Executive and leadership coaching is needed in business and modern society more than ever before. As companies grow and compete in the world market, leadership must facilitate the change necessary to maintain the competitiveness of organizations and optimize the performance, growth and fulfillment of the individual members of those organizations.

The purpose of Executive Coaching is to create sustained change in the Executive's skills, behavior and performance so that both the Executive and their organization get ultimate benefit. As such, executive coaching facilitates the changes necessary in our modern business world. Change is no longer an option but an imperative to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. Leadership coaching facilitates the change process through the recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of both individuals and organizations, and assisting in identifying additional opportunities for growth. It assists in relationship development and problem solving to optimize the fulfillment of personal and organizational objectives.

The following are only a few benefits you can gain when using executive coaching:

• Think of coaching as a proven support system for your personal and business success.
• Coaching will help you rapidly accelerate your development and achieve your goals
• Coaching is a support structure for problem solving.
• Coaching is for people who are seriously committed to investing the time, energy, and financial resources to better themselves, develop their people and build their company.
• Coaching is an insurance policy against mediocrity.
• A coach will help you dream bigger dreams and live a "bigger" life.
• A coach provides you with an objective sounding board.

Executive coaches work with professionals to set and meet goals, which to  improve the individual's performance as well as improving the performance of the company as a whole. Business coaches will first assess an organization's or an individual's needs and develop a game plan tailored to produce specific results.

The results you'll enjoy from executive coaching can greatly enhance your present career as well as prepare you for an entirely new one. Working one-on-one with a seasoned expert can motivate you to be the best you can be while enhancing skills you probably already possess. In addition, you'll be able to address problem areas while working toward a strategic solution that in the end will be mutually beneficial to you and your company.

Coach training can target several problem areas and turn your present weaknesses into strengths you'll retain for the rest of your life. If leadership isn't your strong suit, by working one-on-one with an expert and participating in follow-up exercises, you'll find yourself leading your team with enthusiasm.

Executive coaching should assist the developing leader and ultimately the organization in optimizing its human potential. The following are some objectives that executive coaching assist with: 

• Increase productivity
• Expand creativity
• Raise standards and morale
• Manage products and projects more effectively
• Achieved competitive targets
• Communicate effectively to staff and customers
• Build, manage and motivate teams of employees
• Enhance loyalty and commitment
• Encourage initiative

What motivates employers to commission executive coaching? What is it they hope to gain? There are many answers to the above, but the main motives for organizations in introducing executive coaching are:

• to support the induction or appointment of a senior person into a more senior, or different role
• to accelerate the personal development of individuals defined as 'high potential.'
• to underpin the effective implementation of organization change, through supporting teams and individuals
• as a critical friend or independent sounding board to senior individuals
• to support senior individuals engaged in wider personal effectiveness programs, such as 360-degree appraisal or development centers.

Executive and business coaching can help you to succeed in your current position and prepare for your next position through:

• Identifying blind spots
• Building on strengths and find strategies to compensate for weaker areas
• Improving relationships with bosses, co-workers, and subordinates and strengthen teams
• Dealing with self-doubts, feeling like a failure or impostor despite apparent success
• Finding the right balance between work and personal life

Coaching can be particularly powerful when:

• The client is new to a leadership position
• The client is leading a complex change program
• The client wants to re-evaluate leadership style
• The client is under pressure and feels stressed

Coaching is organized around the client's agenda so that the coaching is action orientated, highly relevant and practical with measurable impacts.

In general and within the overall coaching process, six main phases has been identified. These were:

• entry and contracting with the individual
• identifying the issues to be addressed
• reaching a shared analysis
• planning to address development needs arising
• action taking, practice and reflection