According to the HR Magazine website, you have to choose someone who has the following five skills that are absolutely necessary for an executive coach. You can also use these skills as criteria for evaluating the success of executive coaching in your company.
1. The art of listening
An executive coach must be able to perceive not only what the manager says, but also what remains unsaid, and he must understand body language. Above all, he must be able to establish a personal relationship with the manager on the basis of trust that will allow the manager to speak openly about how he perceives cooperation.
2. Ability to share feedback
An executive coach must be prepared for the fact that he may be the first person the manager hears honest feedback from. This doesn't mean, however, that the feedback should only be negative. To gain the manager's trust, create a more open relationship and inspire him to assess his own behavior, a coach also needs the ability to praise.
3. Ability to ask
The essence of coaching is the art of asking questions. Good coaches can ask the right questions because they listen, and also because of their own interest and curiosity. A coach has to be able to see though the eyes of his coachee to help him reveal his own way of thinking and behavior.
4. Full attention
The manager needs to feel that his coach gives him his full attention and responds to specific events and information during each session. If the coach only asks general questions or pays attention to unrelated issues, the manager will perceive it as negative and untrustworthy.
5. Practical experience
Even a young person can be a good coach, but that's really an exception. Coaching at the executive level requires more than communication skills and professional studies. Top managers consider coaches to be more trustworthy if they have had similar experiences in business and life.
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