Leadership Coaching

Leadership coaching could be considered a subset of executive coaching with a specific emphasis on the executive’s leadership within their corporate environment.

Because coaching is all about a conversation between the leadership coach and the client, there are some basic communication skills that the coach must employ throughout the leadership coaching sessions. The coach must be succinct when speaking to the client by getting the message across using as few words as possible. This reduces the temptation to go into a story and add unnecessary details that can literally bore the client and cause them to lose focus. In addition to this, the coach needs to be precise in his/her meaning so that the leadership coaching client knows exactly what the message is that the coach is trying to convey. If the coach’s language is too broad, the client may misunderstand the exact meaning.

When preparing an effective leadership coaching session, the coach needs to prepare the space where the session will take place. It is important there are no distractions that might give the client’s mind the opportunity to wander. This is of particular importance at times when the client is being challenged by some of the ideas that have been presented. At these time the mind is more likely to look for an escape route and any distraction will do. Examples include a clock on the wall or desk, a mobile phone ringing, the desk phone ringing or someone from outside knocking on the door. It is necessary therefore, to make sure all mobile and desk phones are turned off and anyone who is likely to interrupt are pre warned that there will be an executive coaching session taking place.

The first session in a leadership coaching series is usually made up of a number of steps that include:

1. The client filling out some details.
2. A quick introduction by the leadership coach.
3. A quick introduction from the client. This will usually include the reasons why they want coaching for leadership and what it is they hope to achieve.
4. The coach's explanation of what is going to happen.

Next the coach will usually lead the client in a process that involves the client explaining what issues may be occupying them and how they are feeling about those issues at that point. The purpose of this is for the client to be made aware of what is actually going on for them, the feelings behind the issues and then to put aside those issues and feelings for the duration of the leadership coaching session. This clears the mind of the client so that they are in a position to more fully focus on the session. The problems that they have put aside will always be there to think about, if they choose, when the session is over.

Next the coach will help the client create specific goals that the client would like to achieve during the coaching series. The main purpose here is to have the client drive this process. It begins with the client doing a brain dump of all the areas that are important in their life at the moment. These do not need to be limited to leadership or even their work roles. It can also include personal areas as well, since these quite often have a significant impact on career and leadership outcomes. The client should be encouraged to share these areas with one or two words. Details at this point are not necessary and will only hinder the thought process. The client may get to a point where they run out of areas. It is appropriate for the leadership coach at this point to offer a suggestion or two to get the client thinking again.

Once this has been completed, the client and coach will go through the list together eliminating areas where either the client is already satisfied, the client already has a support structure or the area is not large enough to support a coaching series. This is continued until three areas are identified that can represent areas the client would like to pursue. A goal is then created around each of these areas.

When setting the goals, they need to be achievable, have a time limit, be inspiring so that the client is excited by the thought of achieving them, have a single focus, have a way of measuring them so that the client can tell if s/he is on track and also be challenging.

Once these have been set, the remainder of the leadership coaching series involves setting actions and strategies to be performed each week that move the client closer to the goal. The client determines these and is responsible for keeping the commitment to follow through on these each week. The coach’s role in this respect is to keep the client moving on the journey and help them move through any blocks that they may face on the way, whether they are physical or mental blocks.

A leadership coaching series usually involves between eight and twelve sessions at a cost of between $150 and $400 per session depending on the experience of the coach, how much in demand they are and past results they have achieved with clients. A good coach that can challenge the client whilst supporting the client in moving towards their goals is well worth the money in a leadership coaching series.