the five reasons you should hire an executive coach
New Perspectives
The more you grow in an organization and the higher you go in leadership the less people are going to tell you the truth. This is natural because of the power differential and they don’t want to give you information that you don’t want to hear. Also, the blind spots you have will not be uncovered by the employees below you unless they are comfortable and trusted resources.
A coach can help you uncover those blind spots and look at things from different perspectives that you may not have considered.
2. To have a trusted sounding board
This is particularly helpful in discussing your ideas and strategy. Having a coach that's objective, not in your organization, and has no agenda to what your ideas and strategies are is crucial. They can poke holes in your ideas, help you brainstorm and get clarity. A coach can also help you have accountability for the action steps you create.
3. What got you here won’t get you there
The third reason for hiring an executive coach was best said by Marshall Goldsmith. He's a well-known successful executive coach and thought leader. I highly recommend his book called “What Got You Here Won't Get You There”.
You had behaviors and skills that worked for you in the past, that possibly got you promoted, acknowledged, and paid well in your organization. However, those behaviors may not be what's needed in the next higher position.
For example, if you're the type of person who does whatever it takes to get things done and let other team members off the hook for their responsibilities than you are doing something that is not sustainable. Your theory is if it's going to get done right I need to do it myself, and that strategy may have made you a superstar but when you get to higher positions this approach isn’t effective. In fact, the skill that you most need at the higher position is to be able to leverage the talent and strengths of the team below you to do the work. And hold them accountable. Otherwise you'll burn out and you won't be able to keep all those balls in the air.
4. External accountability
You know this. The great athletes have coaches that help hold them accountable to their goals and what they want to achieve. And it's the same for you as a leader and an executive.
You may have set goals that inspire you but they may be hard, they may be scary, and you may be procrastinating on them. Having your coach encourage you, help you uncover what’s making you procrastinate and caring about your outcomes is a difference maker.
5. Balance the personal and professional
It's very common as a successful leader to keep working as hard as possible and neglect important things in your life, such as your family, your important relationships, and your hobbies that give you passion and joy. You might even be neglecting your health as well which impacts your energy and quality of work.
A coach can shine light on this balance because they are coaching the whole you, not just the professional side of your life.
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If you would like to explore working with me as your Executive Coach please contact me at chris@chriscoward.com and we can connect.