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Executive Coaching

Managing in today's organisations has never been tougher. The volume and complexity of change and the consequent demands on managers are severe. When more is expected from less the role of manager and leader becomes more crucial, more demanding and much more visible. You have to be able to lead people, develop strategies, manage budgets, provide quality service, be accountable, be open, be a role model and any number of other desirable and taxing kinds of behaviour. It is not surprising that many senior managers sometimes feel they need expert support. At the same time many find it difficult to get the help they need. We recognise that organisational dilemmas are complex and quick-fix solutions are unlikely to deal with underlying or longer term difficulties. We aim to help clients find the solutions that will work best for them.

How does it work?

Client and coach are in contact over a period of months, or longer. We use a mixture of face-to-face, telephone and e-mail coaching. Face-to-face coaching is best suited to longer sessions dealing with complex and deeper issues. Most of our coaching is by telephone. We have found telephone coaching highly effective and it provides great flexibility in scheduling meetings in crowded diaries. E-mail and Instant Messaging can provide valuable short interactions without the need to schedule. E-mail also offers the opportunity to ask for a more considered reply than is possible in the flow of a telephone conversation.

Executive coaching is about learning through a process of support and challenge. It is about developing new ways of being and doing. The coach acts as a mirror and a sounding board helping the client to explore where they are at the moment, where they want to be and how to get there. Most senior executives work in a feedback-starved environment, so the coach can be honest and direct in reflecting back to the client those behaviours and ways of managing that help or hinder success.

This can be done in a variety of ways:

By increasing people's insights into themselves and others.

Giving people focused and confidential feedback from colleagues.

Increasing skill in particular areas for example, delegation, communication, influencing, negotiating, business planning, team leadership and working relationships.

By developing strategies for business success.

By bridging the gap between what to do and how to do it.

By proving challenge and support to help the client sustain commitment to any necessary changes.

Alongside more traditional coaching techniques, our preference is to use NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) as a developmental methodology. NLP provides a set of tools and techniques for enabling a wide range of personal and professional development.

Key points about the process

It is entirely confidential. We do not talk about the client or their issues without their consent.

The chemistry is vital. The client and the consultant must trust and respect each other.

It has to be regular. Dedicated time has to be set aside for the client and consultant to meet.

We work with the whole person: though our focus is on the professional life we recognise that personal issues may also need to be considered.

Who would benefit?

Chief Executives and Board members who need a sounding board - someone to talk to on a regular basis.

Senior managers newly promoted to an even bigger job.

High-flyers entering top management for the first time.

Managers who seem to have difficulty with their personal style - perhaps seen as "too tough" or "too soft".

Leaders who want to start a business or turn a business around.

Executives who have been made redundant and need help to accelerate the pace of their transition.

People who want to find a healthy and more fulfilling balance between work and their personal life.

People who are at a point in their lives where they want to change direction completely.

Our Executive Coach - Bob Janes

Bob Janes is a certified NLP Master Practitioner and LAB Profile Trainer and holds a post-graduate Diploma in psychology and a Master's degree in Organisational Consulting. He combines many years in multi-national business, directing change programmes, with wide and deep experience of personal and organisational consulting. Bob is a powerful and compassionate coach specialising in working with professional people in transition; his clients succeed in making big differences in their lives, resolving problems, achieving goals and dreams.