5 Reasons Why Leaders Benefit from an Executive Coach

Once you know what an executive coach is, you will naturally ask if it is a need. The answer is surprisingly straightforward.

Leadership is challenging, but is that challenge rewarding? It can be.
 
The task of a leader is messy. Questions come your way – becoming increasingly complicated. You get feedback from those you report to and feedback from those that report to you. There are competing priorities on top of competing timelines. 

What makes it less messy and makes you more decisive? The answer is just a bit of sharpening – your skills, your self-awareness, and your feedback loops. That sharpening, though, cannot come from a book or some self-reflection. You need the sharp edge of the outside perspective. This is where an executive coach changes the game.

Five reasons why leaders benefit from an executive coach:

1. Learn to lead skillfully.

Consider that a team lead won’t be an effective leader simply because they were first on the team. Leadership is its own set of skills. Leadership skills like communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution are more effectively developed through practice and coaching. An executive coach brings the outside perspective necessary to identify strengths and create a plan for improvement in other areas.

2. Be effectively self-aware.

Your every decision has one thing in common – you. An effective leader is a self-aware leader. Consider that the only way you will ever be able to see your own face is to use a mirror. Every leader needs an outside perspective to work through their strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. This helps a leader make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and build better relationships with colleagues.

3. Have a listening ear through challenges.

Leadership is lonely. By nature, it is rarely easy. Isolation can create ineffective places for decisive, strategic solutions. An executive coach can provide that outside, impartial, independent sounding board a leader needs to talk through ideas to find solutions.

4. Find self-accountability.

It takes hard work not to be caught up in the day-to-day. If a leader loses sight of long-term goals, who is there to redirect? An executive coach is an outside thought partner that helps you stay accountable to goals and measure your performance against the high standard you have set for yourself.

5. Find balance in your work and personal lives.

Leaders often struggle to balance their work and personal lives. There are only so many hours in a day. An executive coach helps identify draws on your time, finds methods for more effective prioritization, and creates habits and boundaries that build a healthier balance. This balance can and should keep you fueled and fulfilled.

By investing in an executive coach, every leader can become more effective, successful, and more fulfilled in leadership roles.

If you are interested in partnering with an executive coach or interested in a more detailed conversation on the benefits, I would love to chat. Book some time with me so we can chat about your situation and discover your unique needs.