Life at the top can be a lonely place, and especially so when times are tough.

The paradox of the executive is that it is the very skills and attributes that helped you to the position you now find yourself in, the qualities of leadership, people management, ability to deliver under pressure, etc, that will now be put under the spotlight more than ever by those around you.

Precisely because leaders have few people around them who they can speak with in full confidence, coaching works particularly well because it offers a confidential sounding board for any ideas or issues that may have an impact on performance.   When the pressure is on it is all too easy to apply old solutions to current situations; coaching will help you 'open the parachute' by asking the right questions before the important decisions are made, not afterwards.  A valuable tool when you are being judged on your executive decisions.

Issues typically associated with Executive Coaching include:

• A newly promoted Manager having difficulty performing at the new level
• An individual experiencing a specific relationship issue which is affecting performance at an organisational level
• A Manager experiencing difficulties with a department where his/her role carries little influence  
• A Manager having difficulties balancing work life issues
• Motivation issues affecting staff moral at a lower level

Each Executive Coaching situation presents a unique set of challenges; a pre-consultation is therefore an essential component to any coaching programme undertaken.