In The News

Published November 2006

Survey: Although Popular, Definition of Leadership Coaching Eludes Managers

MediaTec Publishing

Leadership development tops the list of training manager, coaching managers and executives say they prefer, according to a survey by CO2 Partners, an executive coaching and leadership development firm based in Minnesota.

Actually defining leadership development, however, isn’t quite as popular. Gary Cohen, CO2 Partners president, said many people do not fully understand what leadership development coaching is or what it entails.

“Leadership is a captivating objective for most executives and managers,” he said. “So individuals feel obligated to choose leadership development, even if they have no clear sense of what it’s all about. Despite this lack of awareness, leadership ranks first on any survey of coaching needs.”

Cohen said, though, that leadership coaching is not well-defined and that it makes sense many people do not fully comprehend exactly what it is.

“This is the most ill-defined segment of coaching, or training, for that matter,” he said. “To some degree, leadership is a component of any type of executive-coaching intervention.”

Cohen also said there is not an industrywide consensus in regard to leadership coaching’s definition.

“On the other hand, there are so many different approaches and so little agreement on the core elements of leadership coaching,” he said.

People often think a good jumping-off point for leadership coaching is to think of a leader who inspired them, someone whose leadership style they would want to emulate.

This is not necessarily the case, however — Cohen said people who want to be good leaders must be honest with themselves in regard to their strengths and weaknesses, and they shouldn’t strive to be someone they are not.
“People usually start out wanting to be like a leader they already know and can identify with, when the focus really needs to be on how to be authentically you as a leader,” he said. “An honest assessment must be done, and then a custom plan can be formed.”

Further, although managers and senior executives often think they need to hone their leadership skills, Cohen said they sometimes would be better off focusing on a different area in regard to the type of coaching that would most benefit them or another skill set to which they should devote more time.

“Sometimes a top executive will spend months seeking to improve his or her leadership skills, when they ought really to be improving job performance,” he said. “The desired coaching can be introspective, as well as highly focused on business issues and problem solving.”

Additionally, Cohen said a good, effective coach should not be afraid to ask tough questions in order to get to the root of what needs to be addressed.

“A coach with perspective, if asked to provide leadership development, should also be willing to ask some clarifying questions to make sure he or she doesn’t miss the trees in the forest,” Cohen said.

In regard to the actual survey, respondents were asked: “If you were to receive coaching at work, what focus would be of the greatest benefits to you? (Please select all that apply.)”

The results of the survey of 3,447 individuals, about 90 percent of whom are middle- to senior-level managers, are as follows:

Leadership development: 59.8 percent
Communication skills: 47.8 percent
Organizational and political savvy: 31.5 percent
Job performance: 28.3 percent
Business acumen: 27.2 percent
Career planning: 26.1 percent
Live/balance: 21.7 percent
Health/fitness: 6.5 percent

blog comments powered by Disqus

Executive Search

ESI International Director, eContent Strategy
01/14/2010
The Director, eContent Strategy is responsible for providing ESI�s executive team with strategic-level direction to implement alternative blended learning delivery formats to our worldwide client base.

Senior Manager, Global Learning & Talent Development
11/19/2009
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT) is an organization of member firms devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice. We are focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 150 countries.

Director, Leadership & Organizational Development Parkland Health & Hospital System
10/26/2009
Parkland Health & Hospital System (www.parklandhospital.com) located in Dallas, Texas has been voted one of "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report for 16 consecutive years and recently named one of the "Top 100 Hospitals to Work For" by Nursing Professionals Magazine.