What Is Executive Coaching? (And What It Isn't)

Executive coaching is a confidential, 1-on-1 partnership focused on your growth as a leader. Learn what it is, what it isn't, and who it's for.

LEADERSHIPEXECUTIVE COACHING

Steve Roskamp

10/12/20261 min read

Executive coaching gets confused with a lot of other things. Let's clear that up.

Executive coaching is a structured, confidential partnership focused on one thing: your growth as a leader. It's one-on-one, it's built around you, and it has no agenda other than yours.

What executive coaching isn't

It isn't therapy. It isn't mentorship. And it isn't a performance improvement plan with a nicer name. You don't need to be struggling to benefit from it, and nobody is trying to fix you.

What executive coaching is

Good executive coaching starts with a simple idea: your biggest leadership challenge is leading yourself. Strategy, talent, and market matter. But the ceiling on a leader's growth is often their own blind spots.

In 1-on-1 coaching, we work on that layer directly. We use two assessments, the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) and the Saboteur Assessment, to see what motivates you and which inner voices steer your decisions. Then we meet regularly, focus on what you're facing that week, and you take a concrete practice into the days between sessions.

If you want the step-by-step version, read how executive coaching works.

Who executive coaching is for

Executives and leaders across the United States and Canada. The leaders who get the most from it are often already doing well. They want to close the gap between how they think they're leading and how they're actually landing.

Not sure that gap exists for you? Our post on signs you need an executive coach is a good place to check.

Why it works for leaders

Most leaders don't have a place to think out loud without it getting political. A coach has no stake in your office politics, and everything you share stays confidential. That makes it possible to look honestly at leadership blind spots you can't see from the inside. That's what makes them blind spots.

How to get started

Begin with a free consultation. We talk about where you are and what you're trying to build, and we decide together whether coaching is a fit. If you'd like to start, email steve@achillesconsultinggroup.com to book a free consultation.

Want to see how Achilles works with teams and organizations too? Explore our leadership services.