Knowing why you are not meeting your personal or company goals can make the difference. A coach/advisor can help.
When I was running companies, there were always projects I just never got to, personal goals I just never met or an area I just needed to improve on and didn’t. There was always a fire to put out or someone on my team needing my attention. I find this is common for many C-level leaders or their reports. These are all good reasons to find a coach to keep your focus on what you really want to achieve.
When I coach I first spend time making sure we identify the reasons you are not reaching your goal. First is there not enough Time in your schedule to get things done. Secondly, is there a good match of Skills needed to achieve your goal. Lastly, are you totally Committed to working with a coach.
- Can you not find the Time?
Maybe there is not enough time in your schedule to get it done. A review of what you are spending your time on can identify tasks that can be pushed to someone else or may not even need to done at all. Some tasks could be streamlined to free up valuable time.
An area I have found easy to absorb my time was doing things that others on my management team should be doing. A good review of what you spend your time on can identify some of these items. A colleague of mine will go into a CEO’s office and go through his in box and see what should have never made it there. You would be surprised how much time can be freed up.
- Is there a Skills Gap?
Many times, I would get stalled because it was a new area for me and I just didn’t know exactly how to get started. As senior managers, we feel we should know how to do everything. This is so far from the truth, what we need is to understand our strengths and get help to fill in any areas we may be weaker in. I could have used someone to bounce the project off and fill in the skills gap I had. This is the best way to grow in our position and become much more effective.
- Are you Committed?
Coaching is a team effort and needs both you and the coach to be committed to the process and making it a priority. It is a totally interactive process. Working through issues seeing what works and what doesn’t. No one has all the answers but working together we can find them and be successful.
One of the reason I love to Coach an executive is remembering how I could have used the extra time I wasted and having access to the additional skills needed to get a project done. Having someone with only my interest in mind.
What stops you from using a coach? Let me know in the comment section.
John Toomey
Executive Coaching | Interim Management | Fractional Management | Board Leadership
Reach out today to add me as your one on one advisor to enhance your personal performance and that of your company. I can also fill that vacant position until it can be filled or join the team on a part-time basis to bring my set of skills and experience to your team. Energize your board by adding me as outside board member that has only your company’s interests in mind.
