The Spectrum of Executive Coaching
Executive coaching is often considered as one typology of coaching, others being career, life etc. In fact there are four distinct flavours of executive coaching, each defined by their focus as shown below:
- Skills: the acquisition of new skills which is more akin to mentoring or training. The focus is on developing new ways of behaving and is an example of ‘single loop' learning.
- Performance: raises an individual's capacity to demonstrate their skills and is of most benefit to new managers and leaders. The coaching may get clients to think differently to better execute their skills, in which case it's an example of ‘double loop learning'.
- Developmental: a whole person perspective to build deeper levels of self awareness to allow individuals to operate more effectively especially in more senior roles. The focus is on developing self awareness of the client's way of thinking and being, a definite ‘double loop' learning coaching intervention.
- Transformational: just as we transition through life stages as children, the same opportunity to transform exists to us as adults and each transformation gives us an increased capacity to lead more effectively. This is an example of ‘triple loop' learning, in essence a shifting of who we are in the world and a type of learning which also impacts how we subsequently think and act.