Over the past five years, executive coaching—which Rik has been engaged in for over twenty years—has become more and more widely known and valued by senior executives, and is coming to be seen by many as fundamental to exceptional performance and results. Some of the same coaching principles which for years have produced improvement and enhanced results for outstanding performers in sports and the arts can be just as relevant to CEOs and other executives in companies where the demand for outstanding performance is equally high.

As the Harvard Business Review stated in November 2004,

"What is clear is that the market has spoken. Many of the world's most admired corporations, from GE to Goldman Sachs, invest in coaching. Annual spending on coaching in the United States is estimated at roughly $1 billion. . .Companies need something management science lacks: a systematic means of engaging with senior leaders as individuals. Enter executive coaching. . .It was long overdue."
(Sherman and Freas, HBR, November 2004)

Rik's Approach
While the pathway that Rik employs in coaching executives is to work with them to enhance their leadership, communication and management skills, the metrics used in each coaching engagement are specified business results. At the start of each coaching engagement, typically one year in duration, Rik and his client align on specific breakthrough business outcomes that the executive is committed to produce for his or her organization during that year. Those outcomes are the focus of the coaching. These breakthrough business outcomes are co-designed by the client and Rik to be beyond "stretch goals"—though not so unrealistic as to be pipe dreams —and are outcomes that the client recognizes will virtually require an elevation in his or her executive skills.

While the typical consultant or coach studies a situation and then gives advice, Rik's approach goes well beyond that. Rik takes a high level of responsibility for the ultimate success of the entire engagement. He has come to know that successful implementation of the coaching requires a genuine working partnership with his client, based on a mutual commitment to produce the aligned upon results of the coaching.

The coaching contracts are clear, specific, and results based, versus general, vague and immeasurable; and are oriented around producing breakthroughs, not merely incremental gains. In summary:

• At the start of the coaching, the client and Rik co-design breakthrough business outcomes to produce through the coaching
• These specified business results are the metrics for the success of the engagement
• The work centers on implementation of the coaching, not merely advice or suggestions
• A mutual commitment to produce the breakthrough objectives is at the heart of the coaching

 

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