The Many Ways an Executive Coach Can Improve Performance

Executive coaching for a small business

Currently the concept of business executive coaching is widely accepted in the corporate world and is actually considered a required tool in the savvy executive’s toolbox. But what about in smaller, privately held businesses?  Is there a role for executive coaching?

Executives in these companies are often owners as well; in fact, the need for an executive coach is amplified further since the executive truly “lives” the business.  With this increased level of interaction the need for objective coaching and advice increases as well.

Positive performance on the part of these owner/executives is imperative to ensure the success of their firms. But what happens when these executives wear too many hats, as is so often the case? Who within their organizations has the qualifications, breadth of experience and fortitude to help them see the problem and formulate actionable plans for dealing with it? Likely, no one! And so this is just one example of how an executive coach can improve both individual and organizational performance.

What qualities should you look for in an executive coach?

It goes without saying that an executive coach should have past experience at…, well, being an executive!  While specific industry knowledge may be helpful, what is more important is that the person you are considering helping you with your executive level issues has had experience dealing with them himself.  Makes sense, right?  And yet, there are thousands of people around the country who are trying to pass themselves off as executive coaches who have never even had P&L responsibility!

Coach Vs. Consultant

True, coaching is both skill and art, and entails unlocking the potential within people and organizations.  Very few people have this talent innately. There is no coaching gene.  The ability to coach well must be developed over years of study and practice. Only with specific coaching training, experience, and certification can a qualified individual truly rise beyond being an effective consultant to become an effective executive coach.

It is this training, coupled with prior experience and immense knowledge in business, that allows executive coaches to unlock the hidden or stifled capabilities that are holding their executive clients back. To say it another way, consultants work on processes, executive coaches work on people.

So, if you are looking for someone to identify and unlock what is holding you or members of your executive team back, look for an executive coach.  If you are looking for someone to fix a broken or low yielding process, then look for a business consultant.

Call me, Jeff Bishop, at 630.305.0609, to schedule a free 30-minute session, and see how executive coaching can benefit your organization.