Executive coaching
Discover insights that turn potential into performance
Who is this for?
As organisations, we are asking more and more of our people. Do more with less. Tackle evermore complex challenges. Leaders are constantly balancing the competing demands of profit, people and planet. Not to mention home and family life and commitments.
Executive Coaching is for leaders and senior team members. Professionals who recognise they are responsible for their own impact, development and motivation, and are prepared to do the work required to make career-changing shifts in their thinking and behaviour. Those who want to think bigger, achieve more and make a lasting impact.
Levelling up leadership skills, whether that’s for you or for the leaders you support, starts with understanding how the ‘self’ is a key leadership tool. Coaching builds self-awareness of how this self shows up, and with awareness comes the process of intentional change, and the opportunity to transform leadership mindset and capabilities.
Why do they need it?
It’s rare that we take the time, focus, discipline and self-command needed to reflect on our own progress, challenges and impact. The business of work usually gets in the way, and there is limited insight available to us when we’re able to let ourselves off the hook.
Nancy Kline says ‘We do our best thinking in the presence of a good listener’, and that’s the immediate benefit of having a coach. Being listened to makes you a better thinker. But a coach will ask you powerful questions, reflect back what you’re saying, and what they’re noticing. They will hold your feet to the fire when you avoid the hard stuff, and hold your hand when you’re facing the painful stuff.
We are all capable of bringing more value into the world if we invest in time and headspace to consider what is needed, why it’s important, and what’s currently in the way.
What is it?
Executive coaching is a thinking partnership, in which the coach accompanies, encourages and guides the coachee in the process of reflection, observation, dialogue, awareness building and ultimately goal-setting. The coachee is always the subject matter expert, the one who owns the goal and the answers, and is responsible for the change. Coaching provides a space and process to explore limiting beliefs that hold us back, or the tangle of competing thoughts that slow us down, and evoke the awareness that can unlock potential.
How it works?
First up, a conversation to establish whether Executive Coaching is the right approach for you or your team member, and whether I’d be the right coach. This partnership is critical to the success of Executive Coaching, so we don’t rush it, and we don’t make assumptions.
Coaching isn’t mentoring, consultancy or counselling, and where I sense that something else is needed, I’ll explore that with you, and try to point you in a helpful direction.
We’d agree whether we’re working with a third party (eg L&D, a line manager or other stakeholder will be involved in establishing goals), or whether we’re working as a pair.
Then it’s simply down to calendars and contracting. Most Executive Coaching engagements are roughly 6 sessions across 6 months, but this is flexible depending on the coachee and the outcome.
“Fi was brilliant at helping me define my real goals and drivers and create a mechanism to achieve them. Her powerful listening and supportive challenge really helped to expand my perspective on next steps, and has helped me progress confidently into a fantastic new role.”
— Annette Kerlin | Senior Director | Pegasystems, Reading
Curious about individual coaching?
Let’s talk
If you’re a senior team leader, responsible for supporting leadership teams, or are seeking coaching support for yourself, then let’s talk.
Get in touch with me for a confidential, no-commitment conversation.
“It won't be a surprise that I've found your coaching to be invaluable in helping me adapt to my leadership role. It's built my confidence both professionally and personally, and given me practical tools I can take forward to challenges in the future. I feel I'd be in an entirely different place in my Torchbox journey if I hadn't been lucky enough to have the extra support from you over the last few months.”
— Emma Bennett | Head of SEO | Torchbox, Oxford