6 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Leadership Coach

6 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Leadership Coach6 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Leadership Coach As a new executive or entrepreneur, youre probably juggling what feels like a million competing priorities all at once. Big changes are happening all around you, and you need to learn quickly. No pressure. Increasingly, new leaders are turning to leadership coaches for help with everything from developing 30/60/90 day plans and managing performance to cultivating a company mission and avoiding burnout. And theyre smart to do so. Why not learn from those whove been there before? Coaching requires an investment of your time and your money, so you want to be sure that youre maximizing your ROI. (And as a quick aside, dont be afraid to get creative with coaching packages if you cant afford six sessions, ask for three). Heres how you can get the most out of your coaching relationship, according to some of my most successful C-level clients and fellow coaches. Look for a coac h who you connect with, respect, and feel comfortable turning to with challenging situations. Cindi Bright, President of the Bright Group suggests keeping in mind that the right match may be someone who doesnt fit your typical level of comfort. Growth comes from discomfort, so finding a coach who will challenge your preconceived notions may be just what you need. A great coach will offer support and encouragement, be tough when needed, and be resourceful. They may not always have the answer, but they know where to look.As you explore your coaching options, remember that in this space, reputation matters. Anyone can call themselves a leadership coach, so be sure you take a hard look at their accreditation, methodology, industry expertise and track record. Nothing happens overnight. Have a candid conversation with your coach about where you are now and where youd like to be. From there, youll be able to set attainable goals together. Meara Clark, founder of Work with Candor advises, that every coaching engagement should have some kind of written agenda. It could be one word, like Action or three specific goals, like delegating administrative tasks, practicing e-team presentations and creating accountability in one on ones.I know it may be tempting to try to tackle all of your goals at once, but selecting your top three will feel much more manageable. Be patient. If youve never managed a team before, its going to take some time for you to get comfortable making hiring decisions and delivering critical feedback. Youll get there eventually.In the wise words of my client, Max Makin, Co-Founder and CTO at Modern Electron, gobble up as much information as you can. Take notes, ask questions. Be curious. The best mentees have a healthy bchse of self-awareness and a genuine desire to be their best.The most successful clients show up ready and willing to learn. That also includes being prepared to hear tough feedback. After all, thats what your coach is for. They dont ex pect you to have all the answers (even though your employees might), so dont be afraid to ask for help and be vulnerable if youre feeling stuck. We all need help sometimes. I know this can be challenging. The vast majority of my clients are type-A, high achievers who believe they should be able to figure everything out on their own. But, as Teri Citterman, Forbes Contributor and Executive Coach at Talonn LLC wisely advises, the going it alone approach is not scalable. You dont need to do this on your own. Turning to a coach doesnt make you a failure it makes you wise. Or as Max puts it, dont rest on your laurels. The whole point of working with a coach is to become the best leader you can be. So be prepared to challenge yourself. Ask your coach for feedback about what youre doing well and where you can improve.Getting feedback can be tough for some especially those who feel like they need to have all the answers. But I promise you that honest, constructive feedback is the most dir ect path to improvement. And if your coach isnt able to be straight up with you, find one who will. The goal isnt to pull the wool over your coachs eyes. If you arent upfront about your leadership style and opportunities for improvement, whats the point? Meara advises, being radically honest with yourself and your coach allows you to learn from failure or inaction, evolve your goals, and maintain a growth mindset. Remember that your coach isnt here to judge you, and she cant help you if she doesnt have the full picture. Being honest about your behavior, your patterns, and your missteps will enable your coach to steer you in the right direction. This goes both ways, so dont be shy about giving feedback to your coach too. If you disagree with something or their approach is not working for you, say so. Partnering with a coach can have an invaluable impact on your success as a leader. But, given the constraints on your time, and possibly your budget, youll want to be sure that youre opt imizing every minute you have with your coach. Finding the right match, being prepared to learn and accept feedback, and showing up with an open mind will help maximize your return on investment not to mention empower you to become the best leader you can be. Mikaela is the founder and CEO of uniquelyHR, providing fast-growth companies including startups and scale-ups with flexible HR services from consulting to leadership development and executive coaching. Prior to founding her company, Mikaela welches an HR leader with several iconic Northwest brands including Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, PopCap Games and Redfin. Mikaela continues to work as an executive coach specializing in CEO and leadership development and working with high potential women leaders. Find her on Twitter uniquelyHR or LinkedIn.