The Metamorphosis of the Successful Executive. . . Overcome professional stagnation

You are a brilliant and successful business executive who earns a lot of money and manages a trained staff of accomplished professionals. You succeed beyond your wildest business school dreams. It has achieved a lot, but something is missing. On the surface, life is good, but you feel tired, exhausted, frustrated, defeated. Intuitively, you know that your life can and should be more fulfilling.

Where do you turn? What can you do?

Four years ago, I reached a point in my career as a clinical psychologist where I, too, was unwilling to put up with any more “pain” and professional stagnation. I wanted more for my life and I knew I could have more. It was then that I partnered with a personal trainer and began my own career transition into the relatively new profession of “Personal Training”. . . And I’ve never looked back

Working with a personal trainer gave me the direction and support I needed to reinvigorate my own life and turn my career around, to regain my voice, my sense of purpose, my sense of direction. It’s something you can have too. That is how.

With personal coaching, frustrated executives get back on track, reinvigorated, and can more positively influence their company and their peers. By working with a coach, dissatisfied executives learn to set limits, set boundaries, and delegate. They become clearer on their goals and better able to communicate their values. They develop practical strategies to improve their interpersonal and listening skills. They begin to make things happen, to set the pace for their own lives at work and at home, and most importantly, they begin to de-stress.

A 2001 quantitative study of 100 executives, mostly from Fortune 1000 companies, put the return on investment for executive coaching at nearly 6 to 1. The study, conducted by Manchester Inc. (a world-renowned provider of coaching services executive), also revealed that coaching increases organizational strength, productivity, quality, customer service, shareholder value, and executive retention.

The question to ask yourself is “Can I afford not to work with a trainer?”

By working with a personal trainer, you can become a better manager, better able to lead and inspire your teams. Create an enhanced work environment where risk taking and innovation are encouraged. Your employees become loyal, productive and more satisfied. Recruitment efforts take off. Customer relations and service improve. Your customer base grows. Profits also grow.

Coaching does not work for everyone. For people who procrastinate, are unwilling to do the work, or view coaching as “touchy” or frivolous, coaching will not succeed.

A coach is not a consultant. He or she doesn’t have the answers, the person being trained does. A coach asks the big questions, provides feedback, offers support, and constantly challenges the client to go further, sometimes far beyond the client’s current vision. The coach helps the client to reduce stress, integrate self-care (exercise and healthy habits) into their lives and dedicate time to what is important. A coach can also provide resources and tools to help the client stay focused and achieve her goals.

Coaching relationships can be short-term or long-term experiences, often ranging from three to six months to a year or more. Most of the time, people work with trainers over the phone or in person for a specific number of sessions per month. Coaching can also take place in groups, through teleclasses, and even in seminars or workshops.

Working with a coach is a very personal experience, so finding the right coach, someone you feel comfortable with, is critical to success. The coaching industry estimates that there are over 20,000 coaches (personal trainers, business coaches, marketing coaches, etc.) in the United States alone (and perhaps as many as 100,000 worldwide). When looking for a trainer, you should plan on interviewing at least several candidates to find a good match.

With the right coach and a personal willingness to try new things, experiment, and make and learn from your mistakes, you can turn achievement and success into something more. Working with a coach, you can meet challenges square in the eye, confront emotional obstacles at work and at home, and rise above them, embracing the “adventure” of life as you intuitively perceive more rewarding opportunities ahead.

(c) 2004, Steven Bacharach Psy.D. All rights in all media reserved. This article may be reprinted as long as it remains intact with copyright and signature.