Working with Board Members and Directors

Working with Board Members and Directors 

With organizations competing to recruit the very best, we have seen Executive Coaching grow in popularity and is now regularly included as part of the total reward package on offer when Board members and Directors are recruited.

However, Executive Coaching has also grown in popularity within organizations looking to develop current potential or identify future leaders. This really helps them create an environment where talent gets an opportunity to flourish. So, in this blog we look at how Executive Coaching works, what the benefits are and your role as an Executive Coach.

Executives have multiple and complex roles

We know it can sometimes feel lonely at the top and difficult to work through management problems if an Executive doesn’t have somebody they can confide in. Even when well connected through different professional networks or talking to peers, Board Members and Directors they may not always get the answers they need or want.

So hiring an Executive Coach to work with an individual Executive, the Board Members or the entire senior team, can really help give them valuable insight and a safe space to test and model new ideas or different ways of working.

Benefits to the individual and the organization

• Give valuable insight on how Executives are seen by others
• Bring clarity on personal goals
• Explore emotional intelligence and softer skills
• Identify personal development opportunities
• Address management or performance issues
• Understand stress and how to manage it
• Learn to respond differently when faced with challenges
• Provide a safe place to test and model new ideas or different ways of working

From the initial meeting through to the point where you both agree all objectives have been achieved (or coaching support is no longer needed) will normally take 8 – 12 months if you are meeting once a month. However, additional ad-hoc discussions can also take place. And some follow-up ‘check-in’ sessions should be offered to ensure they feel fully supported through the process.

Confidentiality is key in this type of relationship

Executive Coaching will normally highlight how others see the Executive, Board Members or Directors so confidentiality is key to building trust.

A typical approach could be to:

• Have an initial meeting to build trust with the Coach, get to know each other and discuss the key objectives
• Follow up with a session to assess the current situation and set some goals for future achievements
• Introduce challenges as sessions progress to test any new approach that has been discussed and prepare them for team meetings or giving presentations

Whatever the approach and methodology chosen, coaching is based on a holistic vision that takes into account the interests and challenges of the individual, the team and the organization. It is therefore important to quickly create an environment of trust and collaboration so you can help identify and overcome any obstacles that hinders their progress or success.