High quality executive coaching includes elements of personal development as well as business action planning. Clients typically enter coaching with both business development and personal development goals. It is important, however, for the client to understand the balance between these two areas and have a clear understanding of how the coaching process combines psychological discussions with business discussions to produce the desired outcome.
The Interpersonal Dimension
An effective executive coach will spend time with the client establishing rapport and trust within the coaching relationship. The client can expect to be asked about past experiences, behaviors, and situations that are relevant to their personal and professional development.
For many business executives it is uncomfortable to talk about their innermost feelings, fears, motivations and needs. They have likely spent their entire professional careers masking or setting aside these aspects of self in order to focus more clearly on business issues. One of the great benefits of executive coaching, though, is to provide an opportunity and a safe outlet for discussing issues of self as part of the overall goal of balancing personal and professional growth.
Client Perspectives On The Psychology Of Coaching
For many clients, the personal development aspects of executive coaching are most difficult to accept and embrace. They may see it as a weakness to discuss personal aspects as part of the professional development process, or they may be unwilling to allow themselves to be emotionally vulnerable during the coaching sessions.
A good executive coach can help overcome this resistance by helping clients develop a balanced perspective on the importance of allowing themselves emotional expression. Personal issues are often major contributors to the obstacles that a client faces professionally, so their chances for a successful coaching outcome are increased substantially when they explore their feelings and let them flow freely.
Executive Coaching Is Not Psychological Therapy
The client needs to enter the executive coaching process with the understanding that they will be encouraged to open up their inner selves, but that it is not a substitute for psychological therapy.
Executive coaching clients are typically successful, competent business people who are interested in developing themselves even further. Sometimes, though, the coaching process uncovers deeper personal issues that the client needs to address in a more therapy-focused setting.
In these situations, the coach can often help the client distinguish between issues that can be addressed during coaching and issues that should be addressed in another manner. The coach may suggest the client spend some time with a therapist, and sometimes may even help the client find and make contact with an appropriate therapist.
