At MAGE, we have spent 13 years deeply committed to the concept of executive coaching. Smart managers become smarter leaders when they start to think outside the box and become aware of issues that are important to the growth of their organization. Coaches aid in the advancement of these strategic leadership qualities. Realizing the importance of external and internal coaches and eventually becoming a coach themselves helps executives develop professional and organizational capabilities.

Many people have had a coach at some time in their lives. Think back to your first mentor. What did they offer you? Expertise...education...tricks of the trade? Your mentor coached you at some point in your career and gave you insight on how to succeed in your field of choice. Just because you are in advanced stages of your career, doesn't mean you don't need a business coach. Everyone can benefit from a coach.

No matter where you are on your career or business track, a coach can aid in your personal development and help you strengthen your leadership skills as you develop your company.

As businesses continue to grow in complexity, it is essential that management adopt coaching as a way to foster a culture for continuous learning throughout the organization. Here are some underlying ingredients for success.

Coaching can be a key ingredient in executive development. However, the executive needs to let the coach in. It is imperative that the coach understand the business and the executive they are coaching in the context of the company's strategy. A common ground on the concepts and approaches to leadership and development needs to be established. Executive coaching is a personalized approach to providing essential skills and strategic counsel . To make coaching successful requires mutual responsibility and trust. A coach has to be willing to tell the boss what everybody knows, but can't tell them. The executive has to be willing to hear the hard truth. Together, the coach and the executive need to work together to change the organization for the better.

For example, a current MAGE client who has seen the advantages of using a coach received feedback from his employees that they see him as more accessible. Working with his coach helped him understand how he was perceived by the employees and where it worked against him.

Through the toughest experiences, come the best results. A good coach will push the executive to certain realizations and guide them in making important, critical decisions. For example, a coach may ask their client to engage in a specific learning activity customized to a real time issue in the business. This may entail the client writing a letter that envisions the company in five years or designing a meeting with important decision makers addressing sensitive issues that may hinder their success on the job.

Going outside your own internal human resource group for this assistance may be essential, as those who are too close to your organization can sometimes wear blinders, feel too threatened, or lack expertise. Top level executives often find themselves having highly political or confidential issues that need an outside, non-partisan, and experienced advisor.

Business coaching helps executives improve their effectiveness within today's changing business environment. The business coach helps the employee understand the subtle dynamics of corporate culture, personalities, politics and handling conflict and resistance. Executives who are actively involved in changing or growing their company gain skills, consider new ideas and get support to take action. Business coaching provides a unique opportunity for the executive to continue their own development as they deal with the current demands of their jobs.

Executive coaches have long been seen as a luxury for the privileged few. However, today's business climate requires coaching for everyone. Coaching serves to guide managers in their development as leaders, improve individual and team performance to hit challenging goals, and keep organizations growing to meet the strategic demands of their market.

Coaching is a bright idea whose time has come.