I have worked with many executives over the years, personally coaching them to improve their skills and their confidence. Though every client journey has been different, one thing has always stuck out. The people that benefit from executive coaching are the ones that want to be coached. They want to change.
It makes sense, really. To change, you must want to change. Until a person commits wholeheartedly, no coach can help them.
The problem that a lot of people face is that though they feel like they want to change, they are still not sure; they wonder if they lack the ability to change, or they lack the confidence to believe that they can change. Humans have an uncanny ability to put up walls, and act defensively when they are out of their comfort zone. To really change, though, you need to leave that comfort zone.
Another aspect that affects the motivation to change is when coaching has been suggested by a superior. Some people do not react well to being placed on a coaching programme, thinking that they must have done something wrong, when this is not the case. Coaching is designed to help people change for the better, focusing on their personal strengths and weaknesses, to improve themselves, their career, and in some cases, the business.
If you are new to coaching, ask yourself, ‘Do I want to change?’
Though personal change is not always easy, the role of the personal executive coach is to be a life line. To support, to encourage, to help plan and organise. A good coach will push you to step out of your comfort zone and do things that frighten you to become the type of person that you really want to be. If you want to be more confident, you need to see yourself that you can be confident. If you want to be more organised, you need to start organising. A coach will help you on your way, but at the end of the day, a coach can only coach somebody who is open to change and improvement.
Personal executive coaching is not about finding a cheerleader, it is about finding a coach who will inspire you. For more information on executive coaching in London, contact Directions Coaching on 02031516830.