As a leadership coach, working with both CEOs and senior executives, I am sometimes faced with this question:
- Is leadership coaching for the individual or
- Are there specific results this individual is expected to produce for the company?
For CEOs, the answer to this question is usually easy, the development a CEO gains from coaching usually has a direct correlation with results in their business.
For a senior executive, the question is more complex, both for me and for their sponsoring manager.
As with most things, getting clear upfront about your intentions and expectations will yield better results. Here are some questions to consider if you are either the senior executive or their sponsoring manager:
- Is coaching for your general professional development?
- Or are there specific expectations that coaching is expected to address and that you will be accountable for?
- What is the contract between you and your coach?
- What is the contract between you and your sponsoring manager?
- As the executive in coaching, how will I demonstrate or communicate progress to my manager?
- As the sponsoring manager, how do I want to be kept informed of progress?
The initial results of my Pivot are excellent. I feel I have much greater clarity regarding the next 3-5 years.. 