Out of the blue, your boss tells you they want you to start working with a leadership coach. The reaction to this news, in many cases, is one of worry: Why me? Have I done something wrong? Am I not cutting it? Am I going to get fired?? The majority of the clients I work with in company-sponsored executive coaching engagements confess that getting coached wasn’t their choice…and they are nervous about it. They don’t know what to expect and what changes it might bring. Let’s ease those worries!

LEADERSHIP COACHING IS YOUR BOSS INVESTING IN YOU

First of all, there is nothing wrong! You just received a GREAT gift. Your boss sees the potential in you to be an even more powerful contributor in your role or perhaps step up to a bigger role and wants to help you accelerate your growth as a leader. This is happening daily in many companies across the country. Top executives are hiring coaches to up their game and are extending that opportunity to their direct reports. How amazing is that?

YOU GET SUPPORT AS YOU LEARN TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Real growth requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, and that’s not easy. In coaching, you get to do it with an ally (the coach) and with your boss rooting for you! The coach helps you strategize new approaches to try out. For example, how to deal with a challenging work relationship, lead your team, having difficult but necessary conversations or interact with key organizational stakeholders. The coaching sessions then provide space for new perspectives, self-reflection and self-awareness; something that you might not get otherwise.

IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR BOSS

You, the coach, and your boss will meet several times together throughout the engagement to discuss areas of development and progress being made. At the start, the boss shares their perspective on things like:

• Your leadership strengths and contribution to the business
• What would help you be a stronger contributor in your role
• What behavior changes they would ideally see from you if the coaching is successful

Most likely, they may have already shared this input with you in one-to-one meetings. However, I find that the coach’s presence encourages more honesty than an employee normally gets. This leads to more constructive input and opens the door to a stronger relationship between you and your boss.

THE FEEDBACK FROM COLLEAGUES IS INCREDIBLY USEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP GROWTH

The next step in the process is getting feedback from your peers, direct reports, and key stakeholders. We do this through online tools or in-person interviews. Either way, the feedback is confidential to allow for honest input. I know…this doesn’t sound fun!

It’s true that hearing how others view you as a leader can be a challenge sometimes. However, most of my clients end up admitting that it was one of the most valuable aspects of the coaching process.

Not only do they become aware of the areas of development that are going to have the most impact for their role; they also find out all the ways in which they are already shining in other people’s eyes!

IT GIVES YOU CLARITY ON WHAT TO FOCUS ON TO EXCEL

After the feedback, you and the coach define key objectives to support your leadership development. The boss gets looped back in for their input and confirmation. Here’s an example: OBJECTIVE #1: Improve Communications Impact Action Steps:

• Ensure people understand me
• Focus on being more concise
• Ensure I work from a meeting agenda
• Ensure I deliver and/or delegate with accountability with date/deadline to guarantee we complete key work

OBJECTIVE #2: Coach and Mentor My Direct Reports Action Steps:

• Work with all my direct reports on their career development plans
• Celebrate the team’s positive accomplishments
• Help the team focus on the key objectives so they are most productive

OBJECTIVE #3: Focus On Peer Relations Action Steps:

• Ensure I have professional relationships with my peers, providing interest and support
• Share my team’s accomplishments and challenges with my peers

This is where the real coaching work happens.

THE IMPACT OF COACHING GOES BEYOND THE WORKPLACE

A few years ago, I was working with some law firm leaders. At the end of one year of coaching them, I attended a partner retreat to which the partners included their spouses for dinner after the day’s event. The wives of the Chairman of the Board and the Managing Partner both approached me independently and said, “I am not sure what you are doing in the coaching work, but they are so much more engaged and happier at home.” That was one of my favorite endorsements I have ever had for the power of coaching! So, if your boss says they want you to start coaching, thank them and embrace the process with curiosity and enthusiasm. It might be the best thing for your professional and personal life. Got more questions about the leadership coaching process? Let’s have a chat!