11 Must-Have Qualities for an Executive Leadership Coach
What to Look for in an Executive Leadership Coach
So, you’re looking at hiring a leadership coach. Smart move. Investing in yourself is always a great decision. Choosing the right coach can make you a more effective leader.
A good leadership coach can help you with things like:
Enhancing your communication skills
Increasing your emotional intelligence
Pushing you outside your comfort zone
Serving as an objective sounding board
Improving your confidence levels, and
Learning new leadership strategies
Put simply, the coaching process can be a game-changer.
However, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing a coach. It’s a big investment - in both time and money. So, you need to find someone you can trust and feel comfortable with.
Bottom line: Be informed. Make sure it’s a good fit.
Here are the top 11 traits to consider when choosing business leadership coaches:
Trustworthiness
This one may seem obvious, but its importance is worth highlighting. It’s imperative that you feel comfortable during your coaching engagement.
At the core, you should be able to trust your coach to respect your confidentiality, “what happens in coaching, stays on coaching.” Though professional coaching is not therapy, it is far more effective when you feel safe enough to be yourself.
Further, you should be able to rely on your coach to provide open and honest feedback. You and your coach should be on the same wavelength. You’ll know on the initial call if the vibe feels right. If they don’t pass the gut check, they’re probably not the right coach for you.
No Judgment
A non-judgmental approach is a critical component of the client-coach relationship. It allows the coach to provide you with relevant information, even if they don’t personally agree with your viewpoint - and gives you the ability to be vulnerable and share your view in an unfiltered way.
A coach is neutral, the only bias they have is towards what’s best for you.
Of course, this doesn’t mean a good coach shouldn’t challenge you. They should. It just means they should never rebuke you or impose their beliefs on you.
Fully Invested in You
Your coach should be fully invested in you as a leader and as a person. Look for someone who is excited about your career, your personal development, and your future. Your wins should be their wins.
During your sessions, 100 percent of your coach’s focus should be on you. If your coach seems disinterested or distracted, they might not be the right coach for you.
Active Listening
Active listening is a lost art, even among some of today’s coaches. A coach’s job isn’t to have an answer locked and loaded before you even finish your thought. They should be fully engaged with what you’re saying. Doing so is necessary for them to utilize their coach training and provide you with the most relevant insights and observations.
If someone is barely listening or giving you canned answers, they’re the the wrong coach for you.
Humor
Good news! It’s not all dire circumstances and heavy introspection. Just like leadership, the coaching process should be fun. A good coach brings levity and lightheartedness at the right times, breaking up the seriousness and deep thought that can accompany a coaching engagement.
As with so much in life, if you’re not enjoying it, there will be limits to the improvements you can make.
The best executive coaches make learning new skills fun.
Motivation
Providing encouragement and optimism at the right times is part of what a good coach does. We all ebb and flow during our journey, and having someone give you a directional nudge or an emotional boost can make all the difference. A motivational coach can:
Support an avenue of thought
Alleviate your fears, and
Help you make decisions with confidence
Whether you’re a senior leader or a future leader, we can all use someone in our corner!
Accountability
Motivation is a must-have, but the bookend to that quality is accountability. Many leaders require an accountability partner - someone to make sure they do what they set out to do. That’s not weakness - it’s just smart leadership.
If you want to overcome core challenges and experience significant change during the course of your coaching engagement, you’ll have to find a coach who understands how to expertly employ both motivation and accountability when necessary.
Powerful Questions
Paradigm shifts and “aha moments” don’t happen by accident. They happens when people ask the right questions (often more important than having the right answers).
An executive coach who knows how to ask powerful questions can help you:
Clarify your thoughts
Break through mental blocks
See issues from a new point of view, and
Better understand all your options
Remember, great ideas come from great questions. If your coach’s questions don’t cause you to think differently about your day-to-day life, they may not be right for you.
Empathy
To effectively operate in a business environment, you need at least a certain level of emotional intelligence and empathy. The same is true in a coaching engagement.
Empathy allows a coach to understand your experiences, emotions, and point of view. A coach who knows what you’re going through is far better equipped to help you make a significant change than one who is unwilling or unable to make that crucial connection. Look for someone who can put themselves in your shoes.
Respect
As you’re looking at potential coaches, pay close attention to how they treat you during the intro process.
Do they reply to your emails in a timely manner?
Are they on time to your initial consultation?
Have they reviewed the info you provided?
You deserve respect, and their actions during the initial period will be an indicator of the way you are likely to be treated during the coaching engagement.
Remember though, respect is a two-way street. Make sure you respect your coach’s time too!
Qualified
Professional coaching has become more ubiquitous in recent years - which is great for business leaders! Unfortunately, the growth in the industry has led to a lot of unqualified individuals calling themselves coaches.
Never settle for an unqualified coach. Look for one that has a coaching certification from the ICF (International Coaching Federation). It shows the coach has been trained to industry standards.
Additionally, ensure your coach has relevant business experience. If you’re a professional in the business world, you need someone who’s been in a similar business environment and can relate.
Bonus:
In addition to traditional coaching services, some coaches offer diagnostic tools such as:
Myers-Briggs
DISC
Strengths Finder
These can be used as 360-degree tools to help boost your communication skills and provide you with vital information about your team’s motivations and personalities. If you can find a coach who offers these services, consider it a bonus!
I hope this list helps you choose the right executive leadership coach for you!
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About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.