The explosion of popularity of having an Executive Coach is an undeniable phenomenon. The benefits are shared prolifically all over the internet and many organisations insist on their executives having a coach. The caveat to this is that as the industry has expanded, so too have the number of coaches populating the industry. So, what defines an executive coach?
Daniel Kahneman stated that 21st century leaders have less and less time to run themselves, or to think slowly about their business. It is with this in mind that the Executive Coach operates. Executive coaching is about working with leaders. The people who make the most important decisions of the company, those who set the strategic and operational direction that the business will follow. It is the level of complexity in decision making, the power that this person holds, and their level of accountability that differentiates them from others being coached.
The definition of an executive coach is the individual who ensures a return on the investment being made in him or her. Their process is one of inspiration and groundedness. They possess business knowledge, psychological wisdom, and coaching competency to spearhead the executives actions and choices. This way, within the realm of little time and inability to think over time, the most effective decisions are made yielding the most positive results. Executive coaches are those who propel individuals in the limelight into a brighter light.