Let me start by painting the bigger picture first. In general (wether it’s in life, business or executive coaching) there are two approaches: transactional and transformational.
Transactional coaching is described as an exchange (or transaction) between the coach and coachee to achieve clearly defined goals (often described in ‘external’ terms, like: loose weight, time management, influencing up and down, communicate better, grow your business, fix relationship, etc.). Transactional coaching is therefor more or less solution focussed. It’s more about doing and not so much about being.
Transformational coaching is focussed on enabling self-actualisation. Transformational coaching dives deep into a coachees psyche, focussing on who the coachee is and desires to become. It’s more about being and not so much about doing.
The higher one climbs up the corporate ladder, the lesser it is about what you know or what you do, but more about who you are and how you see, and present, yourself.
That is why executive coaching plays an important role in business. A combination of transactional and transformational coaching leads to a better understanding of what your role in your organisation is and how you can effectively lead your people and your business into a prosperous future in a cool, calm, collected and empowering way.
Happier people with a sense of purpose are more effective, creative and collaborative which in turn leads to a higher productivity.