Many executives hire coaches to help them navigate complex decisions and act as a listening ear during good and bad times. A sounding board who listens and offers input when necessary can be critical for executives who often feel like they’re alone on an island. Running a business is often highly stressful, and working with an executive coach can be a great way to focus on managing yourself to steer your business toward success.

Below are a few essential questions you may ask your executive coach to help get the most out of your executive coaching sessions.

How Does One Best Define Success?

This question brings up a lifelong struggle for virtually everyone. Measuring success is different for everyone and can also be somewhat of a moving target. What constitutes success today may not bring the long-term success that you desire.

Working with an executive coach can help you define what success looks like for you both now and in the future. While some of this will likely revolve around key metrics and data, it could also include other intangible benefits such as improved company culture, work-life balance, and much more.

True success involves more than just making a profit.  It is anchored in your deepest values and includes things like how people are treated and whether they are growing and healthy. True success also includes personal wellbeing, healthy family relationships, and becoming a leader that people want to follow.

How Can I Discover Blind Spots That Hinder My Effectiveness?

One of the reasons to invest in an executive coach is to learn more about yourself.  Only when you know yourself well and lead yourself well can you genuinely lead others well.  Those negative thought patterns, the tone of voice, and how you communicate may seem normal to you but can be offensive to your workforce, vendors, or even clients.

Discovering and dealing with your blind spots with an executive coach is often the missing piece of leadership training. Set your sights on becoming a great person, and you will have a shot at becoming a great leader and a great success.

How Can I Improve My Leadership Skills?

Everyone has their own leadership style, and it’s important to understand yours. An executive coach can observe and determine how you manage others and offer suggestions on how best to optimize your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. Many times this means delegating some of the tasks where you may struggle and doubling down on those areas where you shine. When analyzing your leadership skills, it’s always important to keep an open mind because continuing to do things the way you’ve always done will likely not get you the results you seek.

Learn More About The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

If you’d like to learn more about any of the questions mentioned in this blog, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jeff of Breakthrough CTC today. Jeff can be reached directly at (651) 324-8592.  He would be happy to offer a complimentary consultation to learn more about your business, and you can schedule easily online.