Executive Focus- Our Services

Executive Focus offers EXECUTIVE COACHING and LEADERSHIP TEAM solutions.

Executive Focus offers 2 standard programs which both follow our 4-Phased Coaching Approach:

1. TRANSITION COACHING
2. LEADERSHIP COACHING

Both standard coaching programs provide 6 months of dedicated coaching and are customized in specific deliverables per the needs of the Executive. Custom coaching programs can be as brief as 3 months while others last for up to 12 months.

1. Transition Coaching Program

This program is one of the best investments an organization can make in an executive. Period. Numerous studies state at least 40% of newly promoted managers and executives fail within the first 18 months in a role. They don’t focus on what is critical nor build key relationships. This 6-month program is designed specifically for the needs of an executive beginning a new role. It provides crisp role clarity, identifies who and what is critical, and creates a road map to make progress quickly. In addition to the deliverables of the 4-phased approach, this program includes:

•	Introductory goal setting meeting with the Executive
•	Role clarification session with the Executive, her Manager, and the Coach
•	Customized “First 100 Days” Road Map
•	Creation of a Communication Plan
•	Identification of critical objectives and timeframes
•	Stakeholder analysis, and a plan to build the key relationships
•	Weekly coaching sessions of 90 minutes in length, then every other week

2. Leadership Coaching Program

This 6-month program provides the executive with structured, personalized leadership development with candid and confidential support. The objectives vary by client, but the proven methodology is similar. In addition to the deliverables of the 4-phased approach, this program includes:

•	Introductory goal setting meeting with the Executive
•	Goal review meeting with the Executive, her Manager, and the Coach
•	Identification of success criteria
•	Clarification of the role of the Manager and the organization going forward

These 2 programs are designed to meet the needs of 90% of the Executives with whom we work. For the remaining 10%, we further customize a solution appropriate to the client’s needs and goals. Several instances have been:

•	Coaching an Executive Director to lead more productive and engaged team meetings.
•	Monthly “check-in” sessions for an executive who completed the standard coaching program. He now uses us solely as a sounding board.
•	Intensive shadowing, videotaping, feedback, and practice sessions for a VP whose role needed crisp presentation skills

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Accelerating Leadership Team Performance

Strong teams create strong organizational results. Yet we’ve each suffered through painful, boring, unproductive team meetings. It doesn’t have to be that way – and it’s probably your job to make it better.

Leadership teams set the direction for the company or organization and are different than project teams. Because they set the direction for the rest of the organization, it is imperative that leadership teams operate effectively. The stakes are higher. They need to be lightening rods for and champions of the organization’s direction.

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for every team. There are however predictable stages to be addressed for better results. We help you get a clear picture of where you are and what needs to happen next. Including your role.

We work with teams that:

•	Have sharp members yet struggle with decisions, direction, or effective meetings
•	Are clear on the team purpose but less clear on the role and deliverables of all members
•	Have one or two strong personalities that can pull a team off course
•	Have polite conversation but don’t discuss the real issues, or what is on everyone’s mind
•	Make vastly different individual assumptions about how the team will operate

Our Approach:

We first understand the business reasons for the group; the real work the team has to do together, and the role that each member is to play. We help teams understand why they exist and what they’re supposed to do. Often, there are no shared goals, work product, or reason for the “team.”

We next assess where the team is, in terms of what it does well, the hurdles it faces, what it wants to do better, and why they want to change (the business case). We usually interview team members as well as key customers. That way, we learn how the team views itself and how they are perceived by customers.

We then make a plan with the executive outlining the steps to move them forward.

Common issues we encounter and improve:

	CATEGORY	QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
1	Lack of clear team purpose	Why are we here? What do we need to do?
2	Lack of role clarity	What’s my role? What does he/she do?
3	Assumed ways of working	How are decisions made? What is covered at meetings?
4	Personal styles getting in the way - leader or key participants	What are the ground rules? What’s my role in this? How do our personalities affect the meeting?
5	Lack of open dialogue	What’s the real issue we need to discuss?

Team development is hard work, simple in concept, and can be fun. Everyone expects the silver bullet solution. However, it takes commitment to incrementally enhance a team, rather than a one-time event.

High performing teams just don’t happen by themselves. They consistently take small steps to improve their performance and effectiveness – through regular tune ups. Executive Focus helps you identify, and then do what’s necessary to improve your team.

We actually make this “hard” work …… fun!

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Read several Case Studies of actual Executive Focus clients.