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Q: I
have heard about executive and business coaches and it sounds intriguing. Is
hiring a coach right for me?
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The idea of hiring a
coach is most definitely intriguing. People seek out professional coaches to
help navigate transitions, to improve performance, advance in their careers or
business, address work-life balance issues or to have a supportive long-term partner
as they make major leaps in their lives or careers. As stated
In an article about coaching in an issue of FastCompany “As
people seek better lives for themselves, either personally, professionally, or
both, they’re more likely to find outside help to get them there: a
professional coach”.
Q: Is coaching
something mainstream?
Coaching has been
covered extensively in Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Money, USA Today,
Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fast Company, and many
more. Joy Behar co-host of ABC’s the View in USA Weekend
stated “Life coaches help with problem solving, if, for
example, you’re not getting along with your boss or you can’t get
organized….The best part about having a life coach is that you are accountable
to someone.” Coaching has gone mainstream as evidenced by universities such as
Howard University which now offer coaching education.
Q: Does everyone
receive similar results from coaching?
As with anything in life
and business, results depend on the commitment, perspective and circumstances
of the client. Clients often report significant improvements in their
professional and personal lives within a few weeks. A minimum recommended time
to work with a coach is 3 months.
Q: How could executive
or business coaching help my business?
What if your business
could become more efficient, more profitable, more relaxed– all the while
offering a better workplace environment? Executive coaching can
improve the effectiveness of teams working together, improve sales and focus on
the key areas that you identify as needing improvement. Business coaching can
help you focus your skills and resources to achieve improved results.
Q: What
can I expect from coaching?
Coaching offers a
convenient, relatively cost-effective way to support behavioral changes or
complex-decision making processes. This has the potential to create tremendous
value for individuals, teams, and organizations.
Q: Are there studies
that bear this out?
An article in Public
Personnel Management published by the International Personnel Management
Association revealed a study where training alone was compared to coaching
combined with training. The study showed that training alone increased
productivity by 22.4% while training plus coaching increased productivity by
88%. A study in the Manchester Review on executive coaching showed that those
that invested in executive coaching received an average return on investment of
more than 5 times.
Q: I am
interested in working with a coach. What should I look for?
You will find that
anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves a coach. Ask about training
and background. There is an organization called the International Coaches
Foundation (ICF) that accredits education and schools in this discipline. Some
of these schools are CoachU, Coaches Training Institute(CTI), and Coachville.
Additionally, you should ask about the individual’s experience. But most of
all, find the connection, as your coach is your partner going forward.
Q: When is
coaching effective?
Coaching can be
particularly effective in times of change for an executive or an individual.
This includes stretch assignments, life or business transitions, taking on
significant new tasks or responsibilities, promotions or new jobs. You may
recognize that to succeed requires skills that you have not needed to rely on
in the past. A coach can help you identify, develop and sharpen those skills
Q: Why hire a coach?
An article in Harvard
Business School Working Knowledge,b What an Executive Coach Can Do for
You, states “ The belief is that, under the right circumstances,
one-on-one interaction with an objective third party can provide a focus that
other forms of organizational support simply cannot.”
Q: I am
interested in working with a coach. How does coaching work?
Coaching requires a
personal and financial commitment. Expect a minimum of three months to get
engaged and to see demonstrable results. Confidential sessions are typically
30-60 minutes long and take place two or three times a month. They
are held via telephone and are scheduled at the client’s convenience.
Initially, there is an intake session of about 60-90 minutes which is included
in the monthly rate. Assessments with personalized reports and other materials
are also part of the work effort. You set the agenda, and your coach
will hold you to it.
