One on One Executive Coaching in My Client's Own Words

How Would You Like to Use Coaching?

Every one on one executive coaching leader has very specific things they'd like to be coached on. It could be personal, professional or organizational, but it will always be unique to them and their situation.

To help you reflect on what you would like to use coaching for, here are some of the things my past clients indicated they wanted to work on.

“Probably the most important thing you and I have worked on is finding a way for me to feel comfortable being me. This past month, I've made great strides. Thank you, Gary. You're the best.” Senior Manager

Leadership and Professional Goals

What follows is an extremely small sampling of reasons leaders and professionals have worked with me. Here’s what they have said, in their own words:

I need someone to coach me and to hold me accountable as I set goals so I can follow through on them and keep them.
Teach me to communicate with the power people and understand what is not being said (read between the lines).
I think I can take this company a lot farther. I need a sounding board.
We desperately need the clarity and momentum you talk about.
Imposter syndrome creeps in, and I feel in over my head.
Help me to put systems in place so I am not always ‘fighting fires.'
It’s a great organization but it’s stuck. The leadership is stuck. The staff is stuck. We’ve got to break out of this.
Be a better manager of my time.
I need help in making a smooth transition of leadership.
I need help to overcome the hurdles of this new position.
I need more confidence with reading individuals and situations in real time.
Help me find that elusive time to take care of myself.
I’ve got to get my vision in front of people but the crisis just keep coming.
I feel conflicted about giving focused attention to my own work versus being available to my team.
Develop some thinking and action tools to get me on track and stay there.
I need a new direction in my business life.
I am moving into uncharted waters for me and the organization. I need a sounding board to spur me on, give me advice and ask me hard questions.
I need someone to help me make the right decisions regarding future choices.
I am in a high pressure, high stakes position that is new. I need help moving forward.
I want to feel more "on top" of things versus the feeling like I am holding on for dear life.

“I'm slowly learning to strike a sustainable balance between activity and rest, and I know it will pay off. Thanks for hanging in there and believing in me.” Director of Operations

Important Life Priorities

My clients bring “real-time” concerns they want to address, the everyday stuff of leadership. They also bring “long-game” priorities they’d like to be living out in daily life.

Long-game concerns don’t generally have a “solution” that can be implemented in one day. It requires longer term intentionality and effort. The leader, the person, is under construction or in renovation. There's a lot of work going on. For a while it's messy, but steadily it emerges as something new and better.

Here are some examples, in my client’s own words.

Being more confident when with others
Being the best spouse, I can be
My objective is to achieve a reasonable balance. I want to do my job well, but with sufficient energy left over for family, faith etc
Dealing with the tough things that seem to keep happening
Personal care has been an issue since I became CEO. It is simply a 24/7 position.
Handling criticism and feedback to get maximum advantage from it
Building better relationships with friends
Personal self-esteem and confidence
Being more intent about living out my faith
Staying focused on home life
Helping my children mature
Setting new standards and protecting my teenagers by clear boundaries
Making big life decisions that really contribute to a life well-lived
I no longer have clarity on why I am doing what I do professionally (besides the occupation,) and it takes a ton of my resources. I really need to redefine a few priorities here.
Dealing positively with stressors in my life
Moving forward after this loss
Planning for life after my formal working career
I seem to need to talk and marinate a lot to get to the heart of an issue.

Let’s be clear. I’m not the definitive expert on all these topics. But I am an executive coach, so I do know how to have a fruitful conversation with you around them. The outcome can be fresh insight and a forward moving plan of action for you.

Sometimes one conversation can change everything. That's the power of one on one executive coaching.

“I’m thankful to have been coached by you back in 2000. Our sessions had a big impact on me and I still remember the lessons learned today.” VP Marketing

Significant Life Goals

I want to learn to be able to risk in relationships and learn how to be close to others.
For a sounding board to help me get some objectivity and help with burnout.
To discover and ask the hard questions. I sense I can be accomplishing more.
To help me make amends and begin to rebuild.
Help me find and take that elusive time for myself.
I'm going through a period of personal revival.
Peace with other people. I seem constantly to be having battles.
I want to have a strategy for putting boundaries in place.
I've hurt my wife, family, church. How do I recover from this?
Assist me in identifying my real, life goals.
I'd like my life to be fuller. I'm bored with the routine.
How to spend quality time with my daughter.
I need to develop a longer term personal and family plan (in conjunction with my spouse) that effectively reflects a balanced set of priorities.
I need some perspective on issues in my life.
My children and husband need to experience life with me by their side uninterrupted.
Help me overcome procrastination.
My wife needs me to show up differently than I have in these past few years.

In our one to one executive coaching meeting, you can bring any topic to the table. I’ll provide an objective sounding board and the key questions to help you think it through and find new ways of thinking, adjusting and taking actions to live life to the full.

To read further comments from my business leadership coaching clients in their own words, click here.

"Through a period of regular contact thereafter he helped me with a strategic approach that proved revolutionary. The final outcome: more revenue from my business and more time with family.” President/CEO