What is an executive coach?
An executive coach works with senior level managers and high potentials to help them get where they want or need to go more quickly and easily. They focus on business and leadership behaviors. Most coaches work in person or by phone with several coaching sessions per month. 

What questions should I ask an Executive Coach?
With many coaches available today, selecting a coach can be difficult. There are five different types of coaches according to Marshall Goldsmith, including: Life Coaches, Career Coaches, Strategy Coaches, Business Coaches, and Behavior Leadership Coaches.  You will find many people trying to coach others without the right experience, training, and skills. 

Use these questions to guide you to find the pros.

1. What did he/she do before they became an executive coach?

2. Has your coach been a leader?

3. How much coaching experience do they have?

4. What level of executives have they coached?

5. Has he/she been certified by a reputable organization? 

6. How much training did they receive to become a coach?

7. Do they have a continuing education requirement?

8. Do they follow a process?

9. Does the engagement have a timeline?

10. How much time do they spend with you face-to-face?

11. Do they have training skills to help you increase your effectiveness?

12. Are you comfortable with their style?

13. Will they tell you what you want to hear, or can they give you honest feedback?

14. Do they have references who are willing to talk about their results?

15. What results have their clients achieved?

16. Are they willing to do an interview call to see it it's a good fit?

17. Are they willing to let you to set the agenda? Is their process flexible?

Why hire a coach if I'm already successful?
Coaches are frequently hired by people who are already successful. Top athletes have coaches to help them get an edge.  Sixty seven percent of top leaders have coaches. People who are successful know that having "the edge" is important, and they know that a good coach can help them to get it. Your strengths got you to where you are, and working on your weaknesses will help you get to the next level.

How does the coaching process work?
Every client is unique and that's why we customize every engagement. There's no one-size-fits-all approach at Top Level Coaching. Typically a coach and client have three or four sessions a month.  Our preference is face-to-face meetings.  In our opinion there's no better or effective way to help our clients. However, sometimes that's not possible and we use other methods including phone, webcam, and email to supplement the process. 

What would we focus on?
You or your manager may have a good idea about in what areas to focus on. However, we usually start with an in-depth assessment to make sure that we are working on the highest priority areas. Not only do we ask you what your weaknesses are, but we typically use a 360º feedback process that give you a confidential assessment of your strengths and weakness as viewed by your subordinates, peers, boss, and compare that to your self assessment. The most frequent need areas we find are:  organization and/or time management, focus, accountability, business relationships, professional development, communication and presentation skills, negotiation skills, listening skills, and problem-solving. 

How is this different from therapy?
In therapy the assumption is that there is some emotional problem. The therapist helps the client to overcome emotional difficulties. In coaching, the client is seen as being a healthy who is seeking ways to grow and move forward with his/her business life.  

How do we define success?
We typically ask that question early in our initial meetings. The client or the executive contact is always the person who makes the final determination. However, we often get stakeholders involved in the process to help us not only define success, but also to measure it.  Our goals is to measure our results to know that we have achieved some change for our clients.  

How long is a typical engagement?
Some clients hire a coach for a specific project or goal and when this is accomplished they stop. Some projects could take as few as six weeks.  Other clients may select a coach six to twelve months for ongoing. Often clients gain so much from the experience and relationship that they choose to continue working with the coach over a period of years. We ask most clients to commit to at least three months, to provide enough time to see results.  

How do I know if it will work?
Talk to two or three coaches and ask the tough questions we provided you (see above). We also offer a free coaching call so you can decide if its a good match for you and the coach. We also work with our clients on a pay-for-performance basis. That means clients don't pay if they don't see the results. We are willing to guarantee our results and make it work. 

What is the no-risk sample session?
This free coaching call usually lasts about an hour. There is no charge or obligation. The session is an opportunity for you to interact with your coach.  It will also provide the coach with a good understanding of your goals and objectives and to determine if he/she can help. We will focus on an issue that you personally want to work on have a chance to decide. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about coaching process. We don't use high-pressure closing techniques.  You can engage us or can simply say that you'll get back to us..

Call us at 513-772-5115 or email us and we'll contact you to schedule a free initial coaching session. You will work one-on-one with of our certified coaches. You will gain an understanding of the process and begin to work on a specific leadership skill during the call. There is no obligation to continue. This is our way to let you decide if the chemistry is right and our coaching process can help. 

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