"Executive coaching - explained" Ninive Badilescu CPC, Amazing Results www.amazingresults.com.au
While more and more corporations are using it there is still a bit of uncertainty when it comes to explaining Executive Coaching. So let me condense in a (very small) nutshell the essence of Executive Coaching: Executive Coaching is about generating, through a coaching relationship, real and long lasting performance improvement. Coach and coachee work together to bridge the gap between where the coachee is at a certain point in time and where he/she could or should be, given a better performance. Some of the issues that can be addressed through Executive Coaching can be: time management issues, communication issues, team building issues, personal performance issues, goal setting and achieving issues, to name just a few. Successful corporations are taking advantage of coaching to increase talent management and retention. Through individually developed programs the Executive Coach helps the client set expectations, develop and implement action plans and measure and evaluate the results. A coaching program will help the client get a more clear understanding of their own individual strengths, skills and potential while at the same time using all this new found understanding to raise the stakes and work towards achieving their goals. In increasingly offering Executive Coaching support to their employees, the corporations not only acknowledge the value of the individual but it also invests in the retention of highly professional employees who see the company as a supportive and attractive employer. However it is wrong to think that Executive Coaching can address successfully a work related issue without, at least in some way, having a positive impact on other work or personal issues. Comerce.Database.com – On line Business dictionary adds to the definition of Executive Coaching the following: ‘Executive coaching should impact the person in all areas of their lives allowing them to get unstuck from their normal issues and to be able to focus on true value added enterprises’. High performers are the result of a greater work/life balance and the most rewarding way of achieving that (for both the company and the employee) is through Executive Coaching.. One of the most important rules for ensuring better results is for the coaching program to take place in a format that would not become intrusive for the client. This is why over 80% of the Executive Coaching sessions are conducted as weekly phone sessions. To begin with, the phone format of the sessions might sound a bit remote in terms of actual interaction between coach and coachee. The advantage though is that the sessions take place in a very informal manner while still using most of the behavioural principles that come to play in the face-to-face format. The phone coaching sessions offer: the chance to remove the hassle of having to go somewhere to meet your coach, struggle with such things as driving, parking, taking the public transport which all translate into spending sometimes twice as long on your way to and from the session as well as frustration. The coachee can choose to have the session at a time when they know they can be relaxed, in a comfortable environment and free from any disruptions. Another advantage of the phone coaching format is the fact that many people find it easier to open up when they are not facing someone. It is very important for a genuine two-ways openness to be established from the beginning of the coaching relationship. Based mostly on dialogue coaching will be successful only if there is trust on both sides. While the client will mostly narrate or explain, the coach is there to listen, ask the tough questions, offer unbiased feedback, celebrate positive results and help analyse failures. The coach and coachee, as a team, have to work together to determine the path that should be followed during the coaching program and the coach has to make sure that the client stays on track. For the client, Executive Coaching is the means of growing professionally while gaining a better understanding of themselves. For corporations, Executive Coaching is proving to be a great ally in managing their people and retaining the real talent. The result is a much stronger relationship which is fundamental for the design and implementation of any future strategic plans.

 

Ninive Badilescu, CPC, is Amazing Results’ Lead Executive Career Coach

Ninive specialises in assisting her clients through periods of career transition.

Amazing Results are the Full Circle Feedback representative in New South Wales, Australia and coaching experts.