In times past, seeking an executive coach (or being assigned coaching by your boss) was seen as a sign you were experiencing issues at work .Now, however, coaching is rightly seen as a huge opportunity for personal and professional development, and is routinely sought out by professionals at all career levels.
Coaching can help you to become a better leader, figure out what you really want from your career, identify and work through the issues holding you back, and achieve your personal and professional goals. Here's how to figure out what type of coaching is best for you.
However, just like every self-improvement project, what you get out of coaching is proportional to how much you put into it. Missing appointments, setting easy-to-reach challenges, or coasting through goal-setting sessions might be an easy way to tick the “I’ve had coaching” box, but without going deep and doing the work you’re unlikely to see any real benefits from your coaching sessions.
We know you want to get the most out of your coaching, so we’ve identified ten key things to keep in mind as you embark on this exciting new journey.
Often, coaching sessions will start with some assessments to create a baseline for where you are right now. These could be 360 Development assessments, psychometric testing, or similar; the important thing is to know how to prepare for the psychometric testing, identify your strengths and areas of development, and to use those to inform your goal-setting and coaching plan. However, these assessments also mean feedback.
This is where you’ll need that courage. It’s vital to keep an open mind as you listen to your coach’s feedback, whether they’re interpreting your test results, or giving their personal impression of how you come across. Don’t fall into the BED pattern: Blame, Excuse, get Defensive. It’s hard not to take things personally, but try to remember that everyone has areas of development, and to give as much weight to your strengths as your weaknesses.
Most of all, ask questions. It’s always worth asking for feedback on your physical presence, too. Many people have small issues, like poor posture or distracting vocal habits that can influence the impression you make, but take only small tweaks to alter. Remember that everything is a learning process, and no one is perfect. At least if you have the information, you will be in a better place to make informed choices.
In your coaching sessions, there are three places where you will need to be honest: in determining your goals, in updating your coach on your progress, and in giving your coach feedback on what is working for you, and what is not.
The need to be honest about your goals may seem obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to let societal expectations about what sort of career you “should” have, or the goals you “should” be aiming for cloud your vision of what you actually want. Remember, your coach is not there to judge you. Take the time to consider your true needs and desires, and your coach can help you reach a greater level of satisfaction in your career.
Of course, they can only do that if you’re honest about your progress. Most coaching sessions involve homework or one sort or another; if you haven’t done it (for whatever reason), it’s vital that you’re honest about it. Life happens, and your coach understands that, but if you’re not able or willing to put in that effort, it’s worth examining why and working to find a solution. Perhaps you’re resisting working toward a goal you don’t actually want! In coaching, honesty is key.
You’ll most likely schedule 6-10 coaching sessions at first, and while that may seem like a lot (or not enough!), keep in mind that change takes time. It takes time to develop a strong foundation of trust with your coach as you get to know each other. It takes time to build new habits and change your mindset.
You may put in several weeks of hard work and feel like you are not seeing any results. You might find huge changes at first, and then feel like you stall completely, and nothing happens for a month. Trust the process; trust that you are growing and changing, even if it’s just a little at a time, or in irregular leaps and bounds.
There will come a day when you reach one of your most cherished goals, or find yourself reacting to a situation in a totally different way, when you will realise how you have changed and developed.
There’s no doubt about it: change is scary. Or at least, it is if you do it right! In the process of figuring out what you need, what you want, and how to work toward a more fulfilling career, you’re likely to think that some of those dreams are too difficult, or even impossible. It can be tempting to stay in your lane and not push yourself too far, but if you don’t focus on the hard stuff, it’s unlikely you’ll find that fulfilment.
In coaching, as in so many things, what you get out of it is in large part related to what you put in. Leaving your comfort zone behind from time to time isn’t just good for your personal development, it’s essential to reach the next stage of your career.
After all we said above about leaving your comfort zone, you might be thinking that your coaching goals should all be moon shots. However, we actually recommend identifying and working toward a mix of different goals. Build some goals around your strengths, and others around your weaknesses. Working toward and achieving those goals in areas where you already feel comfortable will boost your confidence and help keep your motivation strong, which will help you to keep working toward those goals in areas of development.
If you’re having trouble forming goals around your strengths, try checking your strengths for weaknesses. Sometimes, if we’re strong in one area, it is easy to workaround a related area in which we are less proficient. Honing your skills in areas of strength is never a waste of time, and the confidence it gives you will help you keep on track in other areas.
If you’re the sort of person who gets caught up easily in any new undertaking, take a breath. That New Year energy can help us push toward new, exciting goals, but it’s not the most sustainable thing in the world! Taking on a development programme like coaching will naturally cut into your time, but it’s essential that you make time to relax, exercise, socialise, and let the results of your coaching sink in.
Spending every spare minute working toward your newly identified goals means that you’re likely to miss important steps, and runs the risk that you don’t have time to think deeply about your development. Remember that you need time and space to process your progress, and don’t give up your work/life balance in favour of your new project.
You can attend every coaching appointment, diligently do your homework, and still find yourself at the end of your last session with very little having changed. How? When it comes to coaching, you can go through the motions of attending sessions, setting goals, and reading the books and articles you are assigned without actually taking any of it in at a deep level.
In your coaching journey it’s so important that you learn the difference between participation – showing up – and commitment – doing the work. Don’t just go through the process with the aim of ticking every box. Real change is messy, sometimes slow, and takes commitment to make it happen. To reap the benefits of coaching, you have to jump in feet-first.
These days, many people access executive coaching through their company or place of work. Perhaps your boss wants you to develop a certain skill, or has goals in mind that they think you should work towards. That can be all well and good, but make sure you make room in your coaching sessions for your own goals too. Don’t just focus on your boss’ feedback: come with your own agenda!
Coaching is a rare opportunity, and you want to make the most of it. Bosses come and go, but you are the one who has to develop your own career.
You may feel like attending coaching sessions, as well as working all the necessary hours, trying to spend quality time with friends and family, cook the occasional meal, get a good night’s sleep, and maybe even take the dog for a walk means you have enough on your plate. You are correct! Unfortunately, if you’re going to undertake a programme of coaching sessions, none of the above is an excuse not to do your homework.
Coaching is like an iceberg: 20% of the work happens above the water, in your sessions, while the other 80% is underwater! That less visible work is happening in your work meetings, your personal life, and the time you spend reflecting and reading: that is, doing your homework.
Coaching is a short-term commitment, but the benefits are far-reaching and will last you years.
Undertaking a coaching programme takes a lot of things: hard work, financial investment, commitment, courage, honesty – but it’s not all challenge and hardship. You’re building a great new relationship with your coach, and an even better one with yourself.
You’re working toward a happier, more satisfying future, honing your existing skills, and building new ones. The opportunity to undergo executive coaching is a wonderful thing, so remember to enjoy your sessions!
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Address: Level 8, Simpl House,
40 Mercer St, Wellington 6011.
