BSIG Leadership METHODOLOGY

Individual executive/leadership coaching provides a low-ego environment where participants are able to honestly reflect on their actions and decisions. Customized coaching plans and development work enhances the skills of individual leaders, bringing to life the lessons learned in leadership training sessions. Regular participants of coaching find they become faster to action and are more confident in their delegation and decision making.

BSIG Leadership Coaching Logistics

Meeting format. 

It is preferred that all coaching meetings are done face-to-face. If it becomes necessary to do a coaching session in different spaces, the next preference is for video conference. If video is not possible, the last preference is teleconference. Teleconference is the least desirable because it invites the opportunity for distraction. Because of the nature and design of these sessions, time appears to move quickly, and we cannot spare any moments where either the coach or the coachee are not fully present. 

Meeting Timing. 

It is preferred that all coaching meetings are 90 minutes in duration.  Meetings that are longer than 90 minutes tend to introduce mind wandering from cognitive overwhelm. This negates the lasting effects of the coaching style. 

Meeting Location. 

It is preferred that all coaching meetings are AWAY from the coachee’s place of business. For a number of reasons, it is critically important to remove the coachee from their daily physical context. Primarily because it makes them feel safer to be vulnerable and authentic if there aren’t people they know in close proximity (whether or not they can hear what is being said.)

Meeting Cadence. 

It is preferred that coaching meetings are scheduled at least once per month. The work that is done in the EXB coaching is designed to last beyond the coaching session. At a cadence longer than one per month, the effects of the coaching will fade and the momentum will need to be restarted. 

On Call. 

All of our executive coaching clients have the opportunity to have on-call coaching services when an acute situation arises outside of the normal coaching cadence. Many clients use this service as a way to share meaningful articles and gather additional points of view about decisions. It is lonely at the top, and having a coach can change that paradigm. 

BSIG Leadership Coaching Unique Style

Self-Guided. 

First and foremost, the EXB coaching style does not follow a set program or agenda. This is intentional because studies have continually shown that people make lasting changes when they believe that they are in control of the changes. Following a prescribed method puts the coachee in a position of following rather than leading the developments. 

Psychology. 

As with all of the Extraordinary Balance work, our coaching style is rooted in brain science and psychology.  At times the coachee will feel that the coaching session is therapeutic. It is important to understand that while our methods are based in psychology, coaching is NOT psychotherapy. We will uncover emotions and feelings that lead to leadership decisions, then work to analyze and improve the decision making structures. 

Self-Awareness. 

The EXB coaching style is designed to give coachees awareness to many of the patterns and behaviors that they have become blind to. This self awareness is achieved through developing trust and vulnerability. Through decades of research on developing trust, we understand that the vulnerability of the coach is critically important to this process. Often our coaches will share personal experiences / feelings with the coachee. 

Inquisitive. 

Extraordinary Balance coaching is NOT built on delivering advice. There may be suggestions or leadership challenges, but the foundation of EXB coaching is based on inquiry. We ask questions of varying emotional depth to engage the coachee in the process of self-discovery. Research continues to show that humans will learn a task or new behavior faster if they go through the process of experiencing it for themselves. In this same manner, our coaches may become of a valuable insight minutes, weeks, or months before the coachee, but our coaches are trained to refrain from sharing it. Rather, they will ask questions of the coachee, walking them down the path of discovering the insight for themselves. 

Confidential. 

As we are not employees of the organization in which we provide coaching, our coaching meetings are confidential. The only exceptions to this rule are if there is information shared that is a matter of public safety or if the coachee and their supervisor agree in advance that certain specific details are to be shared back and forth. 

Off Balance. 

The EXB coaching methodology is designed to make the coachees feel off balance throughout the meeting and especially after the meeting. This is intentional. When a coachee feels off balance, they need to reorient. This reorientation will happen with the addition of the new insights gathered during the coaching meeting. In this same manner, the coaching insights will have a lasting effect on the coachee long after the coaching meeting is over. This extends but the effectiveness and the value of the coaching meeting for weeks beyond the coaching meeting.