Executive and Team Coaching

Every day, leaders have to prioritize, problem-solve, and inspire their teams while keeping the vision and strategy in focus. And it’s hard to do that without making the time to recharge and reflect and think…which is what coaching helps you do.

Coaching builds self-awareness. It unleashes creativity. It energizes and brings clarity.

I create a personalized experience for “leaders of leaders”, leadership teams, and top talent who are ready to take their game to a new level…and do it in a way that honors their uniqueness and values.

Organizations have found coaches to be valuable resources for developing individuals and teams. Examples of how organizations use coaches include:

Working with managers and leaders to make successful transitions to a new position
Working with key employees who are dealing with specific developmental challenges or issues
Changing the conversation and ways of working for leadership teams and engaging them in creating something amazing together

Acting as a confidential partner who provides a sounding board with no political or internal agenda
Helping key employees and top talent with career decisions and career path guidance
Preparing for leadership changes and succession planning

Executive & Team Coaching

Executive Coaching

Exploring whether coaching is right for you

It begins with a conversation. I want to understand why you want a coach and what your expectations and goals are. This is an opportunity for both you and me to make sure we are a good match. The effectiveness of any coaching relationship depends upon high levels of trust and open communication. If that special chemistry isn’t there, I will try to recommend a coach who might be a better fit.

My coaching style is straight talk with lightness and humor. I create a safe space for my clients to explore possibilities, be vulnerable, and say what they need to say. I ask the not-so-obvious questions and offer a different perspective on situations. I am known for my ability to help clients find language for sensitive and/or emotional conversations. I work with each person to become more self-aware, and to help them become a more effective leader in a way that aligns with their values and strengths, and honors their uniqueness.

What does a coaching engagement look like?

A typical executive coaching relationship begins with a half-day in-person intake session. Prior to that meeting, the client will complete a short questionnaire to help both of us get off to a strong start. This in-person session can also include a meeting with the client’s manager, if desired, to get their input on opportunities for development and support.

After the initial intake session, coaching continues with several calls and/or meetings per month. Obviously each engagement is designed to best support the client in attainment of their goals in the most efficient and effective way possible, so they will vary in # of hours of coaching and the length of the engagement. At the end of each coaching session, fieldwork is assigned, which is an integral part of the coaching process that ensures the client is taking effective action between calls.

In addition to the regularly scheduled coaching calls, I am available by email and phone to deal with the occasional situations that arise between calls. Think of coaching as a process. Many people create change for themselves in a short time, but to refine and sustain the changes takes several months, which is why a commitment to a minimum of six months of coaching is usually recommended and necessary.

Team Coaching

Teams benefit from coaching because there is a neutral party who helps the team decide and align around what’s important and develop the agreements on how they want to work together. The coach sheds light on those sticky spots that aren’t talked about but can derail the best of teams. The team members develop a new way of talking with each other and working together that builds trust and supports them both professionally and personally.

There are many ways to design a team coaching experience, from a two-day retreat to ongoing support for a team while they are integrating the new behaviors or working through a difficult project. The approach is designed after surveying the leader and team members to make sure that the focus is targeted to address their aspirations and concerns, and to get their buy-in as to what is to come.

Team coaching is a powerful way for a new manager to get off to a strong start with his/her team, and for existing managers to recharge, refocus, and re-energize their teams.

“Kathy facilitated the implementation of our organization's Leadership Development Program five years ago. Her talent and insight helped steer us in the right direction and led to the realization of a successful, long-term program that continues to produce insurmountable benefits.”

“As the VP of a growing technology/manufacturing company, I am pulled in a lot of directions where everything seems to be urgent, but not always important, and it’s easy to lose sight of my personal and professional development.

The big value that Kathy brings is making me think about being an executive - unfrazzled, above the fray, distinguished - in the midst of pushing hard to get things done. She serves as my sounding board…we talk through challenges; she gives me a different perspective; holds me accountable; and most importantly she tells me the truth in a way I can hear it. I value our partnership.”

“Kathy has worked with our organization from top to bottom for the last several years. She has been instrumental in helping to guide and shape everything from our strategic vision to sharpening our skills as a team to perform at a higher level.

Kathy doesn’t just stand there and hold a mirror in front of you; she is a true coach who invests the time and her years of expertise to pull out the best of your potential for the greater good of the organization. I wouldn’t make a final mission-critical team decision without input from Kathy.”

“I have worked with Kathy for several years and her insight and expertise was invaluable to me as I transitioned into executive management. I relied quite a bit on her expertise in developing strategic plans for the organization.

I particularly value being able to bounce things off of her and how she was helps me think through issues without emotion, and then develop a strategy to effectively manage these issues. She has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

“Going into coaching, I was prepared to face some hard truths about myself professionally. I had no idea how enlightening this would be for me personally also. Those two worlds are so closely linked and are now both benefiting from my time with Kathy.

From our very first meeting, I knew Kathy would be an integral force in my life. She continues to be so even after our coaching has ended, and I will be forever indebted to her.”