Picking Your Executive Coach: Choose for Influencing Others’ Perception of You

Picking Your Executive Coach

Are you working in a company or law firm where leaders pick executive coaches as part of a leadership development program?  Does your organization have a plan to hire top notch executive coaches who are a great fit with the company culture?

One of the most powerful questions you can ask is “What are the most important executive coaching competencies we should be looking for when choosing the best executive coaches for our company leaders?” Emotionally intelligent and socially intelligent leaders have a well researched plan for selecting the best coaches for their executive coaching and leadership development programs.

Pick for Influencing Others’ Views of You

Behavioral change is not the sole coaching goal. Coaches also help colleagues notice the changes you make, invite them to become involved in your development and possibly change their behavior in relation to you. A qualified, experienced coach can influence others’ views by:

• Coaching your relationships, not just you
• Challenging others’ assumptions that a problem resides entirely with you
• Contracting with key colleagues to determine their desired outcomes of the coaching process and  assessing their willingness to share feedback and participate in conversations
• Facilitating conversations between you and colleagues to share coaching insights, development plans and new expectations (in both directions)
• Helping you solicit ongoing feedback on relevant behaviors

If your coach doesn’t raise these points in your initial conversations, make sure they’re included in the coaching process.

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 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.