Do You Need Executive Or Leadership Coaching?
What’s the difference between an Executive coaching and leadership coaching?
The short answer is ‘nothing’. The long answer is more subtle. The difference lies in the language. Never, ever underestimate the power of words!
Before we go any further, please do one thing. Close your eyes and summon the image which arrives in your mind when you think of the word ‘executive’. Is it similar to mine I wonder?
Executive Coaching Equals …
Because what I see in my mind’s eye when I consider the words executive coach is this: The image of a besuited, white, middle class, middle-aged, man. Therefore, executive coaching has no meaning for, or relevance to, my career progression whatsoever. The executive coaching academy states:
‘“Executive Coaching is a facilitative one-to-one, mutually designed relationship between a professional coach and a key contributor who has a powerful position in the organization…’
When I read this I fail to see how this connects to me. Now, try the same exercise regarding the word ‘leadership‘ & note the images which follow. For, me the associated images look different. In my mind, there are multiple images of a diverse nature. I have Sheryl Sandberg. I see Nelson Mandela, I see Aung San Suu Ky of Burma. I have Obama and I have Joan of Arc, I have Malala Yousafzai… I have a whole raft of diverse individuals who have facilitated profound change right across our world.
“The word ‘leadership’ gives me these three things…”
The word ‘leadership’ gives me these three things… This word gives me diversity, in gender, age, ethnicity and time. This list gives me diversity in leadership style. Most importantly list gives me hope of accessibility. Yes, the people listed this far are magnificent and awesome beyond my remit, but as they are not all of a besuited, white, middle class, man. You just mean that a multitude of people have the chance to lead and in my opinion, that is exactly what our world needs. Nature holds male and female energies in balance: In Laws of The Universe It says:
“The law of gender manifests in all things as masculine and feminine. It is this law that governs what we know as creation. The law of gender manifests in the animal kingdom as sex. This law decrees everything in nature is both male and female. Both are required for life to exist.”
Thus, the two genders are supposed to complement each other and herein lies our real strength. If I work with the notion and resultant inclusivity of ‘leadership coaching’ then ethically I feel I open opportunity wide to all of you who have brilliantly to bring.
Leadership is about change. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, at all levels organisationally and originates in all sorts of cultures. By working with leadership from all origins, might we make the very, very best of what we have available to us?
You can find Rebecca here at the Daemon Career Coach