Executive coaching can help you achieve higher performance and greater personal satisfaction at work. While you may be aware that you need to make changes — in behavior, mindset, or both — to advance your career, you won’t reap the benefits of coaching unless you’re prepared to fully engage in the process. This requires a substantial investment of time and effort, so before you move forward, the most important question you should ask yourself is, “Am I ready to be coached?”
Are You Ready to Be Coached?
Before you decide to work with an executive coach, assess your readiness to ensure you’ll actually benefit and grow from the experience. Take a look at yourself in the context of seven characteristics of successful coachees. Are you willing to hold yourself accountable for making progress? Are you open to new behaviors and ways of thinking? Are you ready to exercise the discipline necessary to stick to your coaching goals? Expect that the experience will cause you both excitement and some anxiety, and be ready to have an honest conversation with your coach about which characteristics are challenging for you. You may find that you’re not yet ready to get the most out of executive coaching, or you may gain insight into what it will take for you to meaningfully develop as a leader.