24 Qualities of an Exceptional Executive Coach

1. Certification

As the coaching industry proliferates, so does the number of unqualified individuals calling themselves coaches. Your executive coach should have a recognized certification such as one from the ICF (International Coaching Federation), Engage & Grow Global, or the Coach Foundation. These certifications indicate training or quality that meets industry standards.

A coach should also have relevant business experience so that they can understand and relate to your professional challenges.

2. Shared Values

While an executive coach doesn’t need to share your exact values, it’s crucial to find a coach whose values don’t conflict with yours. Value discrepancies can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements, thereby hindering progress.

Respect should be mutual in a coaching relationship. The way a potential coach treats you during the initial interactions can give you a good sense of how you’ll be treated during the engagement. Always remember, respect is a two-way street. Make sure you respect your coach’s time too!

3. Compatibility

When choosing a coach, the importance of compatibility can’t be overstated. A coach whose style, approach, and expertise align with your needs can drive meaningful conversations and substantial progress. Consultation sessions, references, or speaking with former clients can help you gauge compatibility before committing to a coaching relationship.

4. Questioning Skill

The right questions can trigger paradigm shifts and create “aha moments”. A skilled executive coach knows how to ask insightful questions that encourage you to think differently and explore new perspectives.

5. Active Listening

Actively listening is just as important as asking great questions. Surprisingly, some coaches overlook the importance of this critical trait.

A good coach doesn’t jump to solutions before fully understanding your situation. If your coach is engaged and genuinely curious, they’re more likely to provide relevant insights aligned with your unique needs.

6. Versatility

In a professional setting, an executive coach can play various roles: an accountability partner, a mentor, a friend, a confidante, a counselor, and a champion.

Understanding the multiple hats a coach can wear will help you appreciate the dynamic nature of the coaching relationship. Consider if you’re comfortable with such a multi-faceted relationship before you hire a coach.

7. Trust

Trust is essential for any coaching engagement to thrive. You need to have the confidence to share openly, explore sensitive topics, and believe that your coach has your best interests at heart.

You need to trust your coach implicitly to understand your professional and personal context, provide honest feedback, share unbiased perspectives, challenge your thought process, support you during difficult decisions, respect your values, and guide your professional development.

A coach’s demeanor during an initial call often serves as a litmus test for trust.

You can do your part to build trust by being punctual and respectful of your coach’s time, communicating openly, respecting your coach’s expertise, accepting constructive criticism, acknowledging and addressing challenges, and following the action plan you set with your coach.

8. Confidentiality

In a coaching relationship, confidentiality is crucial. It ensures a safe space for you to be vulnerable as you discuss your challenges, fears, and uncertainties without fear of judgment.

This professional secrecy allows for a more honest conversation. A written confidentiality agreement can help underline this aspect and promote more productive and meaningful discussions.

9. Business Acumen

An executive coach, much like a football coach, can offer crucial insights gained from similar situations. While they can’t make decisions on behalf of business leaders, they can certainly guide leaders toward better decision-making based on their understanding of business dynamics.

One of a coach’s most valuable assets is their real-world experience. Their own failures and successes serve as practical lessons that they can pass on to the leaders they coach. This experience-based guidance can help business leaders navigate their own challenges with greater confidence and understanding.

10. Email Support

While conversations on the phone or in person are important, the availability of email support between sessions can be an added benefit. This gives you the flexibility to address immediate concerns, seek guidance, or share progress without having to wait for your next scheduled session.

11. Expertise Focus

A great coach can guide you towards discovering your “zone of genius” – the area where your greatest strengths, passions, and talents intersect. This discovery can help you focus on what you do best, delegate tasks that fall outside this zone, and thus increase productivity and job satisfaction.

12. Full Commitment

A great coach is excited about your career, personal development, and future. They view your wins as their own. If your coach seems disinterested or distracted during sessions, it may be a red flag that they’re not the best fit.

13. Conversational Skills

The ability of a coach to listen actively and respond thoughtfully to a leader’s concerns is vital. The coach should not only provide a fresh perspective based on their experience but also facilitate a conducive environment for your organic growth. The best coaches excel in conversational intelligence – they’re able to navigate complex discussions and provide valuable insights.

Some coaches offer 360-degree tools like Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Strengths Finder. Insights from these diagnostic tests can provide insights into your team’s motivations and personalities and boost your communication skills.

14. Focus on Independence

A top-tier coach cultivates independent thinking by challenging you to find solutions internally.

This approach refines your skills in critical analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making. It also builds your self-confidence and resilience, equipping you with sustainable competencies that you can apply to future challenges.

In essence, a good coach helps you learn how to think for yourself so that you can grow on your own, even post coaching, and craft your own success story.

15. Sense of Humor

The coaching journey can be intensive, but it should also be fun. A coach who knows when to inject lightheartedness into sessions can make learning new skills enjoyable.

16. Goal Orientation

An executive coach can play a significant role in helping business leaders set realistic and aligned goals. They can guide them to visualize these goals, anticipate potential obstacles, and develop strategies to overcome them. Furthermore, they hold leaders accountable for their commitments, pushing them to meet or exceed their targets.

17. Emotional Intelligence

An effective coach will have a rich experience in interpersonal relationships and a deep understanding of emotional intelligence. They can help business leaders manage tricky interpersonal situations, navigate office politics, and foster a harmonious work environment.

An empathetic coach is also equipped to understand your experiences and emotions better, allowing them to provide more personalized strategies. Look for a coach who can put themselves in your shoes to create more meaningful and impactful solutions.

18. Unbiased Outlook

A non-judgmental coach creates an open atmosphere for exploration and growth. They provide unbiased input and allow you to express your views openly. Remember, they should challenge you, but they should never criticize or impose their beliefs on you.

19. Motivational Capability

An exceptional coach provides timely encouragement and optimism. Their role is not only to support your thoughts but also to alleviate fears and boost your decision-making confidence. Everyone benefits from having a champion in their corner.

20. Accountability Enforcement

Motivation and accountability go hand in hand in a successful coaching relationship. To experience significant change, you need a coach who knows when to switch between encouraging you and holding you accountable.

21. Lifelong Learning

The best executive coaches are those who never stop learning. They constantly read, research, and engage in meaningful conversations to stay at the top of their game. Their curiosity and thirst for knowledge are infectious, fostering a learning culture within the leaders they coach.

22. Service Mindset

The best executive coaches are deeply invested in the success of the leaders they serve. They genuinely enjoy the process of thinking, planning, and strategizing alongside their clients, and their commitment to serving can be a significant asset to business leaders. This dedication can lead to previously unimaginable successes.

23. Comfort with Challenges

Your rapport with a coach is vital. However, keep in mind that a good coach will often challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone.

This might initially seem uncomfortable, obviously, but it’s an integral part of personal and professional growth! So remember, your coach doesn’t necessarily need to be someone who agrees with everything you say.

24. ROI Awareness

A good coach measures their client’s outcomes. They concern themselves with time, how much time and how many resources they save their clients, and the productivity and profit gain their clients achieve.

Likewise, it’s best to look beyond a coach’s initial cost and instead, focus on the value they bring in terms of your return on investment (ROI).

Investigate your coach’s track record: Have they helped past clients save time, optimize resources, and achieve notable results? A great coach might cost more upfront but can deliver tangible, substantial benefits that far exceed your initial investment.