Factors to Consider When Choosing an Executive Coach in Toronto

Most corporate executives benefit from working with an executive coach in Toronto to help sharpen their skills and overcome job difficulties that hinder better performance. Partnering with the right coach is critical if the coaching experience is to be a positive and fruitful one that helps you achieve long-lasting development as a leader.

However, it may be challenging to find the best one as the field of coaching is highly unregulated, there is no formal educational or practical requirement to become a coach, and many people can easily call themselves a coach. How do you find the right person in an industry that is flooded with solo practitioners who can be a mentor or a confidant to you, who will challenge you and push you to tackle inevitable obstacles, act as your sounding board and be your accountability partner in decision-making?

What you should be looking for? How do you make sure the person you choose will be the right fit for you, has the right qualifications and will focus on the things that are important to your leadership development?

Here are some important factors to consider in making a decision:

What challenges are you facing right now that you need coaching in?

Executive coaching is all about your development as a leader, so  think carefully about what your needs are, and pay close attention on the areas you feel that you need support in. You should be able to highlight areas of your work and key areas of your role that you need help with.

Are you struggling to manage new associates? Do you need help with figuring out your new global responsibilities? Do you feel that you are working on things could be delegated to someone else who may be better suited?

A good executive coach will be able to help you identify areas that you are particularly strong at and those that you need help with, and work together with you to maximize your key strengths to attain developmental objectives.

Does the person have enough relevant coaching experience?

Industry experience is vitally important because then the coach would be able to relate with working in your field --  he would be able to grasp the nature of your business and its challenges, understand industry jargon and across-the-board developments that impact your organization. Although years of experience can matter a lot, don’t focus too much on it as there are less experienced coaches who are naturally very good whom you may be able to identify with easily. Instead, choose the person you feel will add the most value to your development as a leader.

What coaching style are you looking for?

Along this line, you have to dig into a potential coach’s approach or philosophy about coaching.

Are you looking for someone whose style matches with principles you uphold? Or do you think someone who is quite your opposite will challenge you better? Do you feel you can work well with someone who agrees with you all the time or would someone more prescriptive who focuses on giving feedback and reviews push you to your fullest capacity? No matter what coaching style you choose, the end goal of the coaching session should be to meet your own developmental objectives and build your capacity as a leader in the organisational structure.

Finding an executive coach in Toronto that is the best fit for you is a very important decision. It’s the number one factor that determines whether the outcome of the coaching experience is a positive one or not. Use these questions to help guide you in choosing the best person who can make the overall experience a rewarding partnership for both of you.