4 Tips For Choosing The Right Executive Coach

When executive coaching comes to mind, many might have the impression it is mainly for individuals who might be facing problems in their careers, such as those who aren’t performing or could do with a little polishing. But in actual fact, many professionals are now hiring executive coaches to increase leadership capacity, help realise career goals, and to more effectively accomplish business objectives – all of which aids in boosting the performance of even the most accomplished person. But what are the things you should look for to ensure it’s a worthy investment? We’ve put together these tips to help you with selecting the right executive coach for a satisfactory experience.

Qualifications

Because executive coaching or mentoring is still an unregulated industry in Singapore, knowing your coach is qualified empowers greater assurance that you are getting the most from your coaching experience. Therefore, it is critical that you evaluate potential coaches by inquiring about their coaching certifications, which signifies their level of formal training and expertise. One of the most recognised coaching organisations is the International Coach Federation (ICF). An executive coach with an ICF credential indicates they have undergone in-depth training and have met stringent experience requirements, demonstrating a strong commitment to excellence in coaching.

Chemistry and rapport

One vital aspect of coaching is to be certain you feel a sense of chemistry and rapport with your coach. This will help you with trusting, connecting with and having confidence in the coaching process. Ask for a “chemistry session” to gauge your level of rapport with the prospective coach. During which, you should also take the opportunity to find out about their experience and style of coaching. A positive sign would be feelings of excitement and inspiration towards your growth, despite some possible apprehension at having to move beyond your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to explore a couple of different coaches to see which one feels right for you.

Testimonials

An executive coach will typically have had a range of clients facing various challenges in their professional lives. Asking for examples specific to your goals will help you get a better understanding of what your executive coaching journey might be like. Making the effort to look through reviews and recommendations is also advisable as a source of insight.

Understanding of your industry

Ultimately, your success is also your executive coach’s success. Thus, it is important to evaluate whether your coach has a basic understanding of your industry. If they don’t, assess their level of interest in learning about your work, and their ability to understand it quickly through research and good lines of questioning. We hope these tips have been helpful in your search for an executive coach. When interviewing potential executive coaches, don’t shy away from asking the tough questions; executive coaching is an investment of your time, effort and money, and it is important you find one who is the right one for you. ANspired has a qualified team of coaches who strives towards helping professionals reach their aspirations and peak productivity. Get in touch to find out about our leadership coaching services and more!