Training
You don’t need to have any training to be a coach, but as the coaching industry matures, training has become more important, and in the executive coaching industry, that training is virtually essential. You will be working with managers and CEOs, many of whom have gone to top colleges and had a wealth of training. They will look at your training to see if you measure up.
Credibility
Training is one of the components of your credibility, but experience also gives you an advantage. If you don’t have any experience in the corporate world or as an executive coach, you might want to consider working with another coach before you go out on your own. Executive coaches work in the high-stakes business world, and if companies are going to pay you, they want to make sure that their ROI (return on investment) will be high.
Change What You Can
Working with CEOs and high-level executive can be challenging. That’s why you should not go into the coaching relationship like a ball of fire. A scorched-earth policy is not best. Pick out one or two items to work on, even if you think there are additional problems or issues. Executives will be more resistant to sweeping changes than they will be to targeted modifications and change. One of the most essential executive coaching tips to remember when you are in a situation that looks to be a complete disaster.
Focus on Improving Performance
Don’t go into a coaching relationship by discussing what is broken; enter into the relationship with the goal of improving performance. The client will be more trusting when you see things as needing improvement rather than as broken – you won’t be challenging what they have already accomplished; you’ll just be enhancing it!
Be Truthful About Your Ignorance
If you don’t know something or don’t have an answer, own up to it. Sounds like one of those executive coaching tips you should ignore – but if you try it, you’ll find it works out best in the end. Don’t make something up! Executives are too busy and sharp to listen to any bullcrap. They’ll appreciate your honesty in the long run.
Be Yourself
This might be the most important executive coaching tip – don’t try to be something you think they want you to be. Don’t change your personality or your coaching style just because you think that will work better. It won’t!
More Executive Coaching Tips
Here are a few more tips that all coaches know, but may forget when they work with high-level clients:
- Help the clients create their own solutions and find their own outcomes. Show and guide, don’t tell!
- Use your communication skills – active listening is crucial no matter who the client is, how much money they make, how nice a view their office has, or how many people they lead.
- Be patient. Clients, and especially executive and CEO clients can be difficult to reach. It takes time, persistence, and patience.
- Be yourself – Oh, I said that one already! But, don’t forget it! I said it twice, so it must be one of the most important executive coaching tips!
Fred Philips
Business Coach
Writing Team, Coaches Training Blog Community
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