{"id":4353,"date":"2014-12-11T07:51:37","date_gmt":"2014-12-11T13:51:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=4353"},"modified":"2023-05-10T13:23:20","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T18:23:20","slug":"qualifying-executive-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/qualifying-executive-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Qualifying Your Executive Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4353\" class=\"elementor elementor-4353\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c5fafd6 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c5fafd6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ebc1c16\" data-id=\"ebc1c16\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de15f7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"de15f7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"12411\" class=\"elementor elementor-12411\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1255d61 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1255d61\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6264de3\" data-id=\"6264de3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61125fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61125fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Qualifying Your Executive Coach<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c1117e elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"2c1117e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-fcfa45b elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-user-circle\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 104c-53 0-96 43-96 96s43 96 96 96 96-43 96-96-43-96-96-96zm0 144c-26.5 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href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/2014\/12\/11\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>December 11, 2014<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-9c8288a elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"commentCount\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/qualifying-executive-coach\/#respond\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-comment-dots\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M144 208c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zM256 32C114.6 32 0 125.1 0 240c0 47.6 19.9 91.2 52.9 126.3C38 405.7 7 439.1 6.5 439.5c-6.6 7-8.4 17.2-4.6 26S14.4 480 24 480c61.5 0 110-25.7 139.1-46.3C192 442.8 223.2 448 256 448c141.4 0 256-93.1 256-208S397.4 32 256 32zm0 368c-26.7 0-53.1-4.1-78.4-12.1l-22.7-7.2-19.5 13.8c-14.3 10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a17d19d elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a17d19d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"text-align:center;\u201d>\r\n<span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"3\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70a0327\" data-id=\"70a0327\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f411 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"228f411\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Dating-mso-FI-qon9iluk6qs158cyr61qkslfio6jqqlvbpfq22tm9s.png\" title=\"Dating-mso-FI\" alt=\"Dating\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b1e547c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b1e547c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-47fd8b97\" data-id=\"47fd8b97\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2437084 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2437084\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Buying An Intangible<\/h3>\nI experience a variety of evaluation approaches from prospective coaching clients.\u00a0 These range from<strong> Request for Proposals<\/strong> (RFPs) to Direct Phone Calls.\u00a0 From most, this is either a first time or infrequent purchase.\u00a0 People struggle with their approach to finding a <strong>fit<\/strong>.\n<h3>The RFP Approach<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4360\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4360\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4360 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/no-rfp.jpg\" alt=\"no-rfp\" width=\"260\" height=\"191\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/no-rfp.jpg 260w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/no-rfp-150x110.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4360\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Just Say NO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nWhen I receive RFPs for coaching services, I formally decline.\u00a0 It&#8217;s the <strong><em>fail fast <\/em><\/strong><em>approach<\/em>. I would consider responding to decision makers who are willing to meet in-person to discuss their individual needs. But that has <strong>never<\/strong> happened.\u00a0 People using <em>supply chain <strong>management<\/strong><\/em> principles to developing individual leadership are <strong>not<\/strong> inclined to have personal conversations. At least not while they are thinning out the herd of <em>vendors<\/em>. The most value that I can offer these folks is opting-out and wishing them well.\u00a0 If they don&#8217;t understand <em>this<\/em> relationship, why waste time pursuing one?\n\nIf you offer professional services, I strongly recommend that you consider this <em>fail fast approach<\/em> to RFPs.\u00a0 Most aren&#8217;t &#8220;real&#8221; opportunities.\u00a0 Many are veiled attempts to get free consulting with no intention to buy.\n\nDoes it really make sense to buy a personalized professional service the same way you buy copy paper?\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>An Executive Coaching engagement is NOT a <em>transaction<\/em>.\u00a0 It is a <em>relationship<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Matchmaking Principals: Dating vs. Coaching<\/h3>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-4363 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/dating-mso.jpg\" alt=\"dating-mso\" width=\"280\" height=\"184\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/dating-mso.jpg 280w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/dating-mso-150x98.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/>Since you&#8217;re seeking a <strong><em>relationship<\/em><\/strong>, shouldn&#8217;t you use use the same criteria as dating?\u00a0 Not exactly. It&#8217;s obviously a different kind of relationship. As with on-line dating services, you need to test your relationship criteria before moving forward through the steps in a romantic relationship.\n\nOccasionally leaders seeking coaching might be open to getting &#8220;fixed up&#8221; by someone who knows both parties well enough to make a referral.\u00a0 Referrals from people who lack of knowledge of the people, situation and developmental needs\u00a0call for\u00a0more due diligence.\n\nIn any case, you should be clear about the criteria you&#8217;ll use to make your decision.\u00a0 And remember: potential romance should be a deal breaker for a coaching relationship.\n<h3>Common Misconception<\/h3>\nIn the coach selection process, the most common misguided belief is the <strong><em>pursuit of comfort<\/em><\/strong>. As with a mate, people want feel <strong><em>comfortable<\/em> <\/strong>with their prospective coach.\u00a0 This a potential trap and misguided criterion.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 One important role of an executive coach is <strong>personal change agent<\/strong>.\u00a0 Meaningful, sustainable change involves stepping <strong>outside<\/strong> your<strong><em> comfort zone<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 An effective Executive Coaching relationship is NOT a form of<strong> <em>rent-a-friend<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 While rapport and trust are critical, your coach must have the ability to make you feel <strong>uncomfortable<\/strong> enough to commit to positive changes in your attitudes, habits and behavior.\u00a0 And to sustain these changes.\n<h3>If Not &#8220;Comfort&#8221;, What&#8217;s Important?<\/h3>\nI mentioned the importance of trust and rapport.\u00a0 For these to develop, there must be a <em><strong>connection<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 Professional connection derives from professional skills and experience for <strong><em>empathy<\/em><\/strong> along with <strong><em>dynamic questioning <\/em><\/strong>and<strong><em> listening skills.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\n\nIn your<strong><em> due diligence,<\/em><\/strong> work to determine these abilities in your prospective coach. You&#8217;re much more likely to get the meaningful positive change you seek and deserve.\n<h3>Considering &#8220;Connection&#8221;<\/h3>\nWhile the objectives differ, <strong>connection<\/strong> is an intangible attribute that serves both romantic relationships and professional coaching relationships.\u00a0 It is NOT something you can requisition with a RFP.\n\n<hr \/>\n\n<h3>Due Diligence Guide<\/h3>\nFor further reference, read my<a href=\"http:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/resources\/coach-selection-guide\/\"> Executive Coach Selection Guide<\/a>.\u00a0 It includes lists of questions to ask yourself and questions for your prospective coach.\n<h3>Related<\/h3>\n<ul>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/coaching-certification\/\">My WHY for Coaching Certification<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li><a title=\"Clarifying Coaching Confidentiality\" href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/clarifying-coaching-confidentiality\/\">Clarifying Coaching Confidentiality<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does it really make sense to buy a personalized professional service the same way you buy copy paper?  It&#8217;s surprising how many don&#8217;t understand that an Executive Coaching engagement is NOT a transaction.  It is a relationship.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[124,170,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-decision-making","category-executive-coaching","category-leadership-development"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dating-mso-FI.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-18d","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}