In today’s cut-throat business world, regardless of the industry, you’re in, it is hard to keep up with the competition, let alone beat it. Whether you’re looking to get your startup off the ground or take it from good to great, executive leadership coaching could be the tool you are looking for.
Once reserved for underperforming executives, executive coaching is now a popular educational tool many US businesses are embracing and spending billions of dollars on.
Read on to learn more about executive leadership coaching and its benefits.
What is an executive leadership coaching and what are its methods?
When you hear the word ‘coach’, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
The word ‘sports’, of course. It turns out that business people, just like professional athletes, perform better with the help of a coach.
If you are looking to reach your full potential and conquer the business world, perhaps you need someone to guide you.
But what if you are the leader and it’s your job to guide others, not the other way around?
This is when an executive leadership coach steps in.
Their job is to help you develop as an individual and make you a better leader.
Leadership coaching can be defined as a partnership – a collaborative, individualized relationship between a leader and their coach.
In this partnership, the two sides have a mutual aim. Executive leadership coaching helps you maximize your own performance and, consequently, that of your team.
A leader can make or break a team. If you don’t think you have what it takes to be a good leader, your coach will help you find it.
If you do, coaching will help you maintain and nurture those qualities.
Think of this practice as training or education that will help you navigate the competitive business world and reach your professional goals.
In this case, the word ‘leader’ refers to anyone in charge of a group – an executive, team leader, manager, supervisor, business owner, even an ambitious future businessman who dreams big.
In other words, executive leadership coaching is for anyone holding or intending to hold a leadership position, not just for the heads of companies.
Anyone who’s interested in developing and maintaining effective leadership skills can benefit from it.
Since every individual has a unique learning style, executive coaching methods vary greatly.
The most prominent coaching methods can be reason and planning based, social learning-based, solution-based, behavioural change based, etc.
Anyone holding a leadership position can benefit from leadership education.
Qualities every executive coach should possess
With a good coach by your side, you’ll be able to enhance your strengths and overcome your weaknesses.
Think of executive coaches as mentors or counsellors.
With their advice and support, you will improve the skills you need to do your job the best you can.
Before hiring an executive coach, make sure they are:
- Not from within the company. Executive coaches should be third-party individuals from outside the company.
- Experienced. It is important that they understand the industry and have a first-hand experience.
- Trained and certified. Do not trust a coach unless they have some type of credential that proves their authority in executive leadership coaching.
- A problem-solver. They should help you brainstorm and come up with the most effective solutions to complex problems. Do not assume your coach will make business decisions instead of you, though. The decisions are all yours.
Executive leadership coaching can help you take your company forward.
Why you need executive leadership coaching
The burden of executive-level leadership can be hard to carry.
Executive leadership coaching fosters positive leadership qualities needed in today’s business world.
Coaching can take weeks, months, years… but it never has to end because there is always something new to learn.
1. It improves your soft skills
A lot of people focus on skills related to business decision making and conflict resolution.
However, the so-called “soft skills” are most often improved.
As a result, people end up building deeper relationships in both work and life.
Coaching can help you enhance your self-confidence, self-management, and emotional intelligence, and increase your ability to see the big picture and deal with difficult exchanges and individuals.
A coach’s job is to boost your self-awareness and self-esteem.
2. It gives you the tools to handle both professional and private life
Leadership is a privilege but also a huge responsibility, especially if you’re a business owner.
Whether you’re launching a new product, expanding your team or having your business facility and supplies relocated, you are the one who makes the final decisions and your team relies on you.
In addition to your work responsibilities, life has probably given you many other roles.
We are not just business people. We’re also parents, brothers, sisters, neighbours, friends, etc. Juggling all those roles can be overwhelming.
That is something executive coaching can help you with, too. The skills you develop will help you cope with all aspects of your life.
3. It teaches you how to be an effective leader
Even if you’re a natural leader, it is a gift you must nourish and adjust to specific settings.
Honest, challenging conversations with your leadership coach will contribute to your growth and development as a leader.
The best results can be achieved if you allow yourself to be vulnerable and open up to your coach.
Speaking of vulnerability, do not fear your employees will judge you for working with an executive coach.
Hiring a professional coach means that you are committed and willing to become the best version of yourself.
Such devotion to one’s role should be admired, not mocked or seen as a weakness.
4. It provides you with a competitive advantage in your industry or team
In the past, executive leadership coaching was used as a measure to fix an existing problem.
Today, however, it’s more often a proactive measure.
Coaching helps you gain a competitive advantage by helping you deal with all sorts of leadership challenges and obstacles.
