Executive coaching has become an essential part of many companies' strategies to develop their senior leadership. Companies often leverage coaching to increase productivity and team engagement and preserve the knowledge of seasoned staff by retaining leaders who need some help learning new skills or revamping their leadership style. This leads to greater overall success.
Individuals have also sought coaches to advance their careers because it provides a one-on-one individualized approach to prepare leaders for executive-level responsibility or a support system as they transition.
However, executive coaching may not produce the desired outcome you are hoping for if you don't find the right executive coach for your company. Here's how you can do so in two simple steps:
Step 1: Identify what your ultimate goal is.
Coaching means different things to different companies or individuals. If you Google "coach," you will receive results for financial management coaching, life coaching, spiritual coaching, business coaching and more. Each coach within these categories has a different approach or system to helping their ideal client achieve their goals. As a result, there are infinite potential results you can achieve with the right coach.
Before hiring an executive coach, ask yourself what type of coaching you or your organization would benefit from specifically. What is your ultimate goal for hiring an executive coach? Be as concrete as possible. Develop a concise definition of what executive coaching means for you or your company.
Step 2: Assess for fit.
To identify whether a coach would really be the right fit for you or your company, interview them to learn more about their credentials and certifications as well as their business acumen. Hiring an executive coach is just like hiring any other professional. Do they fit in with your company culture? Will they be able to engage your staff? What are their qualifications working with your industry? Do they have a system that yielded the results you want to achieve in your company or individual as a senior leader?
The coaching industry is not regulated, but there are coaching organizations and associations that provide guidelines for coaching and ethics. All reputable associations use International Coach Federation (ICF) standards for coaching practices, training and ethics. The Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches and The Career Network are two organizations that also accredit coaches and ensure their courses follow the ICF guidelines on training, ethics and confidentiality. Did your coach train at one of these organizations?
Lastly, check to ensure your coach is getting continuing education or professional development to ensure they are current on trends in your industry.
Once you have found the right fit, you or your executive leadership are well on their way to achieving goals. Choose wisely and strategically, and you will build or develop quality leadership and carry your company to the next level.
