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Performance coaching

Top tennis players employ top coaches - and now businesses can employ executive coaches

What is executive coaching?

Do you know of any world ranking, successful professional tennis player who does not employ their own coach? I sometimes wonder if this is where my own lack of tennis success comes from (in my dreams!).

In business, as with tennis, it can be “tough at the top”. The higher you progress in an organisation the more demanding that organisation becomes and the wider and more complex your brief. Yet paradoxically, at a time when having a sounding board becomes even more essential, your support network tends to contract – there are less opportunities to bounce ideas around with colleagues and peers or, more usually, it becomes less appropriate to do so.

But another avenue of support does exist – and it’s called Executive Coaching.

What does it involve?

Executive Coaching provides oneon- one support that is highly tailored to the needs of the individual.

It involves the individual and coach developing a confidential, timelimited, working alliance within a specific organisational context that encourages:

  • Developing an increasing awareness of self and others;
  • Reflection on choices and alternatives;
  • Solving problems and taking action;
  • Reviewing outcomes and learning.

People generally find that between four and six coaching sessions are appropriate but this is entirely flexible to suit the needs of the individual concerned.

What does the coach provide?

Coaches are skilled at working to an individual’s needs within the realities of organisational change. They bring a unique combination of business and behavioural knowledge and expertise.

But make no mistake, engaging the services of a coach isn’t an easy option – you can expect to be challenged in a neutral but nonetheless probing way that at times can be very uncomfortable. Yet the benefits to the organisation can be significant - measured in terms of the increased effectiveness of leadership and decision making.

So you may be wanting objective and confidential support for your managers, looking for fresh and effective ways of helping them meet the specific challenges they face. Or seeking for yourself the time and space to rethink your:

  • Assumptions of a new post or responsibilities;
  • Transformation from a specialist or functional role to general management;
  • Style of leadership in a changing environment;
  • Approach to situations which have no obvious solution;
  • Contribution to your organisation’s strategy or change;
  • Direction, lifestyle and career.

    • If so, then you could do a lot worse than engage your own coach – ask any tennis player! If you are interested in getting some coaching for your organisation please contact Kim Massey