectives have been outlined and discussed, it is then about the coach helping the executive to close the gap between where they currently are and their desired state. This, is essentially, the bulk of the coaching sessions.
Why is Executive Coaching Important?
Executive coaching is increasingly essential in ensuring that executives, leaders, and managers in businesses are equipped to maximize their potential, to, in turn, maximize the potential of the business they are working in.
Executive coaching can often be used in succession planning too, to ensure that those stepping into new, senior roles, with which many additional responsibilities often appear, are fully prepared.
Executive coaching, unlike life and career coaching, tends to go far further in focusing on management responsibilities and leadership capabilities.
Executive coaching can differentiate between a highly effective, resourceful, and successful C-Suite team and a failing one.
Studies have shown that executive coaching can benefit an organization’s culture, profitability, employee retention, satisfaction, and much more.