Hewitt Associates has conducted some interesting research that documents the positive, long‐term relationship between investment in leadership development and long‐term financial success. Their research shows that companies that invest in developing leaders tend to have greater long‐term profits.
According to their report, 47 percent of companies rated for strong leadership regularly assign coaches to their executives. They know coaching provides a powerful way to accelerate performance and strengthen leadership. Regular use of executive coaches separates top companies from the rest.
“There’s no question that future leaders will need constant coaching,” notes Ram Charan, author of Leadership in the Era of Economic Uncertainty. “As the business
environment becomes more complex, they will increasingly turn to coaches for help in understanding how to act.”
Coaching leaders yields tangible bottom‐line results. First and foremost, it allows them to know and understand themselves more deeply. On a more pragmatic level, it helps them successfully grapple with day‐to‐day issues.
A review of white papers and research literature reveals that executives who received coaching cite far‐reaching benefits that extend from the superficial to the profound, including:
1. Leadership – developing interpersonal and team leadership skills
2. Self‐Awareness – becoming more aware of strengths and shortcomings, understanding one’s impact on others and being better able to control behavior
3. Life‐balance – balancing personal and professional roles more effectively
