Leadership coaching facilitates development of the full professional potential of an individual. During this process a participant gains insight into his or her strengths as well as areas for development, including communication style, interpersonal skills, leadership potential, qualities contributing to success, and personality characteristics. The coaching focuses on leveraging strengths and success factors, and minimizing or neutralizing opportunity areas. It is a developmental process, not a corrective action. The goal is to help the participant become the best leader possible.
Professionals at all levels of an organization, with or without subordinates, influence others by the attitudes and behaviors they exhibit. Professionals with positive leadership attitudes and behaviors impact the organization (and its success) beyond the colleagues with whom they connect on a daily basis. The purpose of leadership development through executive coaching is to gain self-knowledge and understanding, as well as to learn and hone skills, behaviors and approaches.
The hallmark of coaching is the encouragement of respectful communication and behavior for the development of healthy and productive workplace relationships and teamwork. The role of the coach is to facilitate personal and professional development, and to challenge assumptions and attitudes. Methods of coaching delivery include teaching, training, counseling, information giving, role-playing, planning, and providing feedback.
The great majority of executive coaching participants find the process to be a positive and rewarding experience, and value the opportunity the company provides to further develop and sharpen leadership skills critical to their success. The benefit to the company is an employee that has committed time and energy, with the assistance of an experienced executive coach, to personal and professional improvement, facilitating more consistent and higher quality contributions to the success of the organization.