The Importance of Executive Coaching

Written by admin on Sunday, April 26th, 2009

This is a HUGE article on executive coaching, the benefits, how to choose an executive coach and how do you know when you need to use executive coaching services for yourself as well. This in depth article will tell you practically all the ins and outs of executive coaching. This is definitely a good place to start if you want to know more about how this type of coaching can affect you and your business.

Why executive coaching services are expanding and how best to use an executive coach.

Why use an executive coach?

Nothing to be ashamed of

Unfortunately, for years, the idea of using an executive coach was looked on as a weakness. Somehow, the higher up people got in a company, the more responsibilities they were supposed to handle without any outward sign that they weren’t superman or superwoman.

It wasn’t even supposed to be the image of the swan - serene and calm on the outside, but paddling like hell underneath. No, people were supposed to look serene and paddle serene as well!

Fortunately, these days things have moved on a lot. It’s not considered a weakness to seek support. At least in some companies. There will always be those that think the stiff upper lip is better than admitting that not only people can’t do it alone, but it’s a whole lot better if they don’t.

All the ‘big people’ have their own coaches, mentors, ‘gurus’, counselors or wise person. Indeed, having an executive coach is nothing to be ashamed of.

Pressure ‘they’ put on you

You are a key member of your company. People rely on your leadership, interpersonal skills, judgments and decisions and expect you to continually ‘come up with the goods’.

As a matter of course, you are called upon to give keynote speeches, chair crucial meetings, develop strategy and people, focus on succession planning, handle crises and deal with the internal and external pressures that go with your position.

Part of the deal is that others do expect you to handle all that and more with grace, professionalism, energy and enthusiasm. And then there’s the rest of your life, too: all that work-life balance stuff.

Pressure you put on yourself

Not only that, staying under duvet may seem very inviting, especially if you, too, set high (if not impossible) expectations for yourself. Unfortunately, staying under the duvet is not an option most of the time.

Putting additional pressure on yourself is not uncommon. Somehow, the more responsibility people are given, the stronger their sense of obligation. Now, that’s not a bad thing. It’s good to be really committed and responsible.

However, the downside is that people give themselves a really hard time when they don’t live up to the expectations they’ve set themselves. And those expectations are usually way higher than any their companies set. They really get to a point where they can’t see the wood for all the trees they themselves planted.

Good executive coaching should put all these pressures into perspective and give you tools and additional skills to cope more effectively with everything that’s thrown at you.

Technorati Tags: executive coaching