Executive Coaching

The purpose of executive coaching sessions, as it is with business coaching, is to develop the individual to achieve their full potential. This is done by addressing issues and barriers that are encountered, and consequently hold the person back from achieving their goals or targets.

One-to-one executive coaching sessions are designed to fit around you and your work commitments. These short sessions usually take place at your premises or over the phone, which minimises the amount of time spent away from your day-to-day duties.


Introduction

Executive coaching takes the business coaching process to the boardroom, and usually involves company executives taking part in one-to-one coaching sessions, although executive coaching can be provided to groups of executives. Executive coaching encompasses those with managerial responsibilities including company directors, senior managers and middle managers.

Executive coaching is becoming increasingly popular amongst today's dynamic business leaders. This is due to its bespoke nature and its many advantages, some of which are detailed below.


Executive Coaching Benefits

Most managers rarely get direct feedback or even hear bad news, and there are few people they can discuss sensitive issues with or use as a sounding board. So, it's no surprise that more and more managers and executives appreciate the confidentiality and personal attention of an executive coach.

Executive coaching works to understand and address your issues and needs in the context of the day-to-day realities of your business. You will improve your performance by:


  • Developing greater self-awareness to help you open up more options

  • Building more effective personal skills: coaching, mentoring, problem solving, leadership, time management, negotiation, delegation etc.

  • Having an honest, objective sounding board to find creative solutions to problems

  • Learning to deal with issues, problems and alternatives from fresh perspectives

  • Becoming more strategic about work and stop letting day-to-day issues run your schedule

  • Developing a leadership style that suits you and gets results

  • Balancing your work, home, and recreational commitments, which can significantly increase your personal health and wellbeing

  • Having an opportunity to review outcomes and learning

Why Have Executive Coaching?

Executive coaching develops the individual to achieve their full potential

For those in an executive position, time is a commodity which is often in short supply. No matter how good a person's time management skills are, it is quite likely that they simply do not have time to attend a classroom-based training course, and are unwilling to give up their already short free time to undertake an online course at home in front of a computer, when they may already spend most of the day sat staring at a computer screen!

1 to 1 executive coaching sessions are designed to fit around you and your work commitments. These short sessions usually take place at your premises or over the phone, which minimises the amount of time spent away from your day-to-day duties.

The purpose of executive coaching sessions, as it is with business coaching, is to develop the individual to achieve their full potential. This is done by addressing issues and barriers that are encountered, and consequently hold the person back from achieving their goals or targets. Talking through problems with a business coach who is external to the business can be much more productive than discussing them with a fellow colleague, as there is no risk of hurt feelings, worries about the colleague letting slip any of what is said with others in the organisation etc. An external business coach will be impartial and objective, offering mentoring and guidance, as well as acting as a sounding board upon which the executive can bounce ideas off. Often, just talking out loud to someone can set the creative juices flowing and enable the manager or executive to work out solutions by themselves.

Executive coaching is not only good for overcoming barriers and achieving set goals, but can also be utilised when the business is going through a significant change to which the executive, as well as other staff members, must adapt to in order to survive in the organisation. Taking on a different role(s) will usually lead to more uncertainty, potential burnout or stress for an individual, at least in the short term, and executive coaching can be used to make the transition process as smooth as possible.


Executive Coaching for Future Executives

Executive coaching for future executives

When considering executive coaching and what the term encompasses, the majority of people's thoughts will lean towards those managers and executives who are already firmly established in the business and have many years of experience in the position, either with the current organisation or with others. Whilst a lot of executive coaching does involve these individuals, it should not be forgotten that one of the primary functions of business coaching is to help people overcome barriers and issues which are preventing them from maximising their potential. If they can, and become extremely effective in what they do and are highly valued by the company, then there will be a strong possibility of promotion somewhere down the line.

For those who are already in a fairly senior managerial position, it may be the case that soon in their career they will become an executive at the top level of the corporate hierarchy. This will result in significant changes and upheaval for them as they continue their journey along their career path, and is a key area where business and executive coaching can be utilised to great effect.

An executive coach can provide coaching on a one-to-one basis for this up-and-coming executive to facilitate the smooth transition of their changing role within the company, and in the preparation for such a time when they are promoted to their elevated title. So much time, hassle and problems can be avoided with suitable preparatory work which makes executive coaching for future executives an important consideration and a group which should not be forgotten when considering the provision of coaching.

For more information about executive coaching and business coaching, and how we at Dickson Training Ltd can assist you or others within your organisation, please get in touch with us by calling 01937 579 649 or sending us an online contact form with your requirements.


Feedback

Below is a small selection of past feedback for our coaching course and programmes:

"The ILM Level 5 coaching programme is an excellent course for anyone involved with coaching. It teaches you theories and gives you practical experience of coaching. All felt very comfortable and I learnt lots of new skills. Thank you."
Nationwide Building Society
Senior Trainer (Design)

Nationwide Building Society






"Overall I feel this experience will absolutely enhance my performance as a business coach. I love it when you come away from a development programme with lots of practical tips that can be applied in the workplace immediately. Worth taking two days out of the office; can see real return on investment. Well facilitated, informal, interesting with plenty of healthy discussions."
Avon Cosmetics
Coaching & Development Manager

Avon Cosmetics






"Having been a practising coach for a few years, this programme was the first formal training I have attended. It enabled me to fine tune my current skills, practise some new ones, learn about different structures/techniques, and more importantly become a more rounded coach."
Molson Coors
HR Business Partner

Molson Coors






"The programme is a practical approach to coaching, and always referred back to what you can do in your business."
Debenhams
Training Manager

Debenhams