When selecting a coach, it’s important that executives understand what their coaching needs are, as there are many types of coaches and coaching programs each with their own particular aims and benefits.
The modern workplace has undergone significant changes, including global disruptions, digital innovations, shifts in workplace culture and team dynamics, and high employee turnover. These changes have placed considerable pressure on leaders, who have an opportunity to thrive during growth, transformation, or other changes occurring in the business. Businesses and leaders are increasingly recognizing the return on investment when making a decision to incorporate the support of qualified and experienced coaches as leaders navigate these challenges.
There are various kinds of coaches and coaching programs, each with specific goals and advantages. To select an effective coach, leaders should consider the coach's industry and leadership experience, as well as their ongoing development through programs that follow industry standards. While technically anyone can learn the practice coaching, most professionals prefer a coach who has some context regarding the industry and leadership challenges from having actual experience leading in their own career.
As far as coaching credentials go, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) has contributed significantly to the development of the coaching industry by establishing standards, best practices, and a code of ethics for coaches. This has led to the growth of the industry, with more professionals pursuing coaching as a career and businesses seeking support to improve performance. Coaches who meet the requirements set by ICF must have also attended an intensive professional development program often delivered through premiere universities such as Rice University, Georgetown University, or Brown University.
When leaders are matched with coaches who suit their needs, the leader can make significant improvements in their leadership skills, self-awareness, and overall performance, leading to better work-life balance and job satisfaction. The benefits of coaching extend to business. Many businesses which have created a coaching culture as part of their leadership development programs can measure tangible returns such as improved employee retention, customer satisfaction, and sales results.
How can you determine which coaching is right for you if you are considering changes you'd like to explore to continue your growth? We will focus on two areas of leadership development: Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching. Executive coaching and leadership coaching are two distinct types of coaching that target different levels of management.
Executive Coaching
Executive coaching focuses on the development of high-level executives, while leadership coaching is geared toward emerging managers, directors, and executives. Executive coaching provides benefits to both newly promoted and seasoned executives. Executives have a sounding board to bounce off ideas confidentially, reconnect to their vision, develop a further sense of purpose, and focus on core values, design structures to boost productivity.
Leadership Coaching
Leadership coaching aims to create a sense of awareness among emerging managers, directors, and executives to become more effective or impactful when enrolling, motivating, delegating, and holding their teams accountable. Leadership coaches may focus on communication, teamwork, accountability, trust building, and managing change and conflict.
Therefore, while executive coaching targets high-level executives and offers a range of benefits to enhance their skills, leadership coaching focuses on developing emerging managers, directors, and executives to become more effective in their roles.
Organizations often will have initiatives which drive the need for both executive and leadership coaching across the organization. Executives and HR leaders should identify their organization's specific coaching needs and prioritize which areas to invest in for the greatest impact. Introducing a coach with the appropriate industry and leadership experience and formal training in the practice of coaching can deliver transformational results to the business, executives, and leaders and the entire organization.
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