The seven benefits of Executive Coaching in a company: the keys to team development
The leader is alone, often very alone. In 2013, Stanford University published a study on executive coaching, stating that “nearly two-thirds of CEOs don’t get outside leadership advice” but “nearly all want it” .
Since then, the demand for executive coaching in Geneva has only grown. Due to the increase in demand, an explosion of coaches and businesses has taken place. While not bad news in and of itself, this increase in coaching opportunities has made it difficult for many executives who are coaching for the first time to identify the differentiators between coaches.
At Cadran, we understand the pressure of choosing an individual coach and we want to help you make the best decision for yourself, for your business project, or for a member of your team.
1 Why executive coaching?
It provides leaders with a space between two people, the facilitator and their client, to help them navigate the dynamics and multi-faceted demands of professional leadership. Here are some types of coaching that an executive could take to develop their leadership and communication skills.
- Assimilation coaching for leaders in transition to a new organization
- Career development coaching for leaders who adapt to new responsibilities with their basic skills and abilities in a new transversal role
- Succession plan to help executives define the desired results and the timetable for an important transition in the life of the company
Even if specific circumstances do not seem to justify support, any manager can benefit from the point of view of someone outside their board of directors or their management team. As Stephen Miles, CEO of the Miles Group, says, “Even the best CEOs have their weak points and can significantly improve their performance with good outside help.”
2 What prevents management from finding a coach?
Even though almost all CEOs want support, why are so many not? We asked one of our clients to give us his opinion:
Some leaders feel they should have “all the answers” already. They may also feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Manager development programs are favorably impacted by management training and the development of the leader’s personality. I recently learned that asking for help and advice is a sign of strength and a trait of a great leader. “So it is a good business strategy.
A successful leader knows his limits and reacts to the possibility of developing and thriving with supportive solutions to advance his capacities, build a project and generate solid results.
We provide our leaders with learning and development measures for all phases of their careers, coordinating global, regional and local opportunities. These measures aim to strengthen the skills of our leaders and give them the opportunity to network and learn from each other.
Support for executives is not reserved for top management. While studies have shown that professional development has a positive impact on performance from all points of view, the most significant improvements are found at all levels of management.
But how do you choose a business coach? More importantly, how do you find one that will give you the best return on your time and financial investment?
3 What are my goals for business coaching?
The goal of business coaching is to help you set clear and measurable short and long term goals. That doesn’t mean you can shift setting your goals for the whole experience until you’ve hired a coach. You want a training program that allows you to do the following work:
- Make a transition to a new role, manage a business project
- Discover his personality in more depth
- Are you looking to change your leadership style
- Encourage greater collaboration in your teams
By setting your goals, you are accomplishing two things simultaneously. First, you define what success will look like. Then, and perhaps most important, you define the type of executive coach that’s right for your situation.
If you want to take on more responsibility in the business with as little disruption as possible, you will choose a coach specializing in change management. If your goal is the personal development of a leader, you will turn to coaches specializing in self-awareness.
4 What are the coach’s references?
The truth is, anyone can call themselves a leader coach. This title is not reserved for professionals who follow training courses accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). However, this certification gives you insight into the backgrounds of potential coaches. Associated with convincing results, it guarantees that the coach masters several coaching methods which can be adapted to your specific needs. Since there is no one-size-fits-all method for success, having more than one tool increases the likelihood of getting a positive result. Team training is a different job. In Switzerland, Germany and other European countries, we also speak of change support as a synonym of executive coaching.
5 How to choose the expert best suited to your change problem?
The ICF’s 2016 Global Coaching Study found that executive coaches are split between those under 50 and over 50. However, the profile of those looking for executive coaches tends towards younger ages. Almost half of the people who have hired a coach are under 45. In other words, age doesn’t necessarily matter when looking for a level coach. What matters is that the coach has proven himself. A customer experience, the ability to fully understand business in Switzerland and internationally is certainly a plus. I would add that the location of the coach is of little importance. This one can be based in Paris, Zurich, Geneva, whatever. It is rarely the customer who comes. What is essential is that it provides individual training and offers tailored services to customers who have just chosen it.
Remember to ask for referrals from any potential providers and, most importantly, to make phone calls. Discuss the process of coaching, how the client handled failure, how they defined success. A good coach does personal work and has a place of supervision. It is a space in which he continues his “education” as a coach.
6 Is executive coaching well suited to the client’s culture?
Your executive coach should also be suited to the culture of your organization. Engaging in business coaching outside of the organizational culture will be relatively effective. Unfortunately, many people confuse “personal chemistry” with cultural fit.
“Culture is the most important thing you will do as a leader … Creating culture is not magic, it is an essential leadership skill that you and your people can learn.”
“The Culture Code”, Dan Coyle
So how do you know if someone will help you achieve your goals for your organization at that time? Here are some questions you should ask yourself that will help you in the decision-making process. In any case, do not hesitate to meet several coaches. Three would be the ideal number. You will then be able to evaluate the support programs that each offers.
Successful coaching experiences are based on listening. Is the coach or company actively listening and asking relevant questions about your goals or focusing on the presentation they have prepared?
Does it give you insight into the key points of your organizational culture when you first meet? Is it correct in their assessment?
7 How long does executive coaching last for a manager?
This is very variable. Sometimes 3-4 sessions are sufficient to set up a solution to a specific difficulty. In addition, some coaches offer offers over ten sessions.
Try ! Everyone has their own strategy. There’s no need to commit to more. Key executives, managers and high potential executives are very busy. Success should never depend on the presence of the coach, but rather on the client’s ability to put into practice the skills that the coach has revealed in them.
Questions and answers for professionals:
Q: if I want to train for executive coaching, where do I go?
A: in Geneva, in French-speaking Switzerland, there is a very good institute, IDC coaching, which provides training to the public in French and English. Regarding the level of performance of training coaching institutes, it is important that the latter certify that a number of courses are carried out by a Master coach.
