By: Gary Cohen
“All problems are interpersonal relationship problems.” – Alfred Adler
Ever wonder why great CEOs like Steve Jobs, Jack Welch, Eric Schmidt, and Bill Gates hire executive coaches? It’s not necessarily because their boards recommended or required it. The idea of the CEO being coached does not often come at the suggestion of another. In fact, 78.7 percent of the time the idea came from the CEO, according to an executive coaching survey by Stanford University and The Miles Group.
But why hire an executive coach? Why do leaders, especially those of icon status, seek out coaching? The reason is linked to what Alfred Adler perfectly shared decades ago, “All problems are interpersonal relationship problems.”
Why leading CEOs hire executive coaches
Looking at the same Stanford University study, nearly all of the top motivations for CEOs to get coaching stem from interpersonal relationships. These are presented in rank order of importance:
- Conflict management
- Listening
- Sharing leadership and delegation
- Planning
- Mentoring and developing talent
- Communications
- Team building
- Decision making
- Compassion and empathy
- Persuasion
- Interpersonal communication
- Motivational techniques
Imagine a world in which no one else existed but you. You wouldn’t have any miscommunications, axes to grind with coworkers or organizational logjams based upon disagreements. It makes sense that adding more people to the equation adds struggles and stresses related to the list above.
Leadership training improves your ability to quickly manage problems before they get worse
If you need evidence that executive coaching works, look at today’s leaders and leading organizations. Today’s organizational leaders simply can’t escape problems caused by the interrelationship of humans. This is because the power and volume of human interactions and conflicts they face is often staggering.
Few leaders are taught to handle the complexities of these problems. Executive coaching incorporates training in all of the essential areas of study below to help you maintain an efficient and dedicated workforce:
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Interpersonal communications
- Conflict management
- Small group dynamics
- Team theory
- Facilitation training
That’s the “why.”
Unbiased training and support makes the biggest difference
That’s why CEOs seek coaching, despite all their advanced skills and pedigrees. Executive coaches can help CEOs learn to interpret specific team behaviors that lead to increased stress, lower performance, and frustration. Executive coaches can provide an unbiased viewpoint to bounce ideas and opinions off of and can be fully honest with you, without the added pressure of being the boss. They are given the seat beside the leader to speak the truth and focus solely on making positive change in interpersonal communication.
Don’t believe us? There’s no better way to find evidence that executive coaching works to improve your business until you try it for yourself!
Finding a leadership coach that helps you make a greater impact
If you are a CEO or in succession to become one, what are you doing to address all the problems rooted in interpersonal relationships? How might coaching help you?
A word to the wise: It’s better to seek coaching before it’s recommended or required of you.
Contact our leadership coaches today for a risk-free consultation and see how this move could be your best one yet!
