Currently, as I reflect on the niche I occupy (and want to occupy) as a coach I am pausing to reflect on the terms “Executive Coach” and “Life Coach”. Recently I took time to open up debate on a number of forums with the posting below and this week I am taking time to write about some of the issues that came up amongst the responses.
From time to time I am asked: “Are you an Executive Coach or a Life Coach?” It seems to me that this question implies that the two are mutually exclusive. At times I am told or infer that the term “Executive Coach “ commands more respect – maybe even a lot more respect amongst people asking this question, including fellow coaches. And because I do most of my coaching work with executives it could be easy for me to buy into this idea of “more than/less than” as part of my sales pitch.
At the same time, no matter how senior my clients, once we start to work together in coaching partnership I am working with a person and with the whole person. I work with them on issues that are central to their work progress, effectiveness and satisfaction. I work with them on some of their most intimate issues from their home lives. In this sense I could call myself a “Life Coach for Executives”. I have had some feedback that I am an “ontological coach”, coaching my clients in their chosen way of being in the world. I wonder, is this “Life Coaching for Executives” any less taxing than anything I might call “Executive Coaching”? I don’t think so: in working in this way I draw on everything that I am and all that I bring, if you like at all the “logical levels” identified by Robert Dilts.
As I work through all the questions (marketing and otherwise) that this brings up for me I would welcome your views, thoughts and insights. To start the ball rolling here are my top three questions:
· What do you see as the similarities and differences between “Life” and “Executive” coaching?
· What connotations do these terms have for you? And for your clients?
· What language do you use to do justice to “Life Coaching for Executives”?
One question that was in my mind was this: is the use of these terms subject to prejudice in the eyes of others? If you’re interested to know what I found you might want to read my next posting: “Executive” and “Life” Coaching: A Matter of Prejudice?
I have also asked myself a similar question which is
“What is the real distinction between Executive and Life Coaching?”
My response Dorothy like you is that I work with the whole person through all “logical levels” and yet I notice that I don’t often spend much time on intimate home issues when coaching clients around their professional life…………. Connections with situations in their personal life do arise during our sessions and when they do we do work with these when these situations directly impact their effectiveness and satisfaction at work, otherwise I am not sure that we do!
The difference with my personal life coaching clients is that all areas of their lives are addressed equally…this is interesting and it makes me think about coaching for holistic wellbeing of an individual.
Am I “short changing “my Executive Coaching clients?
When coaching I am facilitating the clients own process to think and feel, to gain clarity, overcome barriers and to move forward in a way that is in line with their own needs and values. Consequently how they get there and whatever areas they venture are not important, the process is.
I’m asking myself “Am I doing something to limit my Executive clients going down the personal avenue if they need to?”
I can’t answer that question right now, but this has given me food for thought.
I really like the term Life Coaching for Executives and being an “ontological coach” which I translate as being fully present to supporting the coaching process of my client in whatever way they choose.
Thanks for the nourishment Dorothy