Introduction

Executive coaching is a new leadership development tool both in Thailand and internationally.

I have done an one-on-one executive coaching since 2003.

Organizations are more opened for this tool. Nevertheless, majorities of the users are senior executives in Multi National Corporation or large Thai compaines.

Whew was the origin of ‘Coach’?

A quick scan of etymological dictionaries sheds little light on coaching’s origins other than the limited knowledge that the noun ‘coach’’ derives from a large kind of carriage’, usually of the grander variety, initially built from the mid-15th century onward in the Hungarian town of Kocs (pronounced coach’). The word spread throughout the rest of Europe and perhaps the only analogy that can be drawn with current executive coaches is that they helped get you from A to B, preferably in the quickest possible time, arriving the right way up and alive – no mean feat given the atrocious state of most European roads and the high levels of brigandage at the time.

By the mid-19th century, the word coach began to be used as Oxford University slang for a tutor: one who carries or coaxes his student through an exam.

30 years ago,it started to be popular in sport term. It has been applied in business world for the past 20 years.

Why coaching now?

Coaching has evolved in parallel with world development. In the old day – agricultural age, coaching was not necessary. The nature of work is simple and basic You just watched other people did.

When the world came to industrial age, the emphasis was on follow the steps. The foreman needed to instruct with directive approach.

But the world now is a world of knowledge worker. They need to be influenced and persuaded. The command and control style are out of date.

In addition, the workplace is filled with Generation X and Generation Y. What seems to work in the past may not be applicable anymore. Hence, coaching has emerged.


What is coaching?

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Worldwide Association of Business Coaches defines Business coaching is the process of engaging in meaningful communication with individuals in businesses, organizations, institutions or governments, with the goal of promoting success at all levels of the organization by affecting the actions of those individuals.

Jane Renton quotes Sir John Whitmore’s definitions. Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.”

Since there are several school of thoughts on coaching’s definition. Here is TheCoach’s definition of Coaching: Coaching is a development approach that someone (Coach) constructively facilitates another person (coachee) to grow a specific subject; knowledge, skill, viewpoint or belief.

Why CEO needs a coach?

Eric Schmidt Chairman and CEO of Google said that his best advice he ever got was “Hiring a coach”.

“The advice that sticks out I got from John Doerr, who in 2001 said, “My advice to you is to have a coach.” The coach he said I should have is Bill Campbell. I initially resented the advice, because after all, I was a CEO. I was pretty experienced. Why would I need a coach? Am I doing something wrong? My argument was, How could a coach advise me if I’m the best person in the world at this? But that’s not what a coach does. The coach doesn’t have to play the sport as well as you do. They have to watch you and get you to be your best. In the business context a coach is not a repetitious coach. A coach is somebody who looks at something with another set of eyes, describes it to you in [his] words, and discusses how to approach the problem.

Once I realized I could trust him and that he could help me with perspective, I decided this was a great idea. When there is [a] business conflict you tend to get rat-holed into it. [Bill’s] general advice has been to rise one step higher, above the person on the other side of the table, and to take the long view. He’ll say, “You’re letting it bother you. Don’t.”

In 2009 according to global survey – Executive Coaching World by William Pennington, there are approximately 29,000 executive coaches. The total revenues they earn is US$ 2 billion.

What are the benefits of executive coaching?

– A leader wants to move from good to great.
– A leader who is good at several things but also need to learn more on a particular area.
– A potential successor who wants to prepare themselves to be ready for the next promotion.
– A CEO who wants to have an external sounding board – a trusted advisor.