You might not need an executive coach
So many people enter into a coaching program not knowing what they need.
A close friend of mine once called me and said, “if my therapist tells me I need to figure out what I really want one more time, I’m going to ask her why I’m paying her.”
Turns out her therapist wasn’t going to help her figure out what she really wanted. Only she could, so it turned out that the True North Visioning program was perfect for her.
If you’re struggling at work, you might be seeking an executive coach to help with something specific – say, communication with your colleagues. But if you haven’t addressed the root of the issue – for example, processing the emotions of a traumatic event, then an executive coach’s tools might not be helpful for you in a tense work moment where you feel your adrenaline rising and emotions taking over.
How do you know you’re ready for an executive coach?
You have a strong emotional support network and ways to processes the events that happen in your life, good and bad.
You are seeking ongoing guidance from someone with industry specific knowledge who can help you make strategic and data-driven decisions.
You are working toward a big, targeted KPI, like a massive sales goal, and need ongoing motivation and tactics to create and keep momentum.
You already have a strong Vision for your success, whereas an executive coach will help you with incremental steps to get there on a long-term basis.
Are they worth it?
It should go without saying your mileage will vary. So much of your success in any program comes from the dynamic with your coach, how much work you put in, and the experience of the coach. As always, do your due diligence before signing up, and if you do, make the best of it.
Drawbacks
Some people just may not be receptive to coaching or may not have the motivation to make the necessary changes in their behavior. Plus, executive coaching is typically a short-term intervention, so it may not address deeper, underlying issues that someone may be facing. Lastly, you get what you pay for. It can be worth it to go with the experienced coach, even if finding them can be challenging.
5 Alternatives to an executive coach
Go to therapy. ($$/per session) If you can afford it or it’s covered by insurance, go. I truly don’t know anyone that can’t benefit from it. It’s not only about processing traumatic events like divorce, moving, or financial and family issues. It’s about the ongoing maintenance of communicating and building tools to use when life isn’t so great. Plus, celebrating wins to solidify your mental progress. If you feel like deep down you have work to do on yourself, don’t deny it because it will come out on someone else at some point.
Get a mentor. (Free) Seek advice and guidance from trusted colleagues to gain new perspectives and improve as a leader. If you work in a big organization, especially remotely, you’d be surprised how many experts you can find that would want to meet regularly or ad hoc to share their wisdom and passion for a topic or skill. (By the way, this is networking).
Create your Vision. ($$ for 8 weeks) Going through the Visioning process can open up so much for you, both personally and professionally. Diving in to what success means to you and creating an entire narrative around that, will outline your roadmap of how to achieve it. Maybe you have no idea what you truly want, like my friend, or maybe you’re stuck at a crossroads and aren’t sure where to go next. Whatever you’re struggling with, a Vision will make you feel confident in what you believe and bring ease to the decision making process.
Leadership training. ($$) Your organization hopefully offers a training and development stipend or budget for employees. Utilize it!
Business consulting. ($$$) A business consultant can provide specialized expertise and help organizations identify and solve problems, optimize processes, and improve performance. Choose this if you’re looking to improve your entire system and team culture and performance at the foundational level.
Self-directed learning. (Free) Google is free. Seek out what’s available, such as ebooks, online courses, Linkedin or Slideshare courses, and webinars and workshops; which are all much more plentiful now that a virtual option is becoming the norm.
Seeking clarity in your career? See if the 8 Week Clarity Accelerator is right for you.