Executive Coaching Obstacles to Success: Factors Contributing to Failure and Negative Coaching Outcomes

Obstacles to Success

Are you working in a company or law firm where leaders are enrolled in an executive coaching program? Is your organization measuring the success and failure factors of your executive coaching program?

One of the most powerful questions one can ask is “What factors have contributed to any lack of success in our executive coaching program for company leaders?” Emotionally intelligent and socially intelligent leaders collect data on successful and unsuccessful outcomes of their executive coaching programs.

Factors Contributing to Failure and Negative Coaching Outcomes

In Clients

1. Serious psychological problems
2. Serious interpersonal problems
3. Low self-awareness
4. Lack of motivation
5. Insufficient openness
6. Excessive defensiveness
7. Unrealistic expectations of the coach or the coaching process
8. Political priorities
9. Lack of follow-through on homework or intervention suggestions

In the Coach

1. Insufficient empathy for the client
2. Lack of expertise or interest in the client’s problems or issues
3. Underestimation of the severity of the client’s problems or issues
4. Overreaction to the client
5. Unresolved disagreements with the client about the coaching
6. Poor technique (e.g. inaccurate assessment, lack of clarity on coaching contract, poor selection and/or implementation of methods)

Candid feedback between the executive coach and client during the first couple of weeks is critical to assess whether the coaching alliance will be productive. A decision can then be made to suggest another coach or that coaching may not be the appropriate resource at this time. Other resources including possible psychotherapy can be discussed and referral sources made available.

Working with a seasoned executive coach trained in emotional intelligence and incorporating leadership assessments such as the Bar-On EQ-i and CPI 260 can help company leaders have a successful executive coaching experience.

You can become a leader who models emotional intelligence and social intelligence, and who inspires people to become happily engaged and aligned with the vision and mission of your company or law firm.

I am currently accepting new executive coaching and career coaching clients. I work with both individuals and organizations. Call 415-546-1252 or send an inquiry e-mail to mbrusman@workingresources.com.