Executives of companies are intelligent, confident, innovative, and efficient. They inspire people and lead them to move mountains. Stress is not even in their vocabulary. So the term "Executive Coach" almost seems to be an oxymoron. How could these supermen and superwomen need to be coached? If they do, isn't that a sign of weakness? Executive Coaching is for Wimps.
As the CEO of a small, rapidly, growing company, I know those thoughts crossed my mind when my COO discussed it as an idea. It had the stigma of a person going to a shrink and not wanting to talk about it. At the same time, I was intrigued. Behind every great athlete is a great coach. Could it possibly be the same for great executives?
It has been a year and a half since I had those thoughts. I have been working with an executive coach on a weekly basis since then. As a busy executive, the experience has proven to be invaluable and has changed my company and my life. A strong executive coach is not only a one-person board of directors with whom you can vet out strategic and tactical approaches; he/she is also an individual that constantly pushes an executive to perform at a higher and higher level every day.
Executive coaches focus on the individual to ensure that he/she is on top of their game on a daily basis, not just in preparation for the quarterly board meeting. As with any investment, what has been the return so far? In my company, the following tangible results have been achieved directly or indirectly by working with our executive coach:
• A rock-solid foundation of values, vision, and mission.
• A re-organized company that is customer-centric with self-directed, empowered teams.
• More effective leaders – in a recent survey, a rating of the leadership capabilities of our executive team increased significantly.
• Improved employee satisfaction – increased over 9% in our latest survey.
• Improved customer satisfaction and product quality.
• Increased profitability by 28% in 2002
• Developed and improved sales capability.
• Launched five new products in 2003.
• Ranked as the 19th fastest growing technology company in Virginia in 2003.
• Ranked as one of the fastest growing technology companies in North America in 2003.
Our executive coach now works on a weekly basis with each of my executive staff members and on a regular basis with managers and staff.
Is Executive Coaching for Wimps? No!
Executive Coaching is for those that are courageous and confident enough to push for individual excellence and performance every day.
