Executive Coaching

Q: How important is trust in the coaching process?

As executive coaches, we know that trust is the cornerstone to all relationships, including the coaching relationship. We take your needs and our coaching seriously. We work with you as your partner, one step at a time to make sure you’re clear and happy about your coaching process and agreed outcomes. We establish the ways of working with you and explicitly establish best practice from the beginning.

Q: How much coaching experience should your executive coach have?

Significant experience is paramount for a great coaching. Our coaches have at least 20 years professional executive coaching experience and are all certified with prominent, respected coaching bodies. They have significant corporate experience and are seasoned businesspeople too.  Most of our coaches are based in London in the UK, though travel far and wide supporting clients.  We’ve been using online coaching for many years which works very well.  Please see our Covid-19 announcement in logistics below.

Q: Is executive coaching totally confidential?

Yes. 100%. Even if sponsored by your organisation, be it for stand-alone or group coaching, our coaching relationships with the coachee remain confidential.  Of course, whatever coachee’s might be willing to share often helps colleagues and the wider organisation too, but it’s the coachee’s choice.

Q: Does an executive coach tell a coachee what to do?

Not often. Coaching works best when it brings out a coachee’s sense of purpose, greater awareness, and develops their ability to take greater responsibility for their feelings and behaviours. This coaching process is the heart of great leadership too. Occasionally coachees want greater steer or guidance on things like best practice, how to approach things or how they may be perceived by others.

Q: How does executive coaching work best?

Coaching relationships work best when based on openness, honesty, transparency and commitment on both sides.  Our executive coaches give 100% and expect the same from our clients. At all times, as our client, you should feel respected, supported and safe. We guide the process, though the focus and decisions are your choices.

Q: What’s the difference between coaching and therapy

Executive coaching focuses on achievement and growth. It’s future not past ‘issue-focused as in therapy. Although issues and blocks are commonly uncovered in the coaching process. A great coach knows the difference and is able to safely navigate situations where issues arise.  Good coaches are clear about this, giving guidance where necessary.

The difference is partly the focus – future for coaching Vs past for therapy.

Q: How do I know if I need coaching or therapy?

Executive coaching sessions work on the premise that you’re committed and able to move forward in your development.  Coachees should also have a healthy sense of curiosity that helps them develop and grow. If a coachee has difficulties with these, the coach may refer them for additional support, such as to a therapist or counsellor.  This is always completely confidential and the coach works purely as an advisor in this matter. Our stringent coaching approach ensures we balance coachee growth, goals and wellbeing.  Our coaches have therapeutic as well as professional coaching qualifications, so they are able to tread this fine line carefully and understand what healthy coaching boundaries look like. Want to know if you’re ready for coaching, try our FREE Coaching Quiz just below.

Sometimes coaching can be viewed in terms creating ‘movement’ in people’s lives whereas ‘healing’ is more a key element of therapy.

There are no daft questions in understanding how coaching can work for you, except the ones you want to ask but don’t.
So get in touch.

Coaching session length

For optimal working and results we recommend executive coaching sessions from 90 to 120 minutes in length.  We find reflection and focus is generally optimal with these timings. We try and balance not being too prescriptive though as with number of sessions required. We focus on outputs and being realistic about what clients wish to achieve in a given time.

Coaching programme length

For the most effective programmes we take coachees through several phases of coaching.  Coachees can then be introduced to various development and success strategie and concepts and have their goals and EQ strengths and dynamics uncovered.  It’s then possible to create the required awareness to re-model behaviours and create distinct improvements to move things forward effectively.  The coaching process takes a few sessions particularly if the goal is to embed change.  We therefore recommend starting with a minimum of 3 to 4 sessions over a 4-10-week period with intervals of 10 days to 2 weeks between sessions. This helps build and maintain the dynamic nature of the process. It also fits with the natural rhythm of building positive habits in a trusted process giving people the right balance of time to learn, try new things and have timely feedback and support. Typical executive coaching programmes therefore require 6 – 10 sessions. But be under no illusion, it’s worth the investment in time, as the results are often game changing.

Face-2-Face & Online Coaching

We operate executive coaching sessions face-to-face in venues around London, the UK and globally. We often attend coachee’s offices if they have access to discreet settings and private rooms. It’s important executive coaching is conducted in a neutral, relaxed, private and discreet location. We also coach online using remote platforms such as Teams, Zoom and Skype.

Covid-19 Update March 2023

Our executive coaches have been back coaching face to face in the UK and globally for some time. However we know some are still shielding/ taking care and we’re happy to adapt to people’s needs.  Remote coaching still working brilliantly where it’s desired.  Professional coaching was in fact originally designed for the phone and is particularly effective now we can see each other on screens and share documents easily too.

Ask how online coaching works

We understand that appointments sometimes need to be changed, and whilst we do our best to offer flexibility, there is a minimum of 48 hours’ notice required to change or cancel sessions.