Tom Pierce on Executive Coaching

You need a great coach. Now what?

Your boss has told you—or you’ve told yourself—that you’d benefit from executive coaching. But how do you know when a coach is the right fit? Or not.

Most executive coaches will offer a no-charge meeting. When you’re evaluating a coach, think about four C’s:

·      Credentials

·      Credibility

·      Creativity

·      Chemistry

Credentials and Credibility are essential for a coach to earn your trust and your investment in time and money.

Creativity can turn still water into sparkling champagne when both of you bubble up effective solutions to your career challenges.

 Chemistry is the most important ‘C.’ If you don’t get a positive chemical reaction, your coaching relationship will fizzle into a failed experiment. 

Credentials

Trust your questioning skills. How long has the coach been coaching?  How relevant are the coach’s education degrees and consulting or coaching certifications? Although much executive coaching is confidential, ask prospective coaches to provide the names of three clients. Then ask each client about the impact the coach has made on their work and their life.

 Credibility

Trust your instincts. Does the coach seem full of relevant experience and full of targeted ideas? Or just full of it. Does the coaching conversation feel robust or robotic? If the coach does most of the talking for most of the introductory session, sail on. Your destination? A coach who wants to know about you. Not a “coach” who wants to impress you that he or she is a know-it-all.

 Creativity

Trust your imagination. After listening carefully and quietly to where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to be, does the executive coach suggest innovative, practical and actionable solutions? Or are you getting an executive summary of the latest management self-help book? If so, read the book yourself and cruise toward another coach.

 Chemistry

Trust your thermometer. When you’re interacting with a potential coach, do you get that warm glow that signals the ignition of a productive relationship? Or do you get that cool blue blinking light that warns your coaching sessions will quickly run out of steam?

 Connection

Here’s a bonus fifth ‘C.’ The best way to start your search for a coach is to search your network and ask for referrals. What coaching success stories have they heard? Which coaches have they used? Most importantly, what impact did the coach make on their work and their lives?

Adapted from Tom Pierce’s article “Cruising for a Coach? Sail the Four C’s” in the July 2012 issue of ASAE’s Associations Now

The Impact of Coaching on our Clients

Niël Steinmann, President
People’s Dynamic Development, Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa:

Tom and Lu Ann - I love the photo of the elephants at the top of your website’s home page. Such a beautiful metaphor for coaching, and such a great reflection of who you are. Elephants are keystone species, which means they impact the environment in such a way that they make it possible for other species to survive. You are that kind.

Lindsey Durham, Chief Financial Officer
Lifeline of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio:

Pierce Management Development has made a significant impact on my life and career.  Tom helped me realize my potential that, as a young leader, I didn’t see in myself.  He helped me gain confidence as an executive leader, see my blind spots, develop action plans to improve and held me accountable to those plans.  He supported me through tough decisions and helped me build resilience along the way. Through his coaching sessions and support, I was able to make meaningful change in my organization and overcome challenges that would have seemed impossible to navigate alone. 

When I was promoted to a new position, Lu Ann Dillon joined the coaching team to provide technical guidance and support.  Through our coaching sessions, she gave me clarity on how to quickly make an impact in my new role.  Lu Ann has a gift of translating complex problems into actionable solutions.  Her coaching sessions empowered me to make progress every week and helped me build operational systems that made a lasting impact on my organization and its culture. 

Tom and Lu Ann's wealth of experience in executive leadership and passion for coaching is invaluable to their clients and the organizations they serve.  I will forever be grateful for the investment they made in me!