[I am indebted to Jeffrey Auerbach and the
International Coach Federation for some of the info below.]
What is executive coaching?Executive coaching is an ongoing relationship between the coach and client, in which the coach provides structure, support, and feedback that helps the client take action toward his/her goals. These goals may include a higher level of performance, enhanced learning, a new level of personal development, greater career success, or increased job satisfaction.
Executive coaching is action-oriented consulting that is focused on helping you remove obstacles, improve skills, and achieve your goals. Some of the specific goals I focus on include: improving relationships and resolving conflicts with subordinates, peers, or manager(s); increasing efficiency and effectiveness of other aspects of job performance; and resolving dissatisfaction with job or career.
How does it work?
Coaching clients want a higher level of performance and skill, greater
success at work, and/or increased satisfaction and fulfillment in their
career. They are capable of handling and expressing their emotions. We
work together to define specific goals that they want to achieve, and I
help by asking provocative questions, giving feedback and advice based
on my personal experience and my experience working with others, and
providing support.
With
Goal-Directed Executive Coaching, I first conduct an assessment, so I can get to know you well enough to begin work with you. We then agree on goals, metrics for success, and the structure (schedule, etc.) for our work together. In our conversations, I offer you feedback, support, and suggestions as appropriate. You provide feedback to me about how the coaching is going.
With my
Executive Sounding Board service, we don't have specific goals and so forth; you get in touch with me, I listen, and I offer you feedback, support, and suggestions as appropriate.
Do we meet in person, talk by phone, or use video chat/IM/email?All are possible. It depends on what works best, which can vary. For example, we may have a regularly-scheduled video chat, but there may come a time -- say, on the road -- when you'd like to have an unscheduled phone conversation.
You also work with pairs, groups, and teams. Is that coaching?Yes and no. In the case of my work assisting two or more co-workers in conflict, yes. In the case of conducting trainings (on such topics as
conflict-management), the trainings I do often involve at least brief periods of coaching individuals -- for example, in role-plays -- during the training. The remainder of a training I'm presenting spoken and visual material, leading discussion, and facilitating individual and group exercises.
Is executive coaching psychotherapy?No. Psychotherapy focuses directly on relieving psychological pain or on treating cognitive or emotional disorders. Executive coaching does not focus on these things. Although executive coaching can be used concurrently with psychotherapeutic work, it is not used as a substitute for psychotherapeutic work. Clients who are appropriate for executive coaching can readily move from thoughtful reflection into action and are not significantly impeded by psychological pain, past trauma, or cognitive/emotional disorders.
Since I'm both a licensed psychotherapist and an executive coach, I can answer any questions you have about which might be appropriate for you, and if need be, I can refer you to colleagues who practice one or the other. If, in our executive coaching work together, issues arise that I see as appropriate for psychotherapy, I will give you referrals to local psychotherapists.
What is your fee structure?My fees vary depending on the
type and extent of the services I'm providing to you. For some
engagements I ask for a monthly retainer, for some I assess the cost of
an entire project and bill based on deliverables, and for some I bill
hourly or daily. Please
get in touch to discuss how we might work together, and after our discussion, I'll be able to give you a
fee estimate.
What's unique about what you bring to Executive Coaching?I
combine a 20-year (first) career as an intern, individual contributor, line manager, and executive in R&D and Sales & Marketing with deep and varied experience in my (second)
career as a licensed counseling professional. The
background and experience
I bring to working with you gives me a unique ability to "get" what's
going on and figure out how to most quickly be of help to you.
In becoming a licensed psychotherapist and conducting a psychotherapy practice over the past seven years, I have received much education, training, and experience in many things that help me be an effective executive coach, including:
• understanding human motivation and behavior
• being less judgmental than many people
• understanding the challenges people face at work and in life
• understanding how human beings develop and how many of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are within the normal range of experience
• helping people manage crises
• conducting a practice based on published ethics
• balancing a knowledge of people in general with the ability to understand the uniqueness of each person I work with
• helping people resolve conflict and communicate more effectively