What are the best practices for executive coaches to enhance their own professional development?

"If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room" Your growth becomes natural when you surround yourself with people who challenge and inspires you.

I suggest trying supervision in both one-on-one and group settings. It offers a unique experience. In a one-on-one session, you can delve deeply into your challenges and concentrate solely on your learning path. In a group setting, you can also gain insights from other coaches and establish connections that will enrich your professional network. I got huge value from both. If you are planning to work with a coach, it is important to ensure that they receive regular supervision.

I would suggest pursuing a diverse supervision group. My supervision group is an invaluable developmental resource. Our quarterly meetings provide a platform for discussing the challenges encountered in our coaching sessions. As seasoned executive coaches, the insights shared by colleagues with a similar academic foundation but diverse cultural backgrounds are particularly enlightening. The diversity within the group greatly enriches my insights and understanding of complex issues.

As an executive coach, continual professional development is crucial. One of the best practices I've found invaluable is forming a collective with fellow coaches. This network serves as a platform to debrief case studies, exchange ideas, and offer mutual feedback and support. It's a space where we can openly discuss challenges, strategies, and insights, fostering a culture of learning and growth. I'm particularly grateful for my own group of trusted coaches. Their perspectives help illuminate blind spots and areas I might overlook, enhancing my effectiveness. This collaborative approach benefits our individual practices and enriches the coaching profession as a whole.

Getting feedback is like using Waze while driving to find your location on a map on your way to your destination. You need to know where are you going, it is also critical to have an accurate picture of where are you now. It is up to you to actively solicit the feedback you need to grow and develop. Ask for regular feedback from your circle of trust. If the feedback is too general, ask for specific questions. Encourage people to provide feedback. Ask them how can you be more effective. Solicit feedback from your clients at the end of your coaching program. How you ask for feedback can determine whether you receive honest feedback. Explain to people why you are asking and how you intend to use the information.

It is the simplest, yet most difficult thing ever. To truly take care of yourself often means letting go of activities and beliefs that are commonly long held and unhelpful. Yet, if you are unable to take care of yourself and really know who you are, do you have any business leading others in high-stress environments? I have done so much healing work. I look back at the leadership roles I had and can hold compassion for myself instead of beating myself up. I was driven by the beliefs of others that I made my own. I didn’t have a clue who I was so I relied on others to tell me. I won’t make that mistake again. Now I take care of me first. Then I am way more able to help others in any capacity. Much love, Mike

Making space for ourselves to just be is incredibly important. This impacts our presence with clients, and it affects our ability to think clearly and strategically.

To be able to coach, you need to be coach-able. The best athletes in the world have coaches, and they also know how to self-coach, too: when to push, when to back-off, and especially knowing the difference. The gift of being fully present with another is the foundation where growth occurs. As my mentor @DanDeSalvo has always said, "reflect content and emotion." Be-ing present is the by-product of putting the work into ourselves so we can always strive to be the best version for others.

Practicing self-compassion. This means listening to ourselves and our inner voices. If we are using words such as would, could and should, we are punishing ourselves still for past regrets. If this is the case, how can we really focus on our clients when we meet a similar scenario? Self forgiveness is an essential aspect so not to bias or feel an opinion that will hinder our coaching and add in judgment's.

I practice a concept called HAPPY which translates to Healthy Acceptance Positive Possessive Youthful This is also used in helping my clients to meet their goals. When you embrace HAPPY as part of your life, it is also an opportunity to creating balance in everything you do.

Some of the best coaches are lifelong learners - they make it their mission to stay up-to-date in the leadership industry, attend and present at relevant conferences, and consistently expand their toolkit. All of these activities - when done consistently - help keep a coach's skills sharp and fresh.

I believe the most organic way to upgrade for a Coach is when the clientele grows. That allows the Coach to continuously learn and adapt to the client's growth, eventually leading to organizational growth.

Staying current is crucial in today's dynamic work environment. I find that regularly attending workshops and participating in webinars help me stay informed about the latest trends and best practices. Continuous learning not only enhances my coaching skills but also allows me to provide valuable insights to my clients based on up-to-date knowledge.

I find that taking courses from both ICF and the Association of Coaching is beneficial. It provides me with broader perspectives.

Even a Coach needs a Coach Also, never stop learning the new paradigms of coaching and also new ways of looking at things. Keep learning new concepts in coaching

The number of coaches out there is growing rapidly. And it doesn't matter how good you are, or the value you can create if no one knows you're there. To this end look for ways to expand your exposure, your presence - in the spaces where you clients hang out. And as you do this, be intentional in HOW you do it. Come from your essence, with a sense of abundance, trust and a desire to be of service. Abundance says there's plenty of work for everyone. Trust that if you put in the work success is inevitable, you just don't when. Serve first and foremost, create value for people (this is leadership). The alternative is to come from survival, scarcity, self-interest and status-seeking. You don't need to be better - just different - just YOURSELF.

Once someone said to me - "To sell more its important to remain visible". If you want to grow your coaching business, your knowledge and skills of coaching or simply to learn new insights, its important to have a network of like minded people around you. So it becomes inevitable to expand your network and exposure by joining several networking sites online, attend events, discussion forum, stay active on social media etc to name a few easy mediums.

Expanding your network is important to learn further, expand your horizon and also to understand business/job however just keep adding to your network won't help but knowing who to be added in your network is important.

In my experience, the best practice for any individual to enhance their professional development is by expanding their network and exposure; they can do that by: Regularly attending industry conferences and workshops. Engage in continuous learning through courses and certifications. Join professional networks and groups. Collaborate with peers for knowledge exchange. Stay updated with the latest methodologies. Seek feedback from clients to improve skills. Contribute to forums or write articles. Leverage social media to showcase expertise and connect with potential clients.

Ação necessária para vida. O mundo é relacionamento. Somos seres sociais. E se você é um profissional que almeja crescimento profissional. Isso é necessário. Não é querer fazer , é fazer!

Accreditation and Certification creates your credibility as most of international certifications are very rigorous process and one needs to prove to get one. ICF is a Gold standard accreditation in Coaching and has 3 levels - ACC, PCC and MCC. Each level shows a standard and experience of coach and their commitment to the profession. If you are serious about the profession, you must acquire accreditation and certification through the process. This will not only enhance your knowledge and standard but you would also become more credible coach.

I'm very glad that I pursued the Gallup-certification to become a CliftonStrengths coach. It was a one-week training (ftf or virtual) that has been invaluable in my coaching with executives, college students, and MBA students. Gallup is excellent about providing ongoing training and research to support our coaching and the CliftonStrengths assessment has been life changing for so many of the people I have worked with. It is a positive way to look at the world and it fits with my own strengths, as well.

Seeking accreditation is not only great to boost your value and legitimacy as a coach, it's also important for maintaining high standards across the industry. Anyone can call themselves a coach. But those of us with credentials have had to log a certain number of coaching hours, be evaluated in a live coaching session, have to adhere to a proven system and more. Such rigorous standards ensure that we coach ethically and use appropriate tools, techniques and modes of evaluation. This safeguards the entire profession -- for coaches and clients alike.

Pursuing accreditation and certification in executive coaching, beyond enhancing credibility, offers transformative personal and professional growth. My journey towards ICF certification deepened my understanding of coaching dynamics and honed my coaching philosophy. The ongoing education required for maintaining these credentials keeps skills sharp and introduces diverse coaching styles, enriching my approach. Additionally, affiliating with organizations like the ICF expands the professional network and provides access to a community of seasoned coaches, offering mentorship and peer support.

Accreditation and certification are good ways to easily find a network of professionals to support your work, while also providing confidence in the work you're doing. There are many places to pursue a coaching certification, shop around and choose one that has an approach that aligns with your values. Having the tools to support your coaching of others is also a huge confidence builder, and means you'll have a great support network and toolset to overcome the coaching challenges that inevitably arise when you're working to support the strategic impact of others. Accreditation is also a great way to bring in more business, as accreditation often also means your services are featured on a trusted platform, providing prospective clients.

Work with an executive coach yourself. It's important to be doing your own work as you support others in doing their work. It's particularly important to understand the value in investing in yourself at the same levels your inviting your clients to invest in.

Always Be Curious Asking Questions Of Those With The Most Experience and The Most Wins, "How, when, where, what and why?" Ask everyone, including those with very few wins and many losses the same questions. Do not repeat what someone has done for unfavorable results. Repeat what those have done to produce favorable results as long as it has not been at someone else's expense.

Always be authentic!! I believe authenticity is the new currency. As an executive coach, we need to model authenticity for our clients which entails holding ourselves accountable to show up as our true being on a consistent basis. This practice of authenticity helps us to enhance our professional development by 1) Establishing trust within ourselves, clients and others. 2) Allowing us to be vulnerable but yet relatable. No one is looking for perfection anymore. We have AI for that! 3) Leaving room for growth in those areas where we may still be lacking. 4) Minimizing the stress and pressure that comes with perfection versus progress. All responses above are written by Nma Emeh, NOT AI generated at all.

Use your network. Unlike "Expand Your Network and Exposure", cultivate relationships within your network. Find other coaches who can be informal advisors and/or accountability partners and learn from each other. I've learned the most from fellow coaches in my network. Offer your insight and expertise to fellow coaches whenever you have the opportunity. Keep a mindset of abundance, continuous learning, and improvement. Aim to be a better coach today than you were yesterday.

Having a complete ecosystem of support like mentors, therapist, supervisors, peers, taking up courses to up-skill is a great way to enhance one' own professional development as a coach. In my experience embodying mindset of continuous development is key in coaches.