Maximize Your Executive Coaching Experience
I had a recent conversation with Sally (not her real name) about her learning from our coaching engagement that had finished over a year ago. What she shared highlighted for me the difference it makes when someone allows themselves to be fully engaged in the coaching process.
Our coaching had taken place over a period of about 9 months and had been very work focused. She had some clear objectives of what she wanted to achieve in the way she communicated as a leader. Her current approach was impacting her team and her motivation and she knew something had to change.
What was fascinating a year later was hearing about the learning and steps to change she was taking outside of work.
A year later, she shared how she had shifted her whole way of communicating based on our coaching and the impact it was having on not only her career, but her life.
What was fascinating a year later was hearing about the learning and steps to change she was taking outside of work.
I’d seen her progress during the coaching, seen her take continual small steps towards change and seen her put new behaviours into place that were obviously serving her and her team. What was fascinating a year later was hearing about the learning and steps to change she was taking outside of work.
Sally was a keen client, showed up, was engaged in the sessions, took away action steps and came back ready to report on progress and reflect on next steps. I saw all this during our coaching.
What I hadn’t seen, but was happening in the background. The time she spent sharing her learning after each session with her partner, or the small behavioural changes she experimented with on her family before taking them to the office.
The steps were having such a significant impact on her ability to learn and change. They were not part of our conversations, but they were making a difference.
A year on from the finish of our coaching, it was these small things that stood out in her mind that led to significant changes in how she showed up a work.
Getting the most out of coaching is about more than just showing up for the sessions. It’s about embracing the learning, reflecting on it, sharing it and trying it out in small ways and comfortable environments that allow you to take bigger steps in more challenging environments.
The exact steps will be different for everyone. Try out these steps to see what works best for you:
1) Show up for each session prepared and ready to focus
- You may not know exactly what you want to get out of a particular session, but taking even a few minutes to consider a general focus and putting aside any distractions will help you get more out of your time spent. I share a preparation form with my clients that they use to prompt thinking before we meet.
2) Be open and honest with your coach
- Good coaching is built on a trusting partnership. Be open with your coach about what you want to explore in the coaching and what you don’t. At times I work with clients who are also working with a therapist. I invite them to let me know if we’re touching on areas they would prefer to take to their therapist.
3) Let your coach know what is working for you and what is not
- Coaching is a partnership and a dance. Let your dance partner know what’s working so you can both ensure you continue with this – and let them know if something is not working so you can work out together how to best adjust.
4). Take time to reflect on the learning from each coaching session.
- I recommend my clients schedule at least 15 minutes after our sessions to reflect before moving on to their next meeting. This allows time for you to reflect on the learning and make clear plans for your action steps.
5) Keep track of progress against your initial goals for the coaching
- It’s likely you will discuss and learn a lot outside of your initial goals, but keeping track of progress against these will let you know how to proceed. Do you need to spend more time focusing on a particular goal, or particular aspect of a goal? Does the goal need to be changed in some way?
6). Share your after session reflections and learnings with your coach
- I provide a reflection form for my clients to capture their thoughts after the session and recommend they complete it within a couple of days after our session to capture ongoing thinking.
7) Share your reflections and learning with someone else
- This could be a partner, a friend or colleague. Relaying back thoughts and explaining things in a different way will help you deepen learning, and make new neural connections. Like my client above, it may also be what stands out for you a year later.
The most valuable part of the coaching was to learn to think and reflect about my options. This all helped me move forward. Mel – Hong Kong
8) Journal to capture your reflections
- Schedule time to journal. Keeping an ongoing reflection of your learning and progress can help you see the changes taking place.
There’s no one perfect way to get the most out of Executive Coaching, but what I do know for sure, is that the more my client’s put into the coaching, the more they get out. Pick what works for you, put in the effort and you will see results.
