Select the Right Coach
Once you decide to hire a coach, you will need to find an executive coach that will fit with the organization and the leader. You must be sure that the coach has the right background, fits with organization’s culture and values, and there is achemistry between the coach and the leader.
Values
Many organizations don’t carefully consider the values of the executive coach. Without consideration, the engagement could result in failure or in mis-alignment. For example, if the company has a hard-charging, results-oriented culture, you might find a coach that has thrived in a similar organization.
You will need to ask the potential coaches questions about their values. As in most interviewing situations, past performance is one of the best indicators of future success. Your coach’s values can be discovered by asking about their methods, coaching philosophy, successes, and outcomes.
Been There, Done That
The coach must be able to understand the challenges of the person who is being coached. Finding an exact match is unrealistic, but your search should try to find a close match in their experiences. A coach must be able to relate the to leader’s role and environment. For example, you may not want to hire a coach who has not managed others if they are coaching leaders. Coaches with previous senior leadership roles usually work best with other senior leaders. Unfortunately today, there are many coaches coaching leaders who have never supervisor anyone! Appropriate experience gives the coach creditability.
Is it important to hire a coach who has your industry experience? It may be, but that certainly limits the pool of available candidates. Also, it may be advantageous to have a fresh perspective with out industry knowledge or biases. Similarly a good coach doesn’t need technical knowledge to be successful. In fact, it may impede the coaching process with the coach becoming a “consultant” or technical expert offering advice instead of coaching.
Great coaches are very inquisitive, about the company, leader, technical aspects, an the organization’s industry. They must help the individual to see things that the leader can’t see for himself. It is more important in selecting a coach to consider such traits as wisdom and intiutive skills.
For a checklist with specific questions go to Selecting A Coach.
To learn more about executive coaching, please call us at 513-772-5115 or contact us for a preliminary discussion.
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