Executive Coaching FAQs for A Year to Make a Major Impact
If you have been thinking about working with an Executive Coach to help you make a greater impact this year but still debating, let me tell you more about the process here to help you understand if it would be the right move for you now.
What is Executive Coaching? And, what kind of results can you/your company expect through providing coaching at work?
Executive Coaching is an integral part of any organization’s leadership development strategy. It provides a consistent learning environment over a period of time that is customized to the individual client’s needs.
A good coach will not tell you what to do, as that would only be their opinion, but they help you understand the workings of yourself better and push you outside of your comfort zone to make new shifts. They provide that accountability factor.
Executive Coaching is a proven way to develop individual, team, and organizational performance across industries. A Metrix Global study found that executive coaching has a 788% return on investment (ROI) based on factors including increases in productivity and employee retention.
What kind of results can you expect through providing coaching at work?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) reports the following statistics on the benefits of executive coaching: 70 per cent improvement in goal achievement, 50 per cent improvement in conversations, and 48 per cent increase in revenue derived from that individual. Source: American University.
Who is qualified to be an Executive Coach?
There is no regulatory certification or training for Executve Coaches so essentially anyone can call themselves an Executive Coach. Buyer beware.
The world's largest and most prominent coaching association is the International Coaches Federation (ICF), headquartered in California. They adjudicate three levels of coaching certification.
According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), there are three levels of certificate programs. Each level requires the candidate to demonstrate a thorough understanding of coaching principles, complete hands-on training, and exhibit dedication to upholding the profession's ethical guidelines:
Associate certified coach (ACC) candidates must complete 60 hours of in-class training and 100 hours of client coaching experience.
Professional certified coach (PCC) consists of 125 hours of coach-specific training and 500 hours of client coaching experience.
Master certified coach (MCC) requires PCC certification, 200 hours of in-class training, and 2,500 hours of client coaching experience. This is the highest Level Attained by only 2,000 coaches around the world. This is my level of education, hours of coaching experience and soon-to-be credential as I just sent off my application package to the ICF!!
What types of things can an Executive Coach help me with?
Executive Coaches can cover a wide range of leadership development from executive presence, presentation skills, relationship development, confidence, team management, stress and wellness, and increased revenue just to name a few areas.
What is the difference between an Executive Coach and a Life Coach?
Qualified Executive Coaches understand the dynamic and skills required of executives. They are able to have high level, strategic work discussions and act as a sounding board. I am a big believer that we can’t compartmentalize our lives so my coaching approach is very flexible. I help the client work through personal and professional issues to help them be strong in all areas.
Whereas, a life coach, generally talks only about general life issues. I believe a good Executive Coach should have some Executive-level experience themselves to truly understand the context with which another executive finds themselves in. Generally life coaches, would not have that level of past professional experience.
What is the biggest determinant of success for an Executive Coaching relationship?
Working with a coach that you feel confident in and have great chemistry with is the best determinant of the coaching session. Trust is a key factor in helping executive coaching work. So if you want to achieve your coaching goals, work with an Executive Coach you feel connected to and believe can help take you to where you want to go.
What work do I need to do when working with an Executive Coach?
This may vary a bit based on the coach you choose. But for me, I ask new clients to complete some questionnaires in the beginning and send them to me in advance of our first session. This information gets me up-to-speed quickly on a lot of the background details on the client so we can hit the ground running.
Also, completing this paperwork in advance of the coaching gets the client into the reflective frame of mind to prepare them for this process. It really is a precious gift to yourself to carve out time to reflect to learn and grow in an individualized way.
Then a lot of the work is more around reflecting and trying new behaviours/ways of thinking. It is not about doing tonnes of homework, but more about digging within yourself to be your very best!
How often do you connect with your Executive Coach for best results?
In the majority of cases, I work with my clients twice a month. That seems to hit the sweet spot of touching base often enough to keep the momentum going, yet gives clients a few weeks to practice new behaviours and digest and integrate new ways of thinking before going on for more learning and growth in each subsequent session.
How soon will I know if Effective Coaching is working for me?
The good news here is that and I believe you will feel right from the first session that you are on the right path! You won’t have all the answers in session number one, but it will feel right in your core. If you are spending sessions with your coach, and you feel the two of you are on different pages or you don’t feel any closer to achieving your goals, talk to the coach and let them know how you feel.
If things don’t shift after a session or two, I would ask for the money back for the remaining sessions as this may not be the right coach match for you (Please make sure in the coaching contract you sign in the beginning that it allows you the flexibility to be reimbursed for unused coaching sessions).
How long is an average coaching session?
This can vary from coach to coach. For me, all of my coaching sessions are 50 minutes in length. This is ample time to do good work together, yet allows 10 minutes to let the client digest some of the session while still having time to grab a coffee or water before heading into their next meeting on the hour. It also gives me time as a coach to clear my mind and reset so I can give the next client the focus and attention they deserve.
My coaching contracts are for 12 sessions and are spread out over six months. This schedule can be accelerated or stretched out a bit based on client preference, but the majority of my clients prefer my standard six-month timeline.
Senior leaders tend to renew their contracts with me for several years due to the success they achieve within each contract period, but there is never any expectation of extensions. I work with each client one session at a time, to help them achieve their goals set out for that contract period.
How do we determine the focus of the Executive Coaching?
This is a fun process that involves several components. First, the clients’ own insights about what they would like to strengthen or develop are the greatest informers of their goals. Then I conduct a 360 assessment at the onset of the coaching. I am a certified practitioner of The Leadership Circle’s 360 Assessment which is a standardized assessment tool, but what I do a lot more of and actually prefer is conduct a sample of 6 interviews with the client’s leader, peers, and team members. This allows me to fully understand the client’s strengths and areas of opportunities along with more in-depth information the interviewee can expand upon about key points to help give greater context to my client to help them understand exactly what kind of shifts need to occur if they choose to lean into that area of development.
Is Executive Coaching in-person or virtual? What is most effective?
The majority of Executive Coaching is done virtually. Coaches often work with leaders and high potentials all over the world so the flexibility of not being tied to a specific location allows individuals access to the best coach for them anywhere in the world.
In terms of effectiveness, I have done some in-person coaching sessions and a lot of virtual ones. At first, I wasn’t sure how virtual could be as effective. But once I tried it, I was sold. It worked at the same level of effectiveness while the client could remain in their office and I could remain in mine. It is all about working effectively and efficiently. Virtual coaching masters both.
I also love coaching over the phone when the client and coach are not distracted by body language or technology. It is like an acoustic version of a music concert. Just the voices of the client and the coach. Some of my most powerful coaching sessions have been done in this format.
Who are the types of clients that Carey-Ann Oestreicher, CEO, of Potential Unlimited works with?
I work largely with clients who are senior leaders or aspiring senior leaders who are high achieving but are often quite stressed. They have become multitasking machines and their brains are constantly churning. They may feel they have lost some of their passion for life or even the job. And may begin to question if they really even know who they are anymore and what they really want. These people could be experiencing anxiety or health issues. This could also manifest in terms of relationship issues with staff, peers or leaders. Confidence issues may be a factor with some individuals.
Development Opportunities:
Make this the year you invest in yourself and find out what you are really capable of! Learn more about my Executive Coaching Programs!
