How to get the most of your Executive Coaching experience?

Executive coaching is an invaluable tool to help you approach personal and professional challenges. However, coaching is both a personal and monetary investment and for that reason it is essential that you ensure that it pays off. In this article, we will provide some tips to help you make the most of your coaching.

1 – Identify your coaching goals

Although a key part of your coaching will involve getting specific about your goals, it is essential that you identify what it is beforehand that you’d like to work on with your coach. Typical reasons for seeking coaching include:

feeling “stuck” in some aspect of your life
desire to improve a particular skill (delegating, communicating effectively)
or, better adapting to a situation (e.g., new job responsibilities, transfer to a new cultural environment).

2 – Select the right coach for you

When selecting a coach, we advise that you look for someone who has experience in the area you would like to improve on. Another important aspect to consider is the coach’s style. You need to feel comfortable being open with you coach. A good way to determine the best style for you is to think what helped you improve in the past (e.g., do you benefit from someone that can be bold, do you prefer a good listener). Also make sure the coach you choose is accredited and certified by any of the professional bodies such as the International Coaching Federation.

3 – Don’t expect to be changed, instead come with a proactive mindset

Unlike therapy, coaching is not about “fixing” someone’s problems. The assumption in coaching is that you are motivated and have the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. Your coach will help you tap into your “best self,” remove roadblocks, identify blind spots, and ensure you follow through with your commitments. Plan to show up to coaching with the motivation to change.

4 – Be open to feedback

Direct feedback from your coach or others around you is one of the most powerful experiences in coaching. For feedback to be a growing edge, you want to make sure that you remain open to it, even when it’s not what you were hoping for. Oftentimes, people omit giving their point of views about us and we continue to ignore our blind spots. Embrace the feedback and use it on your behalf instead.

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