CEOs are responsible for leading the organization and playing the role of Chief Storyteller as they drive long-term strategy. They work closely with the organization's executive team, serving as the conduit between the organization's daily operations and its board of directors. CEOs are responsible for modeling the organization's values and representing the organization's culture. With so much responsibility truly resting on one individual, the CEO role can be lonely. Executive coaching offers CEOs a sounding board, an accountability partner, and a source of continuous feedback.
1. Executive coaches offer CEOs an unbiased sounding board.
CEOs are surrounded by colleagues and Board members who have guidance and opinions. While much of this advice is well-intentioned, it is rarely from someone who is truly not invested in the outcome of the CEO's decision. An executive coach is an unbiased third party who can provide space for open and honest conversation. A coach serves as a thought partner, allowing the CEO to test ideas, practice delivering various messages, etc. After working through ideas with a coach, the CEO can confidently move forward with bringing those ideas to the Board, senior leaders, and broader audiences.
2. Executive coaches serve as accountability partners to busy CEOs.
CEOs are busy people. They have a lot on their plates and make many commitments. It is not uncommon for CEOs to let personal and professional goals slide to meet critical deadlines and achieve expected results. Executive coaches work with CEOs to identify top priorities, both for the organization and for the coach personally, and hold the CEO accountable to aligning their actions with those priorities. An executive coach supports the CEO by consistently reinforcing the priorities, prompting the CEO to pause and reflect on how well they are working towards them.
3. Executive coaches share observations and valuable feedback with CEOs.
Executive coaches serve as a mirror to their clients, reflecting back what they see and hear. While employees may hold back from giving direct, honest feedback to the CEO, the executive coach does not report to the CEO and is hired to serve as a partner in this capacity. Executive coaches can also interview key stakeholders on the CEO's behalf to gather anonymous feedback that supports the leader's growth and development.
Investing in coaching is a powerful way for CEOs to enhance their self-awareness with the support of a partner. The Nebo Company has decades of experience working with CEOs and other senior executives to identify the right coach. If you would like to identify a sounding board and accountability partner, contact us today to schedule a conversation.
For more information, you can also read our recent blog, A CEO’s Guide to Finding the Right Leadership Coach.
Photo by Tim Wilson on Unsplash.