There are themes in life. Cycles that repeat themselves. Like a calm before a storm and not being able to eat just one handful of popcorn. The same applies to executive coaching. There are challenges I see whether I’m working with someone in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky or Jacksonville, Florida. So, let’s take a look at executive coaching’s two most common challenges.
Lack of Self-Awareness
High on the list is working with an executive who isn’t fully aware of his or her flaws. This is an issue, because if the company is bringing in an executive coach, those flaws are definitely getting in the way.
This can be addressed in several ways. My favorite is to have the person take a talent assessment that delves into both behaviors and motivators. In 20 minutes, we have a 40-page report that pinpoints many of the key issues.
Another way to improve self-awareness is to do a 360. Here we ask peers, supervisors and direct reports to respond to a custom-produced 360 survey on the person. The results are put into meaningful reports for clear delineation of strengths and weaknesses.
Of course, there’s always the old-fashioned way. That’s where the supervisor tells me what the problem is. That works, too. And once I know what the issues are, I can begin coaching to resolve the obstacles.
Communications Problems
Communication problems hamstring many struggling executives. In some cases, we need to work on listening skills. Sometimes it boils down to what the person says, or how they say it. It can also be an issue of not reading the audience or picking up on body language.
Communications is always a two-way street. And the assessment report is a powerful roadmap to success. It helps shine a light on how the person does what they do. And, importantly, how others who are not like them may respond to that.
Krissi Barr, Executive Coach
I’ve been an executive coach for over 18 years. Over that time, I’ve helped thousands of people overcome whatever obstacles are in their path. This includes CEOs, VPs, managers and supervisors. My clients include large corporations, medium-sized organizations, small privately held businesses and non-profits. Coaching engagements can be in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky, Jacksonville, Florida or anywhere in America. If you are running into executive coaching’s two most common challenges—or any other challenges—please give me a call.
