Leadership
What is executive coaching and what should you expect?
What executive coaching is, who it is for, what happens in sessions and how confidentiality works when your company pays.
By Clyde LangleyUpdated 5 min read
Quick answer
Executive coaching is confidential one-to-one coaching for senior leaders. It focuses on decisions, leadership behaviour, relationships with your team and how you use your time. Expect an agreement up front, a few clear development goals, regular sessions on real situations and periodic reviews of progress.
Who executive coaching is for
- CEOs, managing directors and general managers
- Leaders stepping into a bigger role
- Senior managers being prepared for promotion
- Founders whose company has outgrown their old way of leading
What you work on
The agenda is yours, but common themes are delegation, difficult conversations, leading peers, managing up, decision-making under pressure and protecting time for the work only you can do.
How it usually runs
- An agreement covering goals, confidentiality and what any sponsor will see.
- A starting picture, often a DISC profile and feedback from colleagues.
- Two or three development goals focused on behaviour.
- Regular sessions on what is happening now.
- A review each quarter, and a close-out at the end.
Confidentiality when your company pays
What you say in sessions stays between you and your coach. The sponsor usually sees attendance and whatever progress you choose to share. If a coach cannot explain this clearly at the start, find another coach.