C-Level Executives Use Coaches all the time. Here is why you should too.
I was a C-Level Executive in a large multi-location education organization for three and a half years.
I worked with an executive coach for about a year before I made the transition from VP to the C Suite. We continued working together after I transitioned. Having a coach for support, encouragement, and a good swift kick in the ass from time to time was invaluable.
All employees benefit from a coach.
Coaches provide a safe space to vent, bounce ideas off of, and provide valuable feedback that your boss may not be willing or capable of giving you. I worked through a lot of difficult conversations with my coach — fine-tuning language and gaining confidence in how I would approach a situation. My coach also helped me see my blind spots much more quickly than I would have seen them on my own.
Coaching is different from mentoring.
The primary differences I’ve seen between coaches and mentors:
- Mentors become much more permanently invested. You typically work with a coach for a season.
- The relationship with a coach is much more formal than that with a mentor.
- Coaches hold you accountable while mentors are more likely to cheer you on and support you.
Find a coach who resonates with you.
While coaching and mentoring are different, you still have to click with the coach just like you do with a mentor. Don’t jump into a coaching relationship without ensuring that the coach fits your personality well.
Have you worked with a coach? I’d love to hear your experience.
This post was created with Typeshare
