Experience is the Real Value of Executive Coaching

The older I get, the more respect I have for my elders. The phrase; "Experience is a cruel teacher, it gives the test first, then the lesson." echoes in my mind and my reaction is to want to learn everything I can from those who have forged their own paths. I know that I don't know what I don't know and that the only way I will ever know is to ask and listen to others who might know.

In life and as an entrepreneur, you have likely also been fortunate to have many who have shared the wisdom of their experience with you. From my nana to my executive coach, each have given me another piece to the puzzle, or step in the evolution of my best self. What do I do best and who can that help the most?

I was reminded of this through a conversation with one executive coach recently. A friend told him that he needed to write his memoir and story before he got too old and forgot it. I read halfway through Ed Kleinman's book; The Joint Venture the first time I opened up the download on my Kindle. The book is about Ed's journey, from listening to the music his older brother listened to in the mid-1950s to working with bands and entertainers from the ’60s to the ’80s. It is filled with stories regarding bands and entertainers he worked with, managed, and knew. Ed learned a lot of lessons over the years, from some very high-level entertainment businesspeople and artists that helped and inspired him in today’s business world.

Ed's life story is an example of how our experiences and memories shape us into our best selves. It is also an example of the value of an executive coach. It is because of his experiences that Ed is able to help others.

How Can A Business Coach Help You Grow Your Business?

During another conversation with executive coach Lori Richardson, we discussed her recent debate with Velocify CEO on whether or not the science of sales is overtaking the art of sales. We agreed that an integration between art and science is needed for a delighted customer experience and for scalable business growth. But we also both sided more of the importance of the art, or the experience, that is needed for 21st century business growth. People still want to buy from people.

How can a business or executive coach help to blend the gap between art and science for your business? Executing a business growth strategy means not just knowing what you need to do, but how you need to do it. How best to do something comes from learned experience.

Combining art and science, process and instinct, experience with technology, millennials and baby boomers is about getting the context right. Each can come up with something the other has not heard or thought of before and balance one another.

3 Benefits of Executive Coaching

If experience is our greatest teacher then it should also be one of the reasons to hire an executive coach. To take things to the next phase in your business, finding those with the experiences you can learn from and who are willing and able to share it with you could be one of your greatest assets.

• Skills training with a process map.
  Athletes follow a process to improve their skills. A coach oversees the process to ensure they stay on track and helps to point out where they need to improve their skills to make it to the next level. Without a process, you don't know what the next level is. With the skills to get there, you will never be able to reach the next stage of growth. 
• Emotional intelligence enabled through technology.
  Technology alone can not fix stupid. Ok, you are right, that is harsh. Let me rephrase. Technology can be used to reduce human error, create a faster process, and give us the clues we need as humans to create a better experience. We need to have the emotional intelligence to know what to do next with the clues technology gives us. Just got notified that someone opened your email? Great! Now what should you do next? An experienced business coach can help you use technology to create valuable relationships by helping you figure out what to do next.
• Develop opportunities, don't wait for them. 
  A business coach can help you react quickly to the things that matter while at the same time helping you to learn to listen to your own intuition. You got a lead in today, why haven't you called, emailed and texted them yet? What is important to know and how do you use that information to best connect with people?

A Personal Plea- Let's Save the Nanas.

As I said in the beginning, I have had many teachers. My Nana was one of the first. Having lived through WWII and the Great Depression, she has many stories to tell and experiences to share. But her stories, and that of many generations, is getting lost to Alzheimer's. Losing your memories and experiences is a loss for everyone, not just the person who is afflicted.

The value of the experiences of those who have seen the changes, the trends and the disruptions play out is priceless. If you think so too, help me end Alzheimer's on my personal donation page.