When do you most need a coach? John Mattone, in CEO Briefing Newsletter (Sept. 20, 2013), answers the question: when things are going well.
Many executives still think of coaching as a remedial tool, when things go wrong, the executive has to “fix” the problem by gaining insights into the factors contributing to the situation. While coaching can be very helpful at such times, think of all the time and energy lost by the person and the organization the leader influences by going down the wrong path and then having to correct the situation.
Much more productive is focusing on one’s blind spots before a poor decision or bad habits take effect. That’s why sports stars (e.g., Tiger Woods) use coaches at all times. Such coaching helps CEOs grow their good organizations into great ones, because they are focused on continuous improvement. Indeed, blind spots are less obvious when things are going well, making vigilance critical to success
It’s one of the major benefits reaped by Vistage CEOs (through Peer Advisory groups) and Executive Teams (through the new Vistage Inside program): continuous improvement of future challenges before serious problems occur in areas of strategy, culture, finance, M&A, etc., through 1-on-1 coaching as well as peer mentoring. It’s the reason D&B finds Vistage member companies outperform their competition; it’s why so many CEOs stay with Vistage for decades, even as they sell one company and start leading the next.
How are you using executive coaching? Share stories of how it has helped you stay at the forefront of growth, both personal and organizational.