What do Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt, and Roger Enrico have in common? Aside from heading some of the biggest companies in the world (Apple, Google, and Pepsi), they all sought CEO coaching in the pursuit of excellence. They understand the value of staying open to new ideas even when you reach the top. If you wish to achieve business marketing success, consider getting a highly respected coach in your industry.
A Great Deal of Progress, a Long Way to Go
Coaching for business leaders started to take off in the late 1980s. They kept it a secret to avoid a perception of weakness. Today, many CEOs routinely tout the value of coaching, such as learning about valuable marketing strategies. These may include using promotional products, like those offered by Promotions Warehouse. Yet surveys show that only a third of current CEOs are receiving guidance, suggesting that full recognition still has a long way to go.
What CEOs Gain from Business Coaching
Business leaders are busy. It is easy to understand why they want to focus on core tasks instead of sitting through coaching sessions. However, the evidence points to an abundance of benefits. If you are still on the fence about coaching, read the list below to learn more about what you might gain.
1. An Outsider’s Perspective
Employees are careful when talking to their bosses. Even if they have criticisms, they tend to soften their words to avoid offense and protect their positions in the company. They might even heap praise on higher-ranking executives to climb the corporate ladder. While this might be great for the ego of the CEOs, it does not help them get better. Coaches offer an outsider’s perspective. They can help identify blind spots and provide constructive criticism.
2. A Higher Level of Self-awareness
Coaches ask probing questions. The answers can light a path between where you are now and where you want to be at different periods. You can pinpoint the roadblocks and find ways to remove them. You can increase awareness of your strengths and weaknesses. Figure out how to leverage the former and address the latter. Self-awareness is key to growth.
3. A Greater Capacity for Empathy
No matter how talented, a CEO cannot do it all. They must lead the people in the organization. They will be more willing to follow if they see a leader who listens to their concerns and makes an effort to extend help. Through coaching, executives can increase their empathy for others which, in turn, should help them form better policies at work.
4. Increased Emotional Intelligence
Leading a company is stressful. CEOs must achieve goals, report to shareholders, manage the board of directors, and keep employees happy. The best ones know how to handle stress. Despite the immense pressure, they can regulate their emotions and stay calm. They remain logical to prevent internal friction and irrational decisions. If you find this difficult, look for a coach who specializes in the subject.
5. Decisive Leadership
Many problems don’t have a single obvious solution. Instead, there are several competing ideas with their pros and cons. Leaders must weigh all the factors and listen to different points of view. However, they will have to make the final decision and take responsibility for their actions. It may not please everyone, but they must stand by what they think is right. Coaches can help CEOs reduce indecision and improve their ability to convince others.
6. Enhanced Speed of Adaptation
Things can happen quickly in business: a successful product may falter due to disruptive technologies, and markets may close due to geopolitics. CEOs must be flexible enough to adapt to the changing situation. They must let go of ideas that are no longer working and continually push for progress. It is hard for those who grew up with certain traditions, but nothing is impossible with an open mind.
If you are facing business marketing challenges, look for solutions you have not tried before. Ask for help from highly respected individuals such as business coaches. They have a wealth of experience working with executives and entrepreneurs. With their guidance, you can acquire valuable skills and turn things around for your company.
