Mastering Business Leadership: How Does an Executive Coaching Help?

In times of great uncertainty, leadership is the most valuable skill you can have. Yet, the definition of leadership is often misunderstood. Leadership is not something you’re born with. Leadership is a skill that’s developed over time. It’s honed. It’s sharpened. Tony Robbins will be the first to say that just because you’re in a position of power, doesn’t mean you’re a true leader. The spirit of great leadership is the ability to influence others to do more than they ever would have done on their own. It’s to see a person not as they are, but as they could be. The reality is that the world needs your leadership – leadership that empowers others to navigate this ever-changing nature of the world.

In business, executive coaching can be a transformative tool in honing your leadership skills, but it’s crucial to remember that becoming a great executive leader – or any leader for that matter – is a personal decision that only you can make. It’s certainly possible to master the skills on your own, but an executive coach makes the journey easier, more efficient, and more fun. 

The truth is, everyone benefits from having a coach to fuel growth in life. Those operating at the highest level (champion athletes, the top financial minds of today) all have coaches. It’s no different for entrepreneurs or executive leaders growing their business. When an executive coach joins your leadership journey, there’s no need to travel alone on the path of becoming an extraordinary leader. A coach keeps you on course as you navigate the path of becoming an outstanding entrepreneur or leader of your organization.

THE 7-STEP PATH OF MASTERING EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Those who successfully master leadership skills in their business, company or organization follow similar patterns. If you hit a plateau in your growth, try to determine which of these steps you’re stuck in. Think of these steps as a map for constant and never-ending improvement of your leadership skills – not just a one-time achievement.

STEP 1: WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT? ACTIVATE & AWAKEN YOUR HUNGER

The fact that you’re here shows you already activated a certain level of hunger. When you have hunger, you aim to do more, serve more, grow more, learn more, and be more.

In your company, business, or organization, this means knowing WHAT you want by having a clear vision and more importantly WHY you want it. Reasons come first, answers come second – and with strong enough reasons, your hunger will awaken.

When developing your vision, remember the greatest leaders all have a compelling VISION that serves something greater than themselves. It captures the hearts, minds, and energies of others and unites them. And often what drives the leader is the meaningful PURPOSE behind that vision – they know the WHY behind it.

Step 2: FIND AND FACE THE TRUTH

In this step, you get CLEAR and HONEST about where you really are in your business or organization. And what business are you really in? The latter requires knowing the true value that your customers get. For instance, Starbucks doesn’t just sell coffee – their real business is creating a warm, welcoming experience for people to gather.

Facing the truth requires getting out of your head and seeking a different perspective (like from a coach) to see the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Get clear on what’s gotten in the way in the past. Is it fear? A belief or set of beliefs? Emotion? Habit? Are you missing a skill or perhaps a map for your business?

The chokehold on any business is the psychology of its leader: 80% of success in business is psychology whereas 20% is mechanics.

Step 3: RESOLVE & CREATE A STRATEGIC BUSINESS M.A.P. (MASSIVE ACTION PLAN)

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, a business plan is not enough. You’ll need an effective business M.A.P. – a massive action plan – that charts out several pathways to success. This M.A.P. helps you take action, while also providing the flexibility to pivot when an approach doesn’t work.

STEP 4: DO WHAT’S HARD AND SLAY YOUR DRAGONS

Whether it’s taking massive action or getting the necessary skills, changing what needs to be changed makes all the difference. As an executive leader, this could mean ending ineffective positions or processes, mastering new skills of influence like public speaking, or discontinuing a product that you love but customers don’t. When you slay your dragons, you take massive action and may need to do things that don’t feel good but are good for your organization.

STEP 5: DEVELOP A DAILY PRACTICE

Rituals make it real. For lasting change, your company needs daily (or at least recurring) practices that condition the change in both your company’s culture and the psychology of its leaders. 

This can be especially powerful in optimizing your organization’s current systems. For instance, making a system more cost-effective and time-efficient is great. But if it’s not a daily or recurring practice, you can miss out on the power of compounded growth. For example, a budgeting ritual that reallocates costs once a year might save $5,000 for that year, whereas doing it more often might compound to an average annual savings of $50,000.

STEP 6: RAISE YOUR STANDARDS AND MEASURE MORE OFTEN

Everything in business, and life for that matter, is either growing or dying. The more often you measure, the less risk of missing a critical element – whether that’s a hidden chance for growth or a looming problem. It’s the same for raising company standards: you get what you tolerate.

STEP 7: CELEBRATE, APPRECIATE, AND GIVE BACK

Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. You can achieve it all, but if you can’t feel grateful for your success, you won’t be happy. Failure to craft a fulfilling life happens when we lose sight of achievement’s true purpose: to grow and give. When we grow, we have more to give. And when we give something of real value – insight, love, joy, whatever it is – we feel alive. The journey becomes something greater than yourself, because your ability to create an extraordinary life extends to others, such as your customers, partners, or employees. After all, the secret to living is giving.

HOW AN EXECUTIVE COACH ADDS VALUE TO YOUR PATH OF LEADERSHIP MASTERY

Working with a coach is a personalized approach and how you decide to work with one is ultimately your choice. In general, an executive coach will efficiently guide you back onto the path of executive leadership mastery whenever you stray off course – often by providing an outside perspective and accountability.

THE VALUE OF AN EXECUTIVE COACH’S PERSPECTIVE

A business coach isn’t necessarily more skilled than you, but they can offer insights you can’t see because they have an external view. This outside perspective can add value in several ways. 

For instance, after learning more about you, their perspective can awaken resources, skills, and capabilities within you that you might’ve forgotten about. Plus, their perspective acts like a mirror, helping you flag blind spots, face the truth, and see things clearly – especially helpful when you get so skilled in one area that you get lost in the weeds and lose sight of your bigger vision. Remember, clarity is power.

KEEPING YOU ACCOUNTABLE

Keeping you accountable is a vital benefit of an executive coach. By regularly checking in on your results, they can help you measure progress more often and more accurately. This continuous monitoring is a gamechanger when it comes to growing your business.

Imagine the coaching process as a system that consistently reconnects you to your ultimate vision. They serve as a reminder of the bigger picture, especially when you lose clarity or focus on that initial exciting vision. A coach reignites that passion and drive, ensuring your vision stays clear and attainable.

EMBRACE YOUR PATH TO LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE

If you made it this far, it’s a clear indication of your resolve to become an extraordinary leader in your business. Venturing into executive coaching is a bold move that showcases your commitment to not just lead, but to excel and inspire. 

Remember, while a coach offers insights and guidance on your journey, the true momentum comes from you. You understand your vision, your company, and your passion for greatness better than anyone else. The fact is you already set this momentum into motion. 

We encourage you to keep this momentum alive and embrace this fulfilling journey of mastering executive leadership. Why? Because there’s a deeply gratifying sense of fulfillment when you know in your heart that YOU were the one who took action to transform your vision into reality.