Executive Coaching

" found the coaching immensely helpful and benefited from having regular meetings with an external experienced colleague to discuss aspects of leadership confidentially"

If you are looking for someone to provide quality one-to-one Executive Coaching then we have the right person.

The Leadership Foundation has seen an increase in demand for our Executive Coaching. A growing number of senior leaders, both academic and professional, have found this service beneficial to support them with the challenges they face during this period of great uncertainty and significant change Higher Education.

Through our Executive Coaching Service we have built up a wealth of expertise to support a range of senior level leaders from Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors and Deans to Secretaries and Registrars. Our coaches have worked with senior leaders across the sector as they lead their institutions through significant change.

We have brought together many of the country’s most experienced coaches into a community of practice so that they can share their expertise for the benefit of Higher Education. Our coaches are a very diverse group with many different styles, approaches and areas of coaching expertise. All have coached at the most senior levels and many have coached at senior levels in the higher education sector. Many have experience of coaching in other areas of the public services, but also with private sector and voluntary organisations.

What to know more? Here we answer some frequently asked questions:

What services are you able to provide?
What are typical issues?
How will the Executive Coaching work?
What are the benefits of Executive Coaching?
Can I try out Executive Coaching before I commit?

How do I engage a Leadership Foundation Executive Coach?

If you would like more information about the Leadership Executive Coaching Service please contact Tom Irvine, Director of Consultancy, T: 020 7849 6915 or Sweta Purohit, Consultancy Business Manager, T: 020 7849 6914 for an informal discussion.

More information is available in the Leadership Coaching Service brochure.

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What services are you able to provide?

Examples of some of the services the Leadership Foundation are able to provide to Senior Leaders include:

Private and confidential support to work through difficult challenges in their role
Feedback about Leadership style and impact
An opportunity to think through your plans for the future of the institution (or your part of it)
Opportunity to reflect on your leadership style
Providing a safe space for senior leaders to be reflective and bounce ideas
Support senior leaders in their performance management of others
Supporting senior leaders in their engagement with governing bodies.

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What are typical issues?

We have the expertise to provide Executive Coaching on a range of issues such as:

Dealing with Change Management
Transition coaching
Working with Deans – strategic leaders versus operational issues
Managing change – influencing others and personal effectiveness
Performance Management
Improving leadership Skills
Morale building and leadership direction for Vice-Chancellors
Using a coach as a thinking partner at time of anxiety. Maintaining organisational confidence to cope with making changes and managing uncertainty.
Managing up and governance issues
Confidence Building
How to manage difficult people and deal with conflict

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How will the Executive Coaching work?

Your coach will work with you to establish your personal objectives, help you to understand the impact of your leadership behaviour and help you develop your strengths as leaders.

The objective for the coaching sessions will be to identify actions you can take, as a leader, to align with the University’s leadership behaviours and to deliver the strategic objectives.

Coaching needs to be both supportive and challenging as you explore both the difficulties and opportunities that accompany your role. Key to this is the confidential nature of the coaching relationship. Reflective yet rigorous conversations are critical: what are your intentions; how do these align with your values and the organisation’s culture; what can support or impede your progress; and how will you move forward? The focus will be on coaching you in your role to increase awareness and choice, to enable you to fulfil your potential and to make a contribution to the University.

Our executive coaching service would typically follow a pattern:

It begins with a matching process where your needs are explored and a suitable match is (or matches are) identified that would meet those needs
One or more coaches’ CVs are then sent to the you to consider
An initial ‘chemistry’ meeting or telephone conversation will take place before the coaching commences – and if the ‘chemistry’ doesn’t seem to work out then further chemistry sessions will take place with other coaches until a good match is achieved
The coaching would typically involve 6 coaching sessions each lasting between 1½ and 2 hours. The six coaching sessions would typically take place over a 6- to 9-month period

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What are the benefits of Executive Coaching?

Executive Coaching can be a powerful tool for learning and personal change. You may be:

A successful leader who wants to stretch your ability and effectiveness
Facing increased complexity in your role – perhaps through a promotion – and you would benefit from support from a coach to help you deal with this
Facing increased organisational expectations and think you need objective help in dealing with this
Expected to change your behaviour in some way – which can be challenging to many people
Just about to embark on a major organisation change and feel that you need help in thinking and working this through

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Can I try out Executive Coaching before I commit?

Try an Executive Coaching Power Hour - book an initial Executive Coaching session before committing to a series!

As an added dimension to our service we are able to offer Power Hour Executive Coaching sessions to provide you with the opportunity to experience the benefits, value and power of coaching before committing to a set number of sessions. The themes explored will be dependent on the issues the individual may want to explore and could range from those mentioned above, to name a few (bearing in mind these would be initial introductory conversations with the option to pursue this further with future coaching sessions).

ContactrSweta Purohit, Consultancy Business Manager, T: 020 7849 6914 to book your Power Hour.

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