“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” ~ Edward Abbey
What is Leadership Coaching?
The International Coach Federation, the main governing body of the coaching industry that provides professional coaching credentials, defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
Leadership coaching is designed for leaders
Leadership coaching is specifically tailored for those in leadership positions where there are greater demands and responsibilities. Leadership coaching takes into account the systems (organization) in which leaders operate and how these systems affect behaviors and outcomes. Leadership coaching maximizes the client’s potential by assisting them to discover their values, strengths, talents and development areas. Leadership coaching provides greater focus and awareness of choice while creating space for a client to a take deeper look in order to move forward with lasting results.
Leadership coaching is about the future
The participant may need to prepare for promotion, strengthen leadership skills, or “unlearn” behavior that has become a liability. Coaching for leadership is focused on development and personal growth. A certified coach can help develop more skills and capabilities for a future job or help clarify shared goals about current successes when leaders and organization are at odds.
Leadership coaching is about change
The role of the coach includes support for decisions, the ability to open up options when creative suggestions could improve decision making, help to prepare the client to lead specific change initiatives, or guidance through unknown and unexplored areas or when the client just feels overwhelmed.
Leadership coaching is personal
The role of coach is to hold up a mirror so the leader can reflect on behavior, clarify goals and identify blind spots. Coaches help leaders get unstuck. Coaching helps reveal inconsistency in behavior and action so the leader can make informed choices about how s/he relates to others.
Leadership coaching is a partnership
Leadership coaching is a collaborative partnership between coach and client to work towards specific, jointly agreed upon goals. The partnership is a creative process within a framework, which enables the client to consistently move forward by taking action. The results of the partnership and creative process are unique and depend on the coach’s skills and the willingness of the client to explore possibilities. The interactions between the coach and the client are purposeful to create clarity and move into action.
Are you ready to perform at your optimal level?
Check out the details of our Optimal Performance Coaching Program.
