How can you demonstrate your potential for growth in Executive Coaching?

I am thinking this article is not just about coach but coaches too, it’s now just how you can grow but what your Coachees have achieved using your skills. For example- give your past experiences on how coaching a high-level executive who was facing team collaboration issues.and how you helped her, with an assessment of her leadership style using established models. Then crafting a personalized coaching plan, integrating elements from recent leadership literature on fostering collaboration and showing how she achieved success. The key is to also show what you can do better as well

I'm not sure the overall article question is pointing to the right place, and highlighting your achievements seems to muddy the water further. When I think about potential for growth for you as an Executive Coach, what you've done in the past can be helpful but it can also limit the potential for growth. For example, if you've worked to help other people overcome imposter syndrome (not a syndrome btw) then growth might be limited to people & situations gravitating around this topic. It can be helpful, but potentially it's not the 'answers' from the past but the questions you're asking of your future. Showing evidence of asking stretchy questions and living into them in the past would evidence to me potential for growth into the future.

Instead of focusing solely on your own achievements, it's fulfilling to witness the success of individuals you have coached, especially when they achieve the goals you both planned together. You can use this as a starting point to identify areas where you can challenge yourself further, particularly those where you've encountered difficulties in the past. Ask yourself what obstacles you aim to overcome next, building on your past experiences. Additionally, consider what you've learned that reflects your growth mindset.

This article doesn’t make sense to me based on my philosophy; I don’t think showing achievements and bragging about yourself is the way to attract a client. I think that you can subtly show how successful you are, but no one is going to ask for Hard facts. The way I share hard facts is across social media, but it usually doesn’t come up in a client pitch. And in the type of work I do, the quantification is challenging, and is usually a result of the amount of effort the client puts in.

Highlighting achievements only makes sense if you can: - present testimonials from clients which are relevant for the prospect client - present case studies with enough factual data (including numbers such as percentages etc) whereby the client can see real tangible outcomes you've contributed to as a coach in the past. Naming an increase in performance or a satisfaction rate can be sometimes too "fluffy" if mentioned without any type of metrics. Clients are investing when picking a coach, so one should be able to demonstrate that it is safe enough to invest in that coach with their money.

Passion can run out if not maintained so it's definitely more useful to cultivate curiousity and be driven to answer questions or areas of curiousity you have. For me, in '23, I've been focusing on mindfully paying attention to the present moment. In '24, my focus will be radically different as I live into different questions I'm asking myself. One thing that's helped me develop curiousity is reading outside of the coaching field too, areas that may seem disconnected but can contain insights that are transferable e.g. poetry for metaphors, psychotherapy for depth of understanding etc. You can also direct this curiousity towards your clients & yourself. If you become your own best student, studying yourself, your coaching will improve.

While I recognize the value of passion, I've found that process and discipline are far more sustainable for long-term success in executive coaching. By establishing a disciplined approach, I maintain consistency in my practice, even when my passion fluctuates. For me. focusing on process allows me to develop a robust framework that supports my continuous learning and adaptation, essential for my enduring growth and effectiveness as a coach.

While passion is undeniably one of my strengths, I've come to realize that its perception can vary depending on the situation, culture, and background. On the other hand, your curiosity is a valuable asset. Embrace the practice of being patient and attentive, hone your active listening skills, consistently ask questions, and work on taming the advice monster in you.

That’s all I do in my opportunities to impress upon my clients that I am the coach of them. I make sure to listen very clearly to what they are looking to achieve and then I give them options for themselves that they may not have thought about their situation.

Yes, today on social platforms, it’s been amazing to watch a lot of people calling themselves “coach” without any formal accreditations/ certifications or formal trainings or even leadership experience, so be careful on engaging with coaches when you are looking for coaching. For example make sure to check for their experiences, recommendations, certifications and frameworks they use. Throughout the coaching process, implement feedback loops and progress assessments. Document measurable improvements in your own leadership, such as increased team cohesion, enhanced communication, and improved decision-making.

Yeah, I guess so, but if you’re going to highlight your credentials and expertise, do it subtly. If you want to attract clients that respect you, you’re not going to talk about your credentials on a call, but they should be accessible your LinkedIn and other channels

Your past experience as an executive coach is key to building trust with your clients initially but coaching is not about you. It’s about the questions you ask that help your client the awareness and ultimately the transformation they need. As an excutive coach it’s important to work on your questioning skills, active listening and updating your own people skills and knowledge.

Demonstrating potential for growth in Executive Coaching involves showcasing key aspects of your professional journey and continuous development. Illustrate your coaching approach and style by highlighting successful coaching engagements, methodologies employed, and the impact on clients. Emphasize your ability to adapt your style to diverse client needs. Share case studies or success stories that exemplify your coaching style. Highlight specific techniques, such as goal setting, active listening, and feedback mechanisms, that align with your client-focused approach. I highlight my coaching approach and style through real-world success stories, emphasizing my adaptability to diverse client needs.

The main goal of a call with a client is to help people understand how we will work together, and showcasing style is the way to do that. My style is very flexible and adaptable, and if I see that a client or potential client is fixed And rigid, it might not be a fit.

Highlight your commitment to ongoing self-awareness and professional development. Emphasize how you do self-reflection practice, actively seek feedback, engage in continuous learning, and apply insights gained from your own coaching experiences. You must discuss instances where you received feedback, embraced constructive criticism, became aware about something significant in your life journey, and implemented changes for personal and professional growth.

Self-awareness is the most crucial component to progress here. It is a method to detect in an ongoing manner how are we evolving. How is our potential getting sculpted and serving us. The beauty about self-awareness is that it is voluntary. It demonstrates willingness. And is one of the most sustainable ways at demonstrating potential for growth.

When I was being coached as a CEO and MD, I looked for someone with experience, who had walked in my shoes. I describe this as "scars and stripes". Most of my learning has come from challenges as well as successes. I think this is an invaluable source for me coaching others. True coaching is about asking open questions to guide people to explore and find their own answers. Having a guide that has experienced what you are experience, enables them to ask better questions. When I ran a group coaching session with fellow CEO's and MD's we all benefited from discovering we all have similar challenges the "it's not just me" reassurance was highly valued.

Emphasize a clear and impactful value proposition, coupled with a dedication to ongoing development, to position yourself for success in the dynamic field of executive coaching. Articulate your unique strengths, showcasing the distinct value you provide clients and the impactful influence on their personal & professional development. Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to continuous learning, staying ahead with industry trends, cutting-edge coaching methodologies, and evolving leadership practices. Enhance credibility by highlighting successful case studies and testimonials, showcasing tangible results achieved through your coaching expertise. #ExecutiveCoaching #CoachingForAction #ValueProposition"

As a personal example, In my growth as a coach, I continually refine my approach by staying abreast of the latest leadership theories and incorporating innovative techniques. Personalized assessments and tailored coaching plans allow me to adapt to each executive’s unique challenges. I embrace feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement and leverage cutting-edge methods, such as virtual reality simulations, to enhance the coaching experience. The measurable advancements in executives’ leadership skills underscore my commitment to fostering tangible and lasting growth.

As a coach, when I have full confidence in what can be done and I feel the client is unnecessarily risk-averse because for him/her the investment seems huge and they see risk mostly, sometimes (depending on the case) a fixed remuneration combined with a success fee can be considered. When the coach is confident in presenting such a fee structure, it can give the client a boost of confidence because the coach is taking the risk with them. It shows that the coach believes in their potential for growth and they will see that potential too through such a financial arrangement. However, I would never suggest offering only a success fee, as growth depends on taking the right actions which the coach is not in control of.