Explore Your Professional Potential

Career development is the process of understanding and appreciating your current and future professional potential. La Piana Consulting can help you identify the skills you possess, and the type of environment where those skills are going to be most useful and rewarded. We can work with either individuals or groups.

What is Executive Coaching?

Hargrove (2002) provides a definition of coaching that also reveals a bit of what might happen when working with a coach:  “A coach is someone who (1) sees what others may not see through the high quality of his or her attention and listening, (2) is in the position to step back (or invite others to step back) from complex situations so that  alternate perspectives can be considered, (3) helps people examine any gaps between  their intentions and their actions, and (4) works with the coachee and others in an organization to develop a clearer  understanding of the context for leadership and any patterns of behavior (at any level) that may be undermining success.” 

During its short life, executive coaching has been used in diverse settings (e.g., law firms, universities, associations, government, corporations) and for diverse purposes (e.g., for newly appointed senior leaders, for leaders of complex projects, for chief executives whose boards want better results, for leaders to learn about gender and racial diversity, for CEOs of small companies at the request of investors, etc.). 

What are the goals for executive coaching?

Executive coaches focus on the following:

• Help you identify and remain focused on your goals for development as a leader
• Assist you as needed to strategize and problem-solve (especially when you are feeling stuck
  frustrated or overwhelmed) professionally and personally
• Support your healthy balance of work and personal life
• Raise awareness of your impact on others, particularly through the MBTI and a structured 360-degree assessment
• Build your capacity to reflect and learn from experience

The Process of Coaching

The process of coaching begins with the conversation- and contracting- about professional goals- challenges and developmental desires.  Working with a coach starts with an orientation towards growth and desired outcomes. It might be appropriate to use certain tools like the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator and/or a 360 Feedback tool.  This material will be integrated to help refine the professional goals to assist in the approach and process of coaching.  Sessions are normally accomplished via telephone and are contracted for a set process and period of time.

The 360 Feedback Tool

The LPI Leadership Practices Inventory from Kouzes and Posner is a proven tool.   This process requires a self evaluation and feedback from direct reports and others. This is an on-line tool.  The executive identifies 6 to 10 individuals whom he or she wants to get feedback from.   The report he or she is given integrates the feedback and contrasts self scores with the scores of others.