Executive Coaching for the New Hire

What is a dream job? A job that is fulfilling motivates one from within, complements the skill sets one possesses and pays well?
No wonder it is called a “dream” job. Why else would people be in the continuous pursuit of a “better” job? Better in terms of role and responsibilities, better in terms of compensation, functionality or work life balance.

In the constant pursuit of that one dream job, an entire career passes by without the feeling of true fulfillment towards the work set out in the first place or the usage of the skills that one possesses.

Having spent some time in the field of recruitments, I realize that for people to move into a new job, there are three important factors – money, role and growth.

Growth - While role and money are tangible and easily explainable to anyone in question, growth is something that is different for different people. It is this opportunity to “grow” as a professional and an individual that allows any person to take that all important decision of taking up an opportunity that he has been offered.

“Growth” is a very individual phenomenon. People at different levels and ages perceive growth differently. But it is the “constant” that drives and motivates every person on this planet.

Once a person takes up the opportunity that he perceives as high growth, he is suddenly surrounded by the challenges and hiccups of the new role. The responsibility is much higher and the expectations sky rocket.

Managing Expectations – In a situation like this, a person will never say “I am not ready for this” as this is exactly what is NOT expected out of him. He finds himself facing challenges in day to day operations and given his expertise, he is not allowed the “honeymoon period” that he would have got when he was a lot younger in his career. He finds himself constantly pushed for results and he in turn is stressed. By the time he finds his feet on this fresh ground, he realizes a lot of time has passed by and just wished that he was better equipped to manage the challenges. He then looks for solace in his friends; past mentors and colleagues who he thinks has the answers to his need of trying to grapple with the new scenario. However, he does not find it too appealing and hence continues to work in a stressful manner completely defeating the very purpose of taking up the new responsibility of furthering growth and be closer to his “dream” job.

Need for an Executive Coach – This has been my experience with many of my candidates who I have interacted at senior management levels. They are way too senior to even accept verbally that they may need help / assistance and to be hand held while they assume the new chair. I have been seriously thinking about who can actually help new recruits in this manner and I realize the need for an Executive Coach.

Coaching - Coaching as a concept is not new. Whereas it has found its roots in the field of sports, Coaching has made an in road in management and is known as Executive Coaching.

Who is an Executive Coach - An Executive Coach is someone who works closely with a person, helping him unlock his potential in order to bring out his best as far as performance at work is concerned. This also then has an effect on how well the person later maximizes his potential in his personal life too. Coaching has a far reaching affect because of its continuity and tangibility. It has now taken a formal structure and is considered a career option for many who are related to management, Human Resources and Training.

As someone, who has been introduced to the world of Executive Coaching very recently, I definitely believe that an Executive Coach works best as a catalyst and hand holds the person to see through his initial days of settling in the new job. It promises to believe that there is an entire part within oneself that is just waiting to be realized and recognized by the person himself that opens his own door towards greater and better performance and hence towards the dream job that he can now see it as a reality.