1  What is a Business Executive Coach?

 

​A Business Coach believes that the company management knows more about their business that he or she will be able to learn in a reasonable amount of time. The Business Coach facilitates a process that brings the management team together helping you learn and master specific business management concepts and techniques for overcoming performance difficulties.

 

I use proven tools and processes to facilitate the outcome by using your internal knowledge and challenging you and your staff to defend your assumptions and directions. I will use my knowledge gained from over 20 years of experience to lead you toward new and different ways of looking at your business. Additionally, the solution and/or development of the strategic plan is yours; you own it and developed it with outside help. It's not something that is presented to you in a formal document and left with you as someone else's solution.

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Athletes rely on coaches to enhance their physical and mental performance level.  A Business coach can help you to accelerate your career and become a "top performer." 

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This article from the Washington Post provides additional information on "How to get the most out of Executive Coaching."

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2  What does a Business Coach do?

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•    Helps you look at the big picture for your business and life.

•    Guides you in enhancing your business skills and intellectual development.

•    Provides candid feedback to you about your strengths and weaknesses.

•    Helps you identify business opportunities.

•    Links you with professionals and organizations that can assist you in solving problems.

•    Helps you through the transitional periods in starting and growing a small enterprise.

•    Assists you balancing your personal with your business life.

•    Listens to the problems you are facing, helps you set goals and develop a plan, and requires

      you to carry out and implement your plans.

•    Encourages and motivates you, building your sense of self-worth and confidence.

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3  Who hires Executive Coaches?

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Self-driven Executives usually hire their own coaches when they have been

1)  newly promoted,

2)  are facing a number of challenges (such as people relationships),

3)  to ensure they succeed in accomplishing specific high-value projects,

4)  to sharpen their professional/personal development to the next level of impact, and/or

5)  are being groomed for larger roles. 

 

Organizations often hire executive coaches for

1)   their rising stars as a way to invest in their top executives and high potentials as part of an executive development track,

2)   to support and fast forward the growth of their newly promoted/hired executives or supervisors, and/or

3)   to keep valuable executives from derailing.  

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4  When should a Manager (or Company) NOT hire an Executive Coach?

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• ​They don't believe they need coaching, are not interested in feedback, and don't believe they need to change or don't want to.

• They are looking for business advice, consulting, or someone to solve their problem for them.

• Executive coaching is a last-ditch effort to fix a failing executive who is already on their way out the door.

• The executive is not at the appropriate level in the organization to justify the expense of coaching.

• The executive's manager should be working with the executive  (coaching should not be simply a way to outsource people issues.

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5  Is the process confidential? 

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Confidentiality means that the client may share information about coaching with others, while the coach may not share information about the coaching outside of his or her conversation with the client. Trust is a crucial component of a successful coaching experience.  Coaching in organizations is not typically bound by the same expectations of confidentiality as personal coaching.  As in therapeutic relationships, coaches should report potential threats to individuals (self or others) or organizations. 

In cases where the Executive Coach was hired by the organization, non-privileged information includes:

• Whether or not the first session has been scheduled between the coach and client

• The number of sessions completed

• The date of the last session

• The number of late cancellations and no-shows

• Organizational trend date

• Progress on organization goals and

• In the rare event, a client reveals facts about potential legal issues (sexual harassment, discrimination, fraud, or theft), the coach is obligated to inform the hiring organization. 

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It is also advised that there are some other risks to privacy that are out of the coaches control, which include

1. email communications

2. phone calls/texts

3. social media interactions

 

While I take precautions to minimize the risks as best I can, I can not guarantee full confidentiality and am not responsible for potential breaches on the client's side.  I use TheraLink.com to conduct video sessions which helps increase confidentiality as the software used for the sessions encrypts each session and deletes it upon completion of the session.

Personally, I have McAfee LiveSafe Protection on my computer and I use a highly reputable encryption company that keeps all of my files on my computer and in the cloud private.

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​6  What does a typical coaching process look like?​

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The coaching partnership begins with a lengthy startup session in which the coach learns all about you and your business. Following that, you and your coach will meet on a regular basis, either in person, on the telephone or virtually,

to assess the changes that have occurred,

to set strategy,

to clarify your current problems and goals, and

to set your goals and objectives.

 

I will schedule a startup session in which I will ask you many detailed questions about your business and your life. You can expect this startup session to last approximately an hour and a half. I will provide you with a list of questions, a contract, and other tools prior to the startup session. This session sets the tone and style for our coaching partnership. This is the session in which you set the goals and objectives for the coaching partnership.

 

We will meet on a regular schedule in order to:

• Check in on any homework assignments or agreements we made in the previous session.

• Identify and clarify the goals and objectives for you and your business for the next coaching period.

• Create a plan for meeting your goals and objectives during the next coaching period.

• Check in on your work/life balance.

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As your coach, I am on your team as someone who cares about and listens to you. I will help you become the best you can be; and will offer you the tools, additional insight, and encourage  you to identify winning strategies to get the results you want and create lasting improvements.

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1)   Through the process of sharing, probing and asking insightful questions,

      we will get the answers to questions like who you are, what you’re about,

      what you truly want, where you are at now and where you want to be.

      We will dig deep and test these answers to make sure they’re accurate

      and use them to build our working foundation.

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2)  Once we are sure about where you’re at and where you want to be,

      we will define the gap—and figure out how to bridge the gap

     (and do it as quickly as possible).

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3)  We will figure out what has been holding you back from getting the results

      you really want, and we’ll address your specific challenges (and how to overcome them).

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4)  We will work together to set goals and create a personalized step-by-step

      action plan to get the results you want.

 

5)    I will help you work your plan, modify it as needed, be your accountability partner,

      help you when you get stuck, and cheer you on as you enjoy your new successes.

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7  What is the difference between a Life and an Executive Coach?

 

While there are some clear distinctions between the two both forms of coaching; Generally, a life coach and a business executive coach work with a client to help them move forward with a specific objective and purpose. The difference between the two is more apparent in the area of their emphasis. Although a number of methodologies can be used in both cases, executive coaching has the added dimension of the client’s professional standing being inherent to the relationship and the outcomes. At the end of the day though, a coach hired to work with an executive will come across issues and areas related to the executives overall life over the course of a coaching process.

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A Life Coach generally works with an individual on a personal level. They may help clients understand personal goals and objectives and discover the things that are holding them back in their effort to meet these goals and objectives and ultimately create a life in alignment with their values. The Life Coach often helps clients find balance in their lives, build positive relationships or improve their outlook. Success in this coaching relationship is measured by the happiness and fulfillment of the client. The coaching agenda is not mixed with a business agenda, life coaching is all about the individual.

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By comparison, a Business Executive Coach addresses the professional aspirations of the client. An individual in a leadership role has a responsibility to many people (shareholders, subordinates, the public, etc.). Because of this level of responsibility the executive coach may suggest that the leader focus on specific measurable outcomes as they impact their role in the business. For this coaching relationship, the measurement of success is directly related to the client’s professional achievements.

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The rapport between the both coaches and client is based on a level of trust that grows stronger over time; however, the considerations of the coach/coachee relationship are vastly different. While both a life coach and an executive coach work to guide or facilitate the client in meeting specific goals; the executive coach takes into account the organizational culture and business climate. Additionally, both a life coach and an executive coach seek to help their clients reach a deeper insight and understanding, but an executive coach works to help the client align this understanding with an organizational or business agenda or process.

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An executive coach might best be defined as a coach who works with leaders who also have a personal life. Some thoughts or ideas that come into play in this relationship might include:

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• What areas of your professional life are working in a positive manner?

• What areas could use improvement?

• What type of professional feedback is affirming to you as a leader?

• What do you consider to be a “win” in your work life?

• What beliefs do you have that serve you well as you pursue future career goals?

• What beliefs do you have that are not serving you?

• What do you need to do to take your career to the next step?

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8 How long does Executive Coaching take and how much will it cost?

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Typically, a commitment of 3 to 6 months is necessary in order to achieve the goals you set for yourself.  

I offer a few packages to meet the needs of Self Starters seeking to reach your professional goals:

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Bridge the Gap

$300.00

An initial hour and a half session is conducted in order to establish a successful connection, provide sufficient understanding of exceptions and set objectives/goals.  During this introductory meeting we will discover the benefits of working together and determine which package best fits your needs.

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The Connect Package

$360.00

4 thirty (30) minute sessions

4 brief between sessions email support

Resources and additional tools relevant to achieve your individual goals as time allows

 

 

The Cross Package

$797.00

4 sixty (60) minute sessions

4 between sessions email support

4 between sessions text support

4 5-10 minute between sessions phone calls to share wins or get quick feedback

Resources and additional tools relevant to achieve your individual goals

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The Conquer Package

$1297.00

4 ninety (90) minute sessions

Unlimited email and text support as needed between sessions

Unlimited 5-10 minute phone calls to share wins or get quick feedback

Unlimited resources and additional tools relevant to achieve your individual goals

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(Pay for 3 months in advance on any package and receive a 10% discount.)

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