Frequently Asked Questions
- What IS executive coaching, and how does it differ from management consulting and therapy?
- Why should I use an executive coach, and how will executive coaching help me?
- How will executive coaching help my/our company?
- What is the process?
- There are lots of coaches out there - why should I choose you?
- How much do you charge?
- Who generally uses executive coaching?
- What are some of your success stories?
1. What IS executive coaching, and how does it differ from management consulting and therapy?
An executive coach has practical experience and skills, and an equal with senior executives or business owners to deal with key leadsership and business issues such as goal-setting, time management, prioritising, leadership, teamwork, communication, marketing, networking, career planning, succession planning, skills development...
Their clients are usually talented, emotionally mature, high-functioning individuals who are seeking to advance in their careers.
An executive coach supports the client to discover and take action based on his/her (the client's) own personal insights, strengths, weaknesses and solutions. The coach does not impose his/her own knowledge, methods and advice, rather he will motivate and support his client to excel through releasing his/her potential - it's up to the client to do that. Although the coach may sometimes wear a different hat (perhaps as a mentor or consultant if the situation requires it), it's essential for both parties to agree on a clearly defined coaching framework before the coaching process starts.
A management consultant is usually called in by a company or organisation for a specific assignment to diagnose its business issues, and to recommend and implement solutions.
A therapist usually works with clients who are facing psychological distress or an emotional crisis. The process of therapy is quite different from that of coaching or management consulting (among other things, therapy can last for several years), and the relationship between a therapist and his/her client is quite different from that between an executive coach or management consultant and his/her client.
2. Why should I use an executive coach, and how will executive coaching help me?
Research has shown that one-on-one coaching is a much more powerful and effective way of developing people than traditional classroom training - the benefits are more sustainable and long-lasting. That's because the changes are internally driven.
Here are just some of the things executive coaching could do for you:
- You'll gain insights and awareness about your personality and behaviour, and how they influence and determine your relationships and results
- You'll gain clarity about your goals and the steps for reaching them
- You'll OWN the answers, goals and strategies you come up with, because you devised them yourself
- You'll become a more effective team-member and leader
- You'll have quality time, just for you, to reflect on the issues you're facing in your life and work
- You'll receive honest, constructive feedback about what you need to do (and who you need to be) to advance to the next level in your career
- You'll become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, how they affect the people around you, and what to do about them
- You'll develop better communication, decision-making and management skills
- You'll have the opportunity to discuss your issues in a safe, confidential space, with a non-judgemental, objective listener who understands the language of business
- An objective outsider will hold you accountable for reaching your goals
The aim is to help YOU succeed and be the best that you can be.
3. How will executive coaching help my/our company?
The #1 business issue is a people issue - attracting, retaining and developing talent. Executive coaching will help you do that.
Here's what executive coaching could accomplish for your company or organisation:
- Your people will feel passionate about achieving goals and producing results, because they WANT to, not because someone told them to
- Your key players will become more effective and motivated, so they'll create and lead more effective, productive, co-operative teams
- Changes in people's behaviour and attitudes will be long-term and sustainable (this rarely happens with conventional training programmes)
- Your key executives will gain skills in listening to, coaching and trusting their teams (rather than micro-managing them)
- Your company's business strategy will be executed more quickly and effectively
- You'll spot talented potential leaders
- You'll be better able to ensure that the right people are in the right jobs
- Staff morale will improve when your people see that your company is committed to their personal and career development
See some case studies about how my executive coaching has led to measurable improvements in my clients' results (for themselves and for their company).
Executive coaching is normally a six-month commitment, usually involving face-to-face conversations in your office or a mutually convenient place. Over six months, we'll meet 6-8 times. Each session lasts about 1.5 hours.
The process could include:
- some standard psychometric tests that will give you insights about your talents, strengths, weaknesses, personality, worldview.
- gaining an understanding of your current situation, your desired situation, and the gaps between them
- a focus on achieving goals - we'll agree on some realistic yet challenging goals related to your personal and career development, and the company's results
- clarifying and validating whether what you SAY you want is truly what you DO want
- a guided journey of personal discovery that will give you insights into your personality and behaviour
- monitoring your progress towards your goals
- challenging you to be accountable
- celebrating your successes
Of course everything you say in our sessions is confidential.
5. There are lots of coaches out there - why should I choose you?
Coaching is a very personal, some would say even intimate, process. So trust and respect between all the parties are essential. I encourage you to choose me if (and ONLY if) you feel we could work well together. But you won't know that unless we meet first for a no-obligation introductory discussion about your needs and how I could help you and your company.
Here's what I bring to the table:
- I've had a multi-disciplinary career at a senior executive level in such industries as government, financial services, manufacturing and entertainment
- I have a proven track record of success as a business executive and management consultant
- I'm passionate about developing people - it's one of my biggest satisfactions in life
- I've coached over 200 executives
- I have a knack for asking insightful, relevant questions
- I'm Chinese and I've lived/worked in the UK and all over Asia, so I understand both Western and Chinese culture and business
- I'm professionally qualified as a coach (through CoachU)
- I speak fluent Cantonese and English, and conversational Mandarin
I charge an hourly rate for a six-month contract, involving a total of about 12 hours of coaching per client. I only charge for the actual coaching time, not the initial briefing meeting.
To arrange an initial meeting to discuss your needs, my fees and the results you can expect, please contact me today.
7. Who generally uses executive coaching?
My clients tend to be talented, emotionally mature, high-functioning individuals who are seeking to advance in their careers. They may have excellent technical skills, but need to brush up their communication and leadership skills in order to move up the career ladder.
Sometimes I'm hired directly by an executive who seeks coaching; sometimes I'm hired by the CEO or the Head of HR in order to coach one or more key executives in the company. Even when I'm hired by a company, my focus is still on coaching the individual client to be the best that he/she can be.
8. What are some of your success stories?
See some case studies about how my executive coaching has led to measurable improvements in my clients' results (for themselves and for their company).
Do you have any more questions about executive coaching and how I can help you, your team and your company to succeed?
Contact me today to arrange a no-obligation initial discussion.