In a nutshell, the process of Executive Coaching is one where a trained professional assists the Executive in optimising their understanding of their professional goals – and how best they can go about reaching these goals. Exploring the process will reveal the resources available to that Executive, as well as clarify the nature of the obstacles to reaching those goals.
The Executive Coach provides their client with the tools to allow them to make an educated and informed choice about the many options available to them. it is not the job of the Executive Coach to offer advice – or in any way act as a substitute for the individual’s capacity to make their own decisions. Professionals seek out Executive Coaches for a number of reasons, including difficulties in professional relationships or when faced with the prospect of a new role within the organisation and unsure of how to proceed.
Executive Coaches can benefit one’s career – and optimize performance, and a sense of satisfaction and well-being in the workplace. Interacting with an Executive Coach allows the professional access to a ‘safe space’ where they can methodically process the changing circumstances and challenges of their professional life – all without the common risk of doing so around fellow workers.
It is common to feel a sense of trepidation when expressing oneself to peers or your employer. There is the belief that such a course of action could lead to perceptions of vulnerability or being overly emotional. Executive Coaching can provide the individual with the tools to avoid conflict situations in the workplace – and lashing out at those who have little to no impact on your emotional state or indeed the current events at work. Executive Coaching gives the employee the opportunity to both process and manages reactions to emotions and experiences in a positive and safe way.
In a sense, an Executive Coach is a sparring partner. They are available to help the employee work through their professional experiences and explore their options by employing a cost/benefit analysis to any situation – or a career as a whole. They are a sparring partner that is working with you – and for you. They have your best interests at heart – and will not avoid sometimes difficult observations. They are an honest and open resource available to explore the possible negative consequences of any professional course of action.
An Executive Coach can help the employee with their skills by observing their own actions and the actions of others in certain circumstances. Ongoing discussions with an Executive Coach can help the individual make sense of the actions of others – and analyse how they react to challenging interpersonal situations within the work environment. The result of ongoing interaction with an Executive Coach is an increased understanding of how people think and process information, and how their individual experiences shape life in the workplace.
The guidance of an Executive Coach can be tremendously helpful in a variety of workplace situations, these include difficulties with management or colleagues. Having the tools to resolve the problem to the befit of all parties and the organisation itself is far more helpful than simply slamming a door, engaging in personal attacks, or playing office politics.
Take the positive view, for instance, you have just been offered a new position that meets your every need. You may be excited – but, if you are like the vast majority of people, you would benefit from understanding the risks involved in moving forward. This situation is where an Executive Coach can be invaluable – helping you dispassionately weigh the costs and benefits of any course of action.
However, even with the support of an Executive Coach, you remain the decision-maker. That Coach is a resource that can provide you with the tools to help you digest the information you are provided. A discussion with your Executive Coach can be a challenging experience – part of their job is to play Devil’s Advocate – but always keep in mind that they are on your side.
Executive Coaching courses will allow you to become more self-aware, and more able to leverage your strengths and manage your weaknesses. They will help you explore your lower-level needs, and your higher aspirations – and give you guidance on how to achieve your professional goals.
