Why would executives be needing coaching, for they already are on top?” is a question that pops up in mind when one comes across the term “Executive Coaching”.
What is Executive Coaching?
“Why would executives be needing coaching, for they already are on top?” is a question that pops up in mind when one comes across the term “Executive Coaching”. A brief answer to this question is to be found in the definition of executive coaching, which says that it is a field that works for professional development, comprising a coach assisting an executive in improving their performance, bringing out their highest potential and thus, achieving their goals. For further elucidation, let us delve into some further details regarding the field like who is an executive coach, misconceptions and things to avoid in executive coaching, its importance and the outcomes it has to offer.
Who is an Executive Coach?
An executive coach, like any other coach, assists the clients in achieving their highest potential in the respective field, but here, the clients are not of an ordinary sort, but leaders, executives and senior employees of a business organization. For securing success as an executive coach, one first needs to learn the skill of coaching. The coach aids the clients in altering their perspectives regarding their own selves and the position they hold in an organization, in a positive and growth centered manner. They also focus on identifying and elucidating the goals their clients are supposed to reach and assist them in taking the right steps to achieve them.
Some Misconceptions Regarding Executive Coaching
Executive coaching is quite often confused with counseling, mentoring, teaching, consulting and career coaching. But it stands as a field that is different from the aforementioned ones. It is not counseling, as in counseling, therapeutic outcomes are offered. In mentoring, the mentor needs to be the master of the field, same as that of the client and does most of the talking, along with offering advice. But, on the other hand, coaching doesn’t offer that much advising. Moreover, it is not teaching as well, as in teaching too, the teacher has to be the expert of the field. It is not consulting, for a consultant focuses mainly on the problem, whereas a coach focuses mainly on the clients and how they handle problematic circumstances. Executive coaching is also different from career coaching, as in the later field, the coach guides the clients in selecting their careers and assists them in their transformation into a new role.
Things to Avoid in Executive Coaching
Being new in the field of executive coaching, the coach could possibly make certain mistakes like confusing executive coaching with other fields, giving oneself up to ego, keeping a “know it all” attitude, inflexibility and many more. By confusing executive coaching with other fields, the coaches fail to be aware of their actual goals, which certainly hinders the professional growth of both the coach and the client. As being a human, coaches often let the ego get in their way, which in turn makes them work for maintaining their own heroic persona rather than helping the clients to sustain theirs. Moreover, new coaches sometimes unknowingly keep a “know it all” attitude and show inflexibility in their methods. This makes them stick to their strictly structured techniques, which might not equally apply to all the clients they meet.
Why One Needs Executive Coaching?
There could be found many reasons that would justify an executive’s need for executive coaching. Firstly, an executive being the senior leader can often feel isolated from the rest of the professionals and would require a space to openly talk. They also want a space for thinking and a catalyst for bringing new perspectives out of their own minds. Moreover, they also want someone who could help them in nurturing their own selves and assist them in keeping a work-life balance. And here comes the executive coaching, which has to offer all these aforementioned executive requirements.
Outcomes of Executive Coaching
Executive coaching brings many positive outcomes that inestimably catalyze both individual and organizational growth. According to research, executive coaching results in unceasing organizational growth, refinement of managerial performance, enhancement in self-awareness and emotional intelligence, resilience in leadership and improved strategic thinking skills. After working with an executive coach, an executive turns out to be more focused and motivated and attains the ability to run the organization in a more efficient way.
Conclusion
Even though the traces of its origin are to be found in the second half of the 20th century, executive coaching still has flourished as a proper field in the 21st century. The corporate sector is growing more expeditiously than ever before and so are the expectations from the executives arising. To meet these soaring expectations, the executives need someone who could assist them in their business matters, strategically. Executive coaching contributes much to lifting this extra burden off the executives and even helps them in maintaining their disposition. Moreover, this field is now inclined towards broadening its target group, which would be beyond the managers and executives.
Sabah Aqil
Owner/Founder of Inner Voice, Executive Coach