Why Coaches Need C-Suite Support
While the term “Executive Coaching” was already a C-Suites buzzword when I started my college coaching career, I hadn’t yet heard of such services.
I had heard of asking for advice. And since I knew I needed some, I regularly stopped by other coaches’ offices to bounce ideas off my more-experienced colleagues.
Sometimes I complained about over-involved parents.
Sometimes I talked about developing a positive team culture.
Sometimes I vented about needing better talent.
Mostly I voiced my uncertainties to people who understood, who were willing to listen, and who would keep my concerns private. One such person became my favorite mentor. Whenever I finished a rant, she would ask, “What’s your gut?” That simple question somehow gave me the direction I needed. Along the way I picked up little tips on setting/achieving goals and dealing with college coaching pressures, from problem players to administrators.
Soon I was on the other side of the desk. I became the listener. I asked the follow-up questions. Occasionally I offered little tips from hard-won experience. I’ve now fielded cross-country calls from colleagues from all sports. Each needed the same professional development they would get as C-Suite executives. But since coaches aren’t typically provided such benefits, they were left to figure it out on their own.
The truth is that college coaches need executive coaching.
While I’ve never claimed to have more extraordinary insights than others, the calls, emails and texts I receive so regularly indicate that coaches need to talk with other coaches. And since I recently retired from college coaching, I have capacity to meet that demand. That’s why I’m including “executive coaching” as my newest Bryant College Coaching service. I’ll be combining practical experience with my degreed expertise (Bachelor’s of Business, Master’s in Sports Administration and Executive Coaching Diploma) as I provide one-on-one consults on timely topics, including:
Building and sustaining positive team culture
managing external influences and internal dynamics
improving operational efficiencies
preparing for next level advancement
developing first-tier leadership
balancing work-life demands
maintaining integrity in challenging times
As I meet with coaches both in-person and virtually, I’ll do what I have done for years – listen to concerns, ask clarifying questions, and offer a tip or two. When pressed, I might even give some advice. My aim is to provide the same sort of coaching that helps C-suite executives across the country build better teams and better careers.
