Questions & Answers

I’m interested in receiving Executive Coaching, but it all seems very subjective. Is there any tangible way to measure the results?

Yes there is. Executive coaching will help you make observable changes in the way you approach situations, the things you say and do, your management style, the tools you use and so on. These improvements are tangible but they are not always easy for an individual to measure.

A few years ago, a study was undertaken by Manchester Inc. to quantify the business impacts of executive coaching, and the findings were impressive. As reported in 2001, executives estimated that the monetary value of the results achieved through coaching was 5.7 times the original investment (ROI).

Among the benefits to the companies that provided coaching to executives were improvements in:

  • Productivity (reported by 53% of executives)
  • Quality (48%)
  • Organizational strength (48%)
  • Customer service (39%)
  • Reducing customer complaints (34%)
  • Retaining executives who received coaching (32%)
  • Cost reductions (23%)
  • Bottom-line profitability (22%)

Among the benefits to the executives who received coaching were improvements in:

  • Working relationships with direct reports (reported by 77% of executives)
  • Working relationships with immediate supervisors (71%)
  • Teamwork (67%)
  • Working relationships with peers (63%)
  • Job satisfaction (61%)
  • Conflict reduction (52%)
  • Organizational commitment (44%)
  • Working relationships with clients (37%)

Executive coaching will bring about qualitative changes and improvements that you can directly see, feel and experience as the person being coached. People you work with will probably also experience something positive although they may not be able to put their finger on exactly what is different. Don’t underestimate the value of these more subjective outcomes as their potential impact on others is great.

I don’t understand how someone from the outside can truly grasp the challenges I’m facing and advise me.

All executives have trouble dealing with certain issues and problems. Because they are so close to the people or situations in question, it is often tough for the executive to step back, take a more detached view, and figure out how best to address the problem. An objective third party can help “unstick” the executive by providing an unbiased assessment of the situation along with proposed solutions for change. Obviously the executive is an essential participant in the process.

This approach is pretty much foolproof if, as the executive, you are willing to hear another opinion, understand that change can produce different (better) results, and let go of the position that someone from the outside could not help bring about the changes that will produce the results you want.

Listen to what some executives have said about working with a Saxon-Hamilton coach, click here.