Yes. It is important to both parties in the relationship to be clear on expectations from both sides.

Coaching sessions are generally 45 to 60 minutes in duration.

Sessions are held 2 to 4 times per month depending on the Client’s preference, schedule, the scope of the engagement, etc.

The Coach will use one or more assessment tools and a specific methodology which primarily includes questions that help guide the Client to solutions and strategies that help achieve the Client’s goals.

Executive Business Coaching is the development of a leader through work done between an executive coach and the client. It focuses on the client developing their vision, goals, and desires. Coaching uses a process of dialogue and questioning to build the client’s level of awareness and responsibility. This working relationship provides the client with purpose, structure, and feedback.

Common themes in executive coaching are developing key executive and managerial skills, enhancing team building, leadership qualities, identifying and optimizing the use of key strengths, and building the competencies of emotional intelligence.

Studies have proven that it takes at least three months for the average individual to break old habits and develop new ones. Therefore, I generally work with clients for a minimum of 4 months. More complex engagements are six or up to 12 months.

Companies hire Business Coaching Experts and Business Consultants because they are unable to understand and/or solve problems in their organizations on their own. Also, often the solutions they have implemented do not work or solve the problem. It is far more costly to continue with leadership or business problems than to hire a Coach or Consultant to develop a solution for them.

Here are some criteria:

• Minimum of 10 years developing and/or managing teams
• For business Coaching, one should have a minimum of 10 years of business management experience.
• Certified by an ICF-approved (International Coach Federation, the global governing body of the Coaching profession) Coaching School
• Adherence to the Ethics and Standards of the ICF
• Minimum education, Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 5 years of Coaching experience
• Uses a specific Coaching methodology
• Provides a system of accountability
• Provides follow up support
• Is available for phone or email support between Coaching sessions
• Good listener
• Empathetic
• Has several references
• Provides online testimonials from clients
• Offers pricing per engagement, rather than only by the hour
• Ensures confidentiality
• They have experience in a broad range of businesses, functional areas, and industries

• What system or methodology of Coaching do you use?
• What do your clients say you do that they find most helpful?
• How long will our sessions be?
• Can we meet via videoconference, as well as in person?
• Can you share some references?
• What happens if I can’t make a session?
• What Assessment Tools do you use?

You should choose a Coach with credentials from an ICF-approved Coaching program because the ICF is the global governing body of Coaching and holds Coaches to a high standard of ethics and integrity.  They ensure that the program completed by the Coach has met their standards and that the Coach has been properly trained and tested, rather than simply declaring themselves a Coach.

The Client explains their goals and together, the Coach and Client determine in advance what outcomes should result from the engagement.

Coaching works because when a qualified and trained Coach works with a Client who has the willingness to put in the necessary work, they obtain the results they desire.

Coaching is effective because of three unique features:

• SYNERGY: Client and coach become a team, focusing on the client’s goals and needs and accomplishing more than the client would alone.
• STRUCTURE: With a coach, the client takes more actions, thinks bigger and gets the job done, thanks to the accountability the coach provides.
• EXPERTISE: The coach helps clients make better decisions, set optimal goals, develop new skills for communicating and use new tactics for maximum productivity.

Most coaches begin with an introductory meeting or call to get to know each other. The coach wants to hear about the client’s goals, background, needs, and concerns. The client wants to get comfortable with the coach. During this meeting, both parties begin to design a list of goals and a game plan to reach these goals.

The agenda is determined by the client. The Business Coach helps them solve problems and make the most of opportunities.

Business Coaches provide the support and structure needed to make sure goals are met.

Business Coaches bring out the best in clients by providing perspective, setting high expectations, offering strategies and celebrating wins.

There are three key areas where business coaching can benefit clients:

1. Developmental: Coaching clients in their current role. Few companies have continued to support a planned and consistent approach to the development of senior executives. Not all bosses you have worked for are natural mentors, so you have had to figure out a great deal on your own. There may be other options. You don’t know what you don’t know and there’s never a bad time to learn.
2. Transitional: Assisting a client who has just assumed a greater level of responsibility in their current or a new firm. If you rely exclusively on the skills that helped you succeed before, you may join the 40% of other executives who don’t make it through their first year in a new role. The costs of failure for all involved are very large here, financially, emotionally and in terms of business momentum.
3. Integrational: A coach can be very valuable in providing assistance to an executive charged with leading a complex organizational change. The success of the client AND the integration effort are both critical.

Business coaches help their clients by:

• Serving as a trusted adviser and mentor who supports the executive in developing strategies to solve his or her own problems and ultimately achieving peak performance.
• Providing structured and focused discussions (and sometimes role-playing) to help them improve their job performance.
• Helping the executive manage stress, feel more self-confident, and develop effective leadership skills.
• Holding the client accountable for taking actions necessary to reach his or her own chosen goals.

Generally, sessions are held two to four times per month for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the Client’s preference, schedule, the scope of the engagement, and etc.

Definitely.

Studies have shown the Return on Investment for the cost of professional Business Coaching to range from 3X to 7X, with an average of 5X. I have helped my Clients achieve up to 7X return on their investment.

Fortune magazine quoted a study indicating that executives across Fortune 1000 companies who had hired executive business coaches reported the following results:

• A conservative estimate, at least a $100,000 return. This was about 6 times the investment that the client company made in the business coaching relationship.
• 28% indicated a boost of quantifiable job performance of $500,000 to $1,000,000.
• Better relationships with direct reports (77%), bosses (71%), peers (63%), and clients (37%).
• A marked increase in job satisfaction (61%) and organizational commitment (44%).

Yes.

There is often homework or “fieldwork”, where the client is given an assignment,  a new perspective or a challenge to try something in a new way.

That forms the basis for the next session.

Executives and other high performing professionals must draw on robust stress management techniques in order to think clearly, maintain poise, make sound decisions, safeguard their physical health, and achieve peak performance.

Mindfulness techniques such as meditation, controlled breathing, and yoga are proven strategies for reaching these goals.

You can’t. At senior executive levels, it’s all about leadership and results. Although we have worked across a myriad of industries, it’s not industry experience that matters.

The similarity of leadership challenges across industries is quite remarkable. And we never suggest business solutions; that’s the client’s job. We ask the right questions so they may lead more effectively.

Your chemistry with the coach is more important than industry knowledge on their part.

The Business Coach will only share information that the Client has given advanced approval to share with the employer.

The client owns the work between the client and the coach.

The business coaching process is predicated on complete confidentiality.

The coach will solicit additional feedback or input from others only with the approval of the client.

At the same time, the client must understand that the company is making a significant investment in their development.

Business Coaching costs varies depending on the level of experience of the Business Coach, location specialty, scope of engagement and other factors.