The Importance of an Executive Coach for Your Senior Staff
Do you have executives on your team that you believe are not living up to their potential? Are you considering utilizing the services of an executive coach in order to improve performance? If so, there are some things that you need to consider when making the determination.
First of all, you have to recognize that hiring coaches is not cheap. The money you invest in your executives can be money well spent, provided that you go about it correctly. However, when you are talking about coaches at this level of the game, you will be spending a good deal of money to reap the benefits of their expertise.
Therefore, you need to select the candidates who can receive coaching carefully. This is not a cure-all that will work to “whip someone into shape” or related nonsense. The fact is that if you have an employee who is experiencing major problems with their ability to do their job, an executive coach might not be the right answer.
Another important factor is whether or not the executive is open to working with a coach. The temperament of your employees should always be taken into account when you are deciding the best way to guide them and your company forward. If you have a person who is resistant to coaching, they will get little, if anything, from the experience.
The person needs to provide value to your organization even before the coaching takes place. If you have employees who are not contributing to the success of your company already, some coaching will not transform them into good employees. You deserve to spend your training and coaching bucks on those who will provide excellence in return.
And, just as you need that person to be open, you need to have a staff that is willing to assist as the changes take place. If others on your team are against the coach and changes taking place, it will make things much more difficult for the person who is receiving the coaching. Speak to the senior members of your staff to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to hiring executive coaches for any members of your team.
Another factor to keep in mind is that the coach is not a new employee. They are there to offer a particular type of expertise and guidance to your staff member. However, this does not mean that the have the correct viewpoint to weigh in on other matters related to the company. The coach will not make up for weak spots in your personnel, and you should not expect him to.
Finding a qualified executive coach who understands your vision and needs can make a tremendous impact on the success of your business. Make sure that you have chosen the right person or people to obtain the coaching and that the rest of your staff is supportive. If so, you will reap the rewards of your choice to hire an executive coach!