Making the Most of Your Coaching Experience: Insights for Leaders in Transition

Investing your time, energy, or financial resources into an external coach is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. It's natural to have questions or doubts. That's why I wanted to share some valuable insights on this important decision. But before we dive into that, there are three thoughts I'd like to share with you:

• Firstly, it's crucial to recognize that you control what success looks like in your coaching engagement. While most coaches will assist you in setting goals, it's important to remember that the initial coaching plan is flexible and will evolve as you have conversations. So don't hesitate to adapt and refine your plan as you progress.  This also means no two coaching engagements will look the same.
• Secondly, if you feel your coach isn't meeting your needs, it's essential to communicate that explicitly. Your coach is there to support you, and they need to understand your expectations. Clear and open communication ensures your coaching experience is fulfilling and aligned with your goals.
• Lastly, it's essential to understand that coaches are NOT here to solve your problems. Instead, they provide guidance and support to help you take action and overcome challenges on your own. While some coaches may offer more direct feedback if you give them permission, their ultimate role is to empower you to find your own solutions.

Here are some resources that might support you on your coaching journey:

Tired of Wasting Money on Building Your Team's Capacity? Coaching May Not Be the Answer

As a leader, deciding where to invest in your team's growth is crucial. In this podcast episode, Akua discusses how to choose between training, workshops, and courses for your employees. Learn the key differences and get insights on making the right investment decision. 

Required Listening: Are you Coachable?

Before scheduling a coaching session, listen to this podcast on learning, being open-minded, and embracing different perspectives. Explore how to be coachable, the impact of mindset, and active listening. Reflect on what it takes to be open to coaching.

What is Coaching? Introduction To Coaching

Get support in your personal and professional life with coaching. It's not therapy, mentoring, or consulting. A Certified Professional Coach helps you achieve goals through challenging conversations. Learn more in the audio clip in this post.

What is Executive Coaching?

Unlock your potential. Define goals, remove obstacles, take action, and stay accountable. Coaching isn't therapy or mentoring but tailored support for personal/professional growth. Ideal for leaders to enhance soft skills, productivity, ROI, and more. Coaching suits diverse challenges: team dynamics, change management, strategic planning, self-awareness, relationships, efficiency, career, and more. Elevate your game with a different perspective and an advocate by your side.

What does a coaching session involve? A Basic Coaching Session Outline

In this short audio clip, I break down a typical coaching session that includes goal setting, self-assessment, awareness, action steps, timeline, and accountability. 

5 Misconceptions about Leadership Coaching

Don't be misled by misconceptions: coaching isn't just talk; it's about actionable results. It's not only for new or struggling leaders; it's for continuous growth. It's not therapy; it's future-focused. Books and videos aren't a substitute; coaching provides tailored support. You can improve and evolve as a leader with a growth mindset. Working with a coach is a great way to elevate your business.

I'm Getting Results; Why Do I Need Coaching?

In this #AskAkua episode of the Open Door Conversations Podcast, leadership coach Akua Nyame-Mensah discusses the value of executive coaching for leaders. She emphasizes that even successful leaders can benefit from coaching, highlights the importance of willing participants, and explores different coaching approaches. Learn how coaching can improve leadership, communicate its benefits to stakeholders, and gain insights into leadership styles. External coaching offers a fresh perspective, and it's essential to share coaching insights with your team.

Listen to This if You are Thinking About Investing in a Professional Coach

Everyone deserves a great coach, and anyone can benefit from coaching tools and techniques (almost immediately), but that does not mean everyone will necessarily benefit from a coach.

You can find more resources within the What is Coaching category on the blog.

I hope these thoughts and resources provide you with a deeper understanding of the coaching process and the role of a coach.

More about my coaching approach can be found here.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to support you every step of the way.