Why You Must Select the Right Executive Coach for You

I meet so many leaders who have never partnered with an executive coach to help them accelerate their performance or get them through a tricky point in their tenure. When digging into why, a common reason is that they are anxious or worried about letting a stranger in.

They have a feeling of embarassment and don't want to show any signs of weakness. Leadership development has moved on so much in the last 5 to 10 years and it is becoming more common place for leaders to have an executive coach by their side. That is certainly true for the high performers that I meet who admit that they can't do it all on their own.

The key to their success is that they ensure they select the right coach for what they need at that point time. Coaching is likely to take you out of your comfort zone and is not about working with someone that won''t challenge you or that you feel comfortable with because they will say all the right things and make you feel good.

Choosing a coach that you feel comfortable with and interact well with is very important but you should also ensure that they have the right expertise to help you with specific objectives that you want to achieve. Take time to take references on them, ensure they can actually add value to you and make sure they are willing to put in the blood sweat and tears with you and aren't simply there to lecture and take their money.

Coaching can be an amazing intervention but you need to take time to select the right partner.