Coaching Information

Executive Coaching - Finding a Coach and Understanding the Process


Nobody in business can fail to have noticed the recent rise in the number of coaches and consultants offering their services. But how do you go about finding a coach who will give you a return on your investment? Executive coaching might be an option for you if you are running your own business or are in an employed management role, and have aspirations to achieve more.

I would advise you to initially identity an executive coach through recommendation, or by conducting your own research on the web or in trade publications, and then request a free session to ask questions and find out more about them. Most coaches will give you some time without charge at the outset to discuss what your objectives are in beginning coaching, and to establish whether there is sufficient compatibility between you.

If there does not seem to be a connection, or if the coach feels someone else can help you more, they will refer you on to someone who is more appropriate. Only commit if you feel excited and relaxed about working with that individual - if there are any doubts, go with your intuition. We are all different and what works for your friend or colleague may not work as well for you.

You will be asked to commit to an agreed period of coaching, not to protect the coach's income, but to give the process a fair chance of taking effect. The period will vary from coach to coach, and will depend to some extent on what you are wishing to achieve. You may find you are getting cold feet once you have committed to coaching, and feeling nervous or negative about the outcome. This is entirely natural and will disappear once you have embarked on your regular sessions.

You and your coach will decide on specific goals to be attained, but don't worry if you have none at the start of coaching, as they will soon become evident as you think about what you want to achieve in life. Often our goals shift anyway, as we learn more about ourselves and what we want, rather than what society wants for us. You will be expected to spend time between sessions on accomplishing the goals you have set with your coach and on reporting back to them so they are prepared for the next session.

An executive coach is a sounding board who allows you to understand your own strengths and realise where your comfort zone ends and how to move beyond it. It is like having a conversation with a friend who has only your interests at heart and who can contribute to your development in a completely detached way. A friend who has no emotional investment in you staying the same and will be purely delighted, and not at all threatened, if you start to achieve more of your goals.

As a coaching client, you will be required to be open and honest with your coach and tell them what you feel is and is not working. In order for executive coaching to really make a difference to you, you must be willing to look at yourself as objectively as possible and not become defensive or upset if it becomes apparent that some of your current behaviour is not the best response to the situation you find yourself in.

You will need to be able to change your behaviour in some circumstances to see if an alternative works better. You should also be prepared for changes throughout your life and not just at work - we do not operate in boxes, and a change in one area of your life will have a knock-on effect in others. You may well find family and friends remarking on the changes in you.

Try to be as open-minded as you can about executive coaching and what it may bring you. Many people are pleasantly surprised by the fundamental improvements it can help bring about at work and home.

Andy Britnell is an executive coach who works with businesspeople in both the public and private sectors who wish to achieve better results. There is more information at http://executive-coaching-for-business-growth.com/ and you can read some testimonials at http://executive-coaching-for-business-growth.com/executive-coaching-testimonials.html


MORE RESOURCES:

Hartford Courant

Boston College fires Coach Jeff Jagodzinski
Los Angeles Times, CA - 23 hours ago
He is fired days after he was warned of dismissal if he interviewed for the coaching job with the New York Jets. Associated Press Boston College fired Jeff ...
Mark Herzlich stays for next Boston College coach Boston Herald
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Boston College fires coach San Francisco Chronicle
BC coach fired for interviewing with Jets Newsday
Houston Chronicle - The Virginian-Pilot
all 1,191 news articles


New York Daily News

Browns name Mangini coach
Boston Globe, United States - 22 hours ago
As coach of the Browns, Eric Mangini will probably have a say in the hiring of team's next GM. (Bill kostroun/Associated Press) By Christopher L. Gasper If ...
NFL | Eric Mangini to coach Browns Seattle Times
Mangini returns to roots of coaching career Washington Times
NFL REPORT: Report: Mangini gets coaching job with Cleveland Atlanta Journal Constitution
MSNBC - Bleacher Report
all 1,528 news articles


Los Angeles Times

USC coaching carousel moves at a gentle pace
Los Angeles Times, CA - 9 hours ago
"There shall be a limit of one head coach, nine assistant coaches and two graduate assistant coaches." I'm pretty sure Pete Carroll has the head coaching ...
Seto promoted to USC's defensive coordinator The Associated Press
USC makes offensive coaching adjustments CNN
Seto Named Defensive Coordinator TheBootleg.com
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Press-Enterprise
all 172 news articles


Former Broncos star has ideal candidate for coach
The Associated Press - 3 hours ago
DENVER (AP) — Bill Romanowski has the perfect coaching candidate in mind for the Denver Broncos, a dark horse, somebody out of the blue who's on nobody's ...


Washington Post

Seventh candidate interviews for Broncos vacancy
The Associated Press - 8 hours ago
(AP) — Team owner Pat Bowlen wrapped up his first round of interviews for the Denver Broncos' head coaching vacancy Thursday when he met with Miami Dolphins ...
NFL coaching chase DetNews.com
Bowles 7th candidate for Broncos head coach position 9NEWS.com
NFL notes: Favre will wait on decision to play Houston Chronicle
Rocky Mountain News - Kansas City Star
all 484 news articles


Turner Won't Take the Last Laugh
Washington Post, United States - 1 hour ago
"Game day, in the playoffs, when it's turned up a notch big-time, there are critical, critical [coaching] decisions that must be made," Smith said before ...
Line of Scrimmage: Divisional Round - Bolts' Turner Deserves Praise Sports Network
Schottenheimer and Smith Preferred Non-Verbal Communication - NFL ... FanHouse
all 59 news articles


Houston Chronicle

Marinelli meets with Texans about staff vacancy
Houston Chronicle, United States - 35 minutes ago
Texans coach Gary Kubiak interviewed Marinelli on Wednesday for the defensive line coaching job. During a 10-year (1996-2005) career at Tampa Bay under Tony ...
Rod Marinelli interviews with Houston Texans Los Angeles Times
Marinelli talking with Houston; Frazier visiting Lions; How about ... Detroit Free Press
Marinelli Says He Had Great Visit With Texans Officials MyFox Houston
Examiner.com - Northwest Herald
all 147 news articles


Bleacher Report

Thursday's coaching update
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 10 hours ago
Raiders interim coach Tom Cable is 44 years old. Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is 57 and former Giants head coach Jim Fassel is 59. ...
Cable makes case for Raiders coaching job SportingNews.com
More coaching rumors... Sacramento Bee
The dismantling of the coaching staff begins Silver and Black report
San Jose Mercury News - Silver and Black Pride
all 33 news articles


National Post

Rathman rejoins 49ers as RBs coach
The Associated Press - Jan 7, 2009
(AP) — Tom Rathman agreed to return to the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff Wednesday night as their running backs coach. ...
49ers name Rathman running backs coach National Post
Rathman returns to 49ers as RBs coach SF Illustrated
Candid Cam: Rathman leaves Raiders for 49ers, deserves bigger role Berryessa Sun
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - News10.net
all 147 news articles


An offensive coach like Jason Garrett could intrigue Lions
Detroit Free Press, United States - 10 hours ago
By NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • January 8, 2009 Hmmm. The Lions say they’re going to be secretive about their coaching search. ...
Exclusive: Jason Garrett on Broncos Head Coach Interview My Fox Colorado.com
Straight from the Horse's Mouth -- Jason Garrett Scouting Report Mile High Report
Maybe Jason Garrett is in the wrong business Dallas Morning News
MLive.com - Denver Post
all 31 news articles

Coaching - Google News

home | site map
© 2006