At some point in your career, you may be in need of an executive coach. High-level coaching can provide a great opportunity for personal and professional development, but it might not be familiar to you. Here are a few things to know about executive coaching.

What Executive Coaching Is

An executive coach is a qualified professional who works with individuals (usually executives and high potential employees) to help them gain self-awareness, clarify goals, and achieve their development objectives while acting as a sounding board.

With a focus on strategic guidance and organizational performance, Executive Coaching aims at inspiring leaders to make behavioral changes that transform themselves and the people around them, resulting in increased business results and performance.

Executive coaches do the following:

  • Ask questions to help executives clarify and solve their own challenges
  • Provide strategic guidance
  • Administer and interpret behavior assessments
  • Help clarify goals and objectives
  • Reinforce accountability with the implementation and execution of strategic initiatives
  • Provide a confidential and supportive sounding board

Who Hires Executive Coaches

CEOs, Presidents, and business owners of small to medium-sized companies hire executive coaches as a way to invest in themselves and their strategic initiatives in the absence of a formal board of directors or internal C-level executive team.

Also, companies of all sizes hire executive coaches for employees that are newly promoted, executives, high potentials, or in leadership positions.

What the Typical Coaching Process Looks Like

While there are many variations to this relationship, executive coaching usually involves a series of phases, starting with initial consultation, intake, assessment, goal setting, and development planning. The process then transitions to periodic, recurring meetings to track and measure the progress of the client, while allowing the executive coach to sometimes just listen, be a sounding board, ask questions and provide advice and guidance along the way.

TESTIMONIALS

“We engaged Kevin at Keylan to help with strategic planning and leadership development and he quickly made a measurable impact on our business. He works with us on strategic planning, but more importantly, he helps us execute our plan by holding our leadership team and me accountable for deliverables on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. As a result, we accomplish more in a month or quarter than we have in years. As part of this process, he coaches our leadership team and hourly employees on communication and problem solving, which has improved our culture and the productivity of our workforce. The return on investment we get from Kevin and Keylan makes them an invaluable asset to our business.”

Scott Peckham, President
Stainless Specialties Inc.


“Kevin currently serves our organization as a leadership development coach for both our VP of sales and VP of client services, both long-time professionals, and has also led both of our leaders through transformation of their departments.  He has introduced big-business concepts and processes to our mid-market company and has forever changed the way our sales and client services departments operate as well as our entire company. Kevin has become part of the team; his counsel is invaluable, and he is about as genuine a human you will ever meet. It is a Blessing that we crossed paths. “

Greg Dubecky, President
 Corporate Screening Services, Inc.


“Kevin has been a great resource and coach in supporting my professional development as a new business owner. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in sales and demonstrates a true passion for developing others so they can achieve measurable results. Kevin is also extremely personable and puts people at ease, gaining trust right away. I’d recommend him to anyone that is looking to develop their business development capabilities further.”

Kathy Sullivan, Principal & Owner
Talent Principles


“Simply put Kevin Hudson will make you a better business owner, manager and person. Utilizing Keylan was the best business and personal decision we ever made.”

Andy Bernatovicz, Owner
ASI Signage


“Keylan helped me hone and establish leadership skills and has had a huge impact on the way I lead and manage people. Keylan’s approach was part empathy, part toughness… but was able to break down my own barriers so we could create a true partnership.”

“Keylan has a unique ability to adapt to what each professional needs (or doesn’t need) in terms of management and training. Keylan has done a tremendous amount for my career.”

Nick Korzeniowski, HCM Business Consultant
CBIZ