DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

Executive coaching is a transformative tool designed to help leaders achieve their full potential by addressing personal development goals, enhancing leadership skills, and aligning their efforts with organizational objectives. It is a structured yet flexible process that guides executives through self-discovery, goal setting, skill development, and sustained growth.

Here, we’ll explore the key steps in the executive coaching process, including how feedback is gathered, coaching sessions are conducted, and accountability is maintained to ensure meaningful progress.

1. Soliciting Feedback

The executive coaching process typically begins with gathering feedback from individuals who work closely with the leader, such as managers, peers, direct reports, and other key stakeholders. This feedback is collected anonymously to encourage honest and constructive input.

Purpose of Feedback:

• Identify Strengths: Feedback highlights the leader’s existing strengths, which can be leveraged to drive personal and professional transformation.
• Pinpoint Areas for Improvement: It sheds light on potential blind spots or behaviors that may hinder the leader’s effectiveness.
• Set a Baseline: Feedback provides a starting point for the coaching journey, enabling the coach and the leader to measure progress over time.

Methods of Collecting Feedback:

• 360-Degree Assessments: These tools gather input from multiple sources, offering a well-rounded view of the leader’s performance.
• Personality and Behavioral Tests: Instruments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Persolog (better known as DISC) assessments, or emotional intelligence evaluations can help leaders better understand their tendencies and how they interact with others.

Soliciting feedback fosters self-awareness and provides a clear understanding of the leader’s impact on others. It also sets the stage for identifying goals and aligning coaching efforts with both individual and organizational priorities.

2. Conducting Coaching Sessions

Once feedback is gathered, the coaching process shifts to regular one-on-one sessions between the executive and the coach. These sessions are the heart of executive coaching, offering a confidential and focused space to explore challenges, set goals, and develop strategies for growth.

Focus Areas of Coaching Sessions:

• Personal Development: Enhancing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and communication skills.
• Business Goals: Aligning leadership behaviors with organizational objectives, improving team performance, and driving innovation.
• Transformational Goals: Addressing deeply rooted habits or beliefs that may be limiting the leader’s potential.

Structure and Timeline:

• Frequency: Coaching sessions often start on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, gradually transitioning to monthly sessions as the leader becomes more self-reliant.
• Duration: The coaching journey typically spans 3-12 months or longer, depending on the complexity of the goals and the desired level of transformation.

Key Techniques Used in Coaching:

1. Powerful Questions: Coaches use open-ended, thought-provoking questions to help leaders reflect, identify solutions, and uncover hidden potential. Examples include:
   • Self-Reflection: “What are your core values, and how do they influence your decision-making?”
   • Goal Setting: “What specific steps can you take to overcome the challenges you’ve identified?”
   • Performance: “What feedback have you received from your team, and how have you acted on it?”
2. Motivational Techniques:
   • Appreciation and Recognition: Acknowledging accomplishments to boost confidence and motivation.
   • Visualization: Encouraging leaders to envision their desired outcomes for clarity and focus.
   • Growth Mindset: Reinforcing the belief that skills and abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

By creating a supportive and challenging environment, coaching sessions empower leaders to tap into their creativity, set ambitious goals, and develop actionable strategies to achieve success.

3. Accountability and Support

Accountability is a critical element of executive coaching, ensuring that the insights and ideas generated during sessions translate into sustained action and results.

How Accountability is Maintained:

• Coaching Logs: Leaders maintain a record of their goals, action steps, and achievements. This “success diary” serves as both a reference point and a source of motivation throughout the coaching journey.
• Scorecards: Customized metrics help leaders track their progress toward specific objectives, providing tangible evidence of growth.
• Support Systems: Coaches assist leaders in building strong support networks within their organization to reinforce their development efforts.

The Role of the Coach:

• Guidance: Coaches provide ongoing encouragement, helping leaders stay focused and overcome obstacles.
• Positive Reinforcement: Celebrating milestones and achievements keeps leaders motivated and committed to their goals.
• Accountability Partner: By checking in regularly, coaches ensure that leaders remain on track and make steady progress.

Accountability transforms coaching from a theoretical exercise into a practical journey of growth. By tracking progress and celebrating successes, leaders build momentum and confidence, ultimately achieving their desired outcomes.

4. Goal Setting and Action Planning

One of the most impactful aspects of executive coaching is its emphasis on setting clear, actionable goals that align with both the leader’s personal aspirations and the organization’s strategic objectives.

Key Steps in Goal Setting:

1. Defining Objectives: Coaches work with leaders to identify specific, measurable goals that address their development needs and align with their broader vision.
2. Breaking Down Goals: Large objectives are divided into smaller, manageable steps to make progress more achievable.
3. Creating an Action Plan: A detailed roadmap is developed, outlining the actions needed to reach each goal.

SMART Goals Framework:

Goals should be:

• Specific: Clearly defined and focused.
• Measurable: Progress can be tracked with concrete metrics.
• Attainable: Realistic and achievable within the leader’s capabilities and resources.
• Relevant: Aligned with organizational priorities and personal aspirations.
• Time-Bound: Accompanied by deadlines to ensure accountability.

By setting SMART goals, leaders gain a sense of direction and purpose, enabling them to focus their efforts on what truly matters.

5. Sustaining Transformation

The ultimate goal of executive coaching is to create lasting change that extends beyond the coaching relationship. This involves not only achieving short-term objectives but also instilling habits, mindsets, and skills that empower leaders to continue growing independently.

Strategies for Sustaining Transformation:

• Self-Reflection Practices: Leaders are encouraged to regularly assess their progress and reflect on their experiences.
• Continuous Learning: Coaches instill a growth mindset, motivating leaders to seek out new opportunities for development.
• Feedback Integration: Leaders learn to actively solicit and act on feedback from their teams, creating a culture of continuous improvement.

After the formal coaching engagement ends, periodic check-ins can help reinforce the leader’s progress and address any emerging challenges. These follow-ups ensure that the lessons learned during coaching remain relevant and actionable.

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Executive coaching is a powerful process that helps leaders achieve self-awareness, set meaningful goals, and develop the skills needed to excel in their roles. Through feedback, structured coaching sessions, and accountability, leaders gain the tools and support necessary to overcome challenges, drive change, and align their efforts with organizational success.

By fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth, executive coaching not only transforms individual leaders but also has a ripple effect across their teams and organizations. For executives seeking to unlock their full potential, the structured yet adaptable nature of coaching provides an unparalleled opportunity for lasting development.