Would Michael Jordan be the G.O.A.T without Phil Jackson coaching him on his journey toward achieving the highest pinnacles of success in the NBA? Luckily we will never know, because Jordan did benefit from a phenomenal coaching style and the knowledge that his coach had his back, every step of the way.
Michael Jordan isn’t just the G.O.A.T., he’s a unicorn.
His talent combined with his coach’s expert guidance allowed him to rise above all others. Not every player is so lucky. There are many athletes with just as much talent, but we never hear about them because their coach didn’t lead them with effective coaching strategies that built upon their skills and increased their abilities.
Talent and desire alone are not enough to level up.
This is true across all industries. It takes an individual who understands they cannot achieve success alone. Even the most self-made entrepreneur had someone to help them get started, whether it was a friend, family member or a mentor with an effective coaching style. In the business world, hiring an executive coach enables a leader to maximize their natural traits and abilities to become the best they can be.
Some of the most powerful leaders in history achieved success by learning from those who came before them. It is through guidance, mentorship and learning from the mistakes of others that Extreme Leaders are created.
By reading through the effective coaching strategies below, and by hiring an executive coach, you too can elevate your career and become a leader that inspires others.
Eight Effective Coaching Strategies for Leadership Development
Every effective executive coaching plan includes goals that are smart, measurable, attainable and realistic. By engaging in executive leadership coaching that incorporates the eight effective coaching strategies outlined below, you will be well on your way toward becoming a legacy.
A truly effective leader strives to be the best they can be for their team and organization, which ultimately leads to elevating their own career and success.
1. Self Motivation: Discover Why, and How, to Level Up
Self motivation can be challenging to unearth when you have so many critical things to focus on, but it should always remain at the top of your to-do list.
As a leader, striving to improve yourself and your team begins from within.
Through self-exploration, you can discover the why behind the work you do and develop your leadership style. Executive coaching services will support your journey of discovering this self-motivation and will help you learn how to build on it to create even greater success.
Motivational leadership books are a great way to supplement your journey, but they are not all created equal. However, executive leadership books that are worth reading can be incredibly effective components of your leadership development coaching strategies.
Executive coaching, supported by tools and resources, gives you everything you need to make changes in your life and career so that you can become an impactful and successful leader.
2. Find the Most Effective Coach for You
Finding the right executive coaching is essential for building a successful partnership. It is critical that you hire someone who empowers and guides you, while ensuring you remain in the driver’s seat of your journey.
The right coach will be a partner in your progress.
Building a personal relationship is also beneficial in the long run, as your coach is an integral part of helping you grow and create success. The right executive coach meets you where you are with tailored advice and guidance specific to your individual needs and goals.
3. Define a Clear Agenda
In the same way your employees expect transparency from you as a leader, you should expect clarity from your coach. Start the process by being clear with them about your agenda and then expect the same in return. Your coach should listen to your opinions, expectations and thoughts, and then deliver an actionable leadership development coaching plan that allows you to focus on what’s important.
Having a clear agenda allows you to be more flexible and adaptive in order to remain on track with your executive coaching plan. It’s critical to be agile so you can pivot if needed when situations change or challenges arise.
Executive leadership coaching is all about customizing a plan that helps you reach your goals.
4. Identify a Specific Timeline
There’s an old saying, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.”
With leadership development coaching, you can feel confident knowing that you aren’t on just any road, you are on the right road that will lead to where you want to go. If you fail to begin the process by establishing a clear destination, however, it can meander down roads to nowhere, thereby losing its effectiveness. But if you are clear about your goals and follow the roadmap defined by your coach, you will be on a journey toward success.
A main component of the executive coaching process is identifying a timeline and sticking to it. This ensures that both you and your coach are focused on achieving specific goals within a set of agreed-upon parameters.
This allows the coaching process to stay on track, without getting diverted by unrelated issues.
5. Develop an Action Plan to Execute
One of the most effective methods to achieving your coaching goals is to find an executive coach that will develop an action plan that can be executed within a defined timeframe.
Not all coaches, or coaching plans, are the same.
By seeking out a coach who will develop a plan customized to your unique needs and objectives, you create an optimal partnership. While your specific plan will include components that work for you, all effective plans share some common elements. These include:
- Identifying Your Goals. By ensuring that your specific goals are clearly outlined, the coaching process will remain focused.
- Establishing an Appropriate Timeline. Setting parameters about when specific parts of your plan should be completed will ensure that progress continues to be made and deadlines are met.
- Continuing to Measure Progress. Staying on top of your progress keeps all parties accountable and motivates you to achieve your desired results.
Your plan will be uniquely yours, but by incorporating these strategies, you will be set up for success.
6. Increase Your Practice to Build Discipline
Change is never easy. Building a daily routine that will create long-lasting effects requires effort, discipline, repetition and a willingness to face your fears and challenge your assumptions.
The reward is worth the risk.
Putting in work may not sound risky, but it can be. You may run the risk of giving up or feeling defeated, but the benefits of sticking with it are profound and life-changing.
When you are supported through this process by an executive coach, it leads to even greater outcomes. The right coach will foster better decision-making skills, increased productivity and improved morale. The changes you adopt will create a more positive and supportive work environment for your team.
With discipline and practice, you will achieve lasting change in your organization.
7. Boost Your Leadership Confidence
New leaders don’t always have confidence in their own abilities and expertise, which leads to feelings of failure or even imposter syndrome. An effective executive coaching plan will help assuage those fears and build your confidence by providing the skills and tools you need to succeed.
Become an effective leader with your newfound confidence.
Your coach will help unearth what it takes to become an effective leader by teaching you about different leadership styles, how to develop a clear vision and strategies to achieve it, how to motivate and inspire your employees, how to manage change and more.
With effective coaching, you will receive important feedback from an objective expert who has your best interests in mind. They will help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses, which will improve your leadership performance.
8. Gain Support
Just like Michael Jordan knew he needed the support of Phil Jackson to help his team win championships, the greatest leaders recognize that they cannot do it alone. An impactful executive coach who delivers an effective executive coaching plan can be your support, mentor and guide no matter what difficulties your organization may be facing.
Having someone to bounce ideas off, and receive advice from, is imperative when facing the unique challenges that come with being a leader. Knowing you have support from someone who understands the intricacies of your role is vital, especially when you’re feeling lonely and isolated as a leader.
Having someone to brainstorm with and who understands how to be an effective leader, especially when challenges arise, is incredibly beneficial.
Learn from a World-Class Executive Leadership Coach
Unlike an athlete, you don’t get a coach when you join your team.
It takes accepting you cannot do it alone and seeking out someone to guide you in order to become the greatest leader you can be. As a leader tasked with keeping your employees and organization on the path to success, hiring an executive coach to support you is one of the most strategic moves you can make.
When the road toward your destination gets rocky and the map is difficult to follow, an executive coach is the inspiring co-pilot you need to stay on course.