How to Reach Maximum Audience in an Executive Coaching Session?

Article by Aena Williams

Many coaches say that whenever they go to deliver a lecture they always go well prepared. They explain everything very well but after a while they notice that the audience is not with them. This problem is faced in majority of the lecture sessions, especially in the session of executive coaching where the audience is not a naïve. The reason for this problem is that even a well prepared material and well delivered lecture delivered in one way reaches less than ten percent of participants.In order to reach maximum audience the material should be presented in different ways. The more different ways the material is presented the more audience is reached by the trainer. Coaches and trainers are mistaken that as they are presenting the material to adults, and adults can understand the material much better. The reality is much different, if a coach wants to reach every participant of the executive coaching program they have to keep the prior knowledge, experience, gender, age, culture, education and socioeconomic background in mind and then present the material.It is said that the more information is repeated the more participants will remember that information but it is valid where a person has to remember tables’ e.g. periodic table. There is no direct relation between information memorized and the information repeated. In class, there is a group of people who understand things much better or quickly than other group of people who do not understand things better or quickly. Why does a group of people understand better than the other group of people who are presented the very same material, in a very same? The answer is the “eight intelligence”. That is why trainers and coaches are advised to present the material in different ways rather than one way, as human has different ways of understanding and processing information. This is called the eight intelligences. In every person some of these intelligences are more developed then the other ones, that is why, with the material presented in different ways, it is better memorized by more people rather than the material presented in one way and memorized by few.Whenever there is a lecture session for example of telecom training or executive coaching, coaches are heard say “pay attention” again and again. It is not that the coach or trainer who wants his or her audience’ attention to feel important but actually they know that in adults the material presented to the audience has effect on them only for less than fifteen minutes. In these fifteen minutes the participants also have to make their own material in order to confirm the effect of the presented material for longer time period.In different executive coaching and telecom programs what the trainers and coaches do is they cover the material. The word cover means to hide anything from being seen or hide anything from view but the job of a coach or trainer is to show or expose what is hidden or what is unknown to the audience. A coach job is to make the audience involved in the thought presented to them instead of going through the material.In executive coaching sessions like telecom training, a person stands and gives lectures, research shows that adult brain can handle only fifteen minutes of direct lecture. Due to this problem it is advised that during sessions information should be presented to the audience in a way that they should interact and involved during the whole process. Such type of presenting material is more effective than just directly lecturing the participants. Environment plays a big role during the sessions, as well. If the participants of the program are not respected, their point of view is not valued, they are discouraged to talk and still they are expected to sit and get the knowledge, it is will not work.These are a few points, which should be kept in mind by a coach or trainer in order to get maximum result. Otherwise these telecom training programs and executive coaching session are of no use to the participants.

About the Author

The Madinah Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MILE) brings senior executives and high potential leaders from all over the world for executive education to discover new dimensions in Leadership Development, Good Governance, Telecom Training , HR Performance and various other management practices to help them grow in their business careers.

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Executive Coaching Services And Why You Need Them

Article by Johnny Smith

While it is true that each individual is equipped with specific talents and skills, there are those who do not realize this. As such, these people are not able to use the gifts that are inherent in them. This is one of the reasons why the services of experts in bringing out the best in each individual, and developing specific skills are employed. These types of services are called coaching.

Coaching is actually a method of instructing, directing, and training people in order to achieve develop specific skills and achieve goals. There are different types of coaching which are life coaching, business coaching, and career or executive coaching. Each of these types applies to various needs that are identified by the person himself, or by coaching experts.

Life coaching aims to assist a person in achieving his personal goals in life. Moreover, several methods are used in life coaching just to ensure that goals are achieved. There are no standards as to the specific method to use, as long as it works for a certain person.

On the other hand, business coaching is solicited by individuals or group of people in the business world. This type of coaching is considered as the method of providing support and feedback to people to help them recognize and realize the effectiveness of their business ventures. Most specifically, business coaching is proven to instill certain work behaviors and attitudes like teamwork, accountability, communication, goals setting, sales, and strategic planning among others.

Finally, the most demanded coaching which is the career or executive coaching deals with the practice of helping individuals draw out their career paths. Executive coaching is very important because a lot of people nowadays do not exactly know which career to pursue, and how to succeed in it. Moreover, there are even more people who already have careers, yet are not happy or contented in these. Furthermore, there are also other people who seem to have stagnated in their careers and remained in the first position that they were in many years ago. If anyone experiences any of these situations, then there is certainly a need for executive coaching.

In an executive coaching, you will be asked to assess yourself and find out what really want to do in life. These are indeed very critical because these determine your direction in the future. Consequently, you would not want to waste your time and your life in a career which might not be what you want after all. Choosing a career path and determining the steps that will help you succeed in this chosen career are dealt with in executive coaching. There is practically nothing to be ashamed of in soliciting for the services of executive coaching. Getting one is practically just the start of a good career ahead of you.

About the Author

If you want career advices, check out Executive Coaching London and Executive Coaching UK in the internet.

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More Coaching Articles

Executive Coaching On The Rise

Article by Ian G Cook

Isn?t it funny what we assume about leaders in senior positions. They no longer have anything to learn about interpersonal relationships or leadership. They have arrived, proof positive of their skill level!

Furthermore, only a fearless few people will give them the honest, useful feed-back that self-development requires. The ?culture? expects them to be role models and our models are supposed to get it ?right.? Showing their vulnerabilities is a ?no-no,? not to be done in front of those who report to them and certainly not advised in front of competitive colleagues on their leadership team. Of course, the CEO is too busy (and often not sufficiently skilled) to help them grow interpersonally.

The fact is that many individuals arrive at the senior level with much still to learn about people. Often they bring to the executive wing styles, habits and beliefs that have worked for them since they were a supervisor. Suddenly these formulae for success no longer work and, in many cases, must be unlearned and replaced with behaviors more in line with modern leadership.

This is why so many organizations today are investing in coaching for their key leaders. The benefits from being coached stem primarily from the leverage that is obtained. When a senior leader operates with a less-than-functional style, its negative impact on performance and morale can reverberate from within the senior leadership team right out through the frontlines to the customer. The good news is that turning this individual?s style around will have the same multiplier effect in a positive direction.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a series of periodic one-on-one consultations, usually with an external resource, over a period of time? typically anywhere from three to eighteen months. Between sessions the ?coachee? (whom we will call the ?client?) applies newly learned approaches at work, receives feedback, then reassesses, and refines his/her behavior accordingly. Coaching is not therapy, however, occasionally a coach may suggest counselling as a promising course of action for deeper seated issues that are blocking effectiveness. Well done coaching yields a high return on investment because the process is totally customized to the ?client?s? challenges and needs and it maximizes the executive?s time off the job.

The goal of the coaching process is to generate, in the client, effective skills and attitudes that are self-sustaining, selfcorrecting and directly supportive of his or her expected performance results.

When does one engage a coach?

Usually?but not always?it is the individual?s boss who initiates the coaching intervention. Typically this is in response to a need to turn around a significant performance problem or to improve an interpersonal skill deficiency that is holding back an otherwise excellent executive. Coaching is also used to prepare someone for a promotion, generally enhance leadership potential, and provide support for a particularly challenging leadership situation (e.g. managing a major change, inheriting a new department).

On the other hand, Coaching is not always indicated. I would not take on a coaching assignment when the boss has already decided to fire or demote the individual, when there is insufficient time to generate the results required, or where the person is entering a coaching process against his/her will. This latter condition is sometimes a judgment call but my ethical and business bottom-line is that the client must buy in to the process freely and genuinely.

What should you look for in a coach?

Consider the mix of (1) skills, (2) knowledge and (3) attributes of any coaching consultant.

Critical skills are:

? communications (interviewing, listening, feedback, summarizing)

? facilitation (including the ability both to confront and support)

? teaching

? the ability to take a systems perspective (the client does not operate in isolation but as an integral part of complex organizational systems)

Look for knowledge in three areas:

1. psychology and human behavior2. business, management and organizational life3. how adults learn

The ideal attributes in the coach you select include:

? flexibility? work experience and maturity? self-confidence? confidentiality? comfort with complexity? ambiguity

I believe your coach should be someone who places a high value on?even has a passion for?the growth of others and who is willing to learn and grow himself/herself in the process. And, of course, the relationship must work for both parties, client and coach.

Some coaches are clinically trained, that is, they are psychologists or professional therapists. This is not necessary but neither is it negative. Clinicians bring a deep understanding of human behavior and effective interpersonal techniques. They are trained to recognize deeper pathology should it become evident during the process. As long as they have a solid understanding of business and organizations and they stick to coaching, certainly do consider them for coaching.

What does a coaching process look like?

Each intervention is unique but let?s look briefly at a typical sequence.

1. Coach meets with the client?s boss and the client to ascertain issues, objectives and the standards expected by the organization.

2. Coach and client meet. In this meeting I particularly check out our chemistry and my client?s degree of buy-in to the overall process. Once that is confirmed, I conduct an in-depth interview with him/her to scope in detail his/her personal and work background, version of the issues, feelings, needs, concerns, and how the client currently perceives and interprets his/her world.

3. Data gathering. This may involve interviews with key players in the team, the client?s direct reports, and others who interact with him/her. Often a 360 degree feedback instrument is used to obtain perceptions from the client?s boss, peers, and subordinates. Psychological measurements also can contribute a lot. I routinely use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator© with great success. Another technique is to ?shadow? the client and observe him/her in typical interactions and meetings.

4. Coach compiles all this information, feeds it back to the client, and facilitates a discussion?sometimes lengthy and emotional.

5. Client identifies and commits to specific objectives and deliverables for the process.

6. Client develops an action plan.

7. With the on-going involvement of the coach, the client implements the plan over an appropriate number of months. This is the core of the process.

8. Once the plan has been accomplished, client and coach conduct a final assessment of the client?s progress against the objectives. Here we may determine the need to gather data once again to confirm others? perceptions and experience of the progress made.

9. Finally, a ninth step might be contracted where the coach checks in occasionally over the next year or so to provide on-going support.

When we look to the world of athletics and entertainment we see that those who aspire to excellence understand the value of coaches. The seasoned masters in my field of professional speaking certainly use them. I have several coaching colleagues amongst whom we coach one another.

What about your key people? What about you?

About the Author

Ian Cook works with executives and managers who want to increase their effectiveness as a leader and build a stronger team. He is the founder of Fulcrum Associates Inc. A Leadership Development Company. Contact Ian at 888-385-2786 or email: Ian Cook, website: http://www.888fulcrum.com

Google Tech Talks January, 30 2008 ABSTRACT Greg Gillis and Lesly Higgins, experienced corporate coaches, will discuss and demonstrate various methods to effectively communicate; whether it is delivering a yearly review to a fellow Googler, developing your group’s strategic vision, or influencing others towards an idea. By learning about Advocacy and Inquiry, Appreciate Inquiry, and Effective Feedback/Feedforward, you will come away from this workshop with concrete examples and experiences to help you get your message across with impact. Speaker: Lesly Higgins I’ve been coaching since 1999. After my first career in software development, with roles that included VP Software Engineering at Commerce One and VP Information Technology at Charles Schwab, I returned to school to complete an MS in Organizational Behavior and Development and also a comprehensive coaching program. I’ve coached at all levels in organizations, most functions, and with both early stage and Fortune 500 companies. Most of my clients are in the tech space, and they include: Agile Software, America Online, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Charles Schwab, Coremetrics, CNET, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Peoplesoft, Pixar, SAP, Shutterfly, Taleo, TiVo, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. I believe everyone wants to be more effective and more fulfilled in life. Usually we don’t know HOW to achieve that. And often we don’t know what skills are important to develop to increase our overall effectiveness and satisfaction

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