80 50 TOPEXECUTIVECOACHES

an eternity in a business setting. Finally, it is the coach’s ability to judge the

pace and frequency of interaction that could be one of the most important

traits. Over the years, I have learned that some coachees require contact

every week while others require little communication, once they are clear on

the action required and are comfortable about the next steps. This does not

mean that the relationship should be totally guided by the coachee’s wishes,

but rather, on their needs.

The coach knows their efforts have been successful when the coachee

and the key players around the coachee agree that the coachee’s actions are

providing more positive impact and effectiveness in their day-to-day business

conduct. The sustainability of the change goes unquestioned when the

coachee feels comfortable that he or she is more effective and has adopted

the steps necessary to perform at their highest level. Put another way, sus-

tainability feels secured when the return on investment for the company and

the coachee has become clear.

Ken Siegel

I

n my view, executive coaching is somewhat symbolic in nature and ulti-

mately hollow because it rarely acknowledges (let alone treats) the self-

absorbed arrogance and interpersonal ineptitude extant in positions of

power. Even the use of the word “coach” taken from the socially competi-

tive, high-f lying world of sports, is a euphemism—a corporately acceptable

Kenneth N. Siegel, PhD, ABPP, is President of The

Impact Group, Inc., a Los Angeles-based group of

psychologists who consult to management. Over the

past 20 years, Dr. Siegel has provided management-

consulting services to a broad array of multinational

companies. He has lectured around the world in his spe-

cialty areas of leadership development, cultural clarity,

strategic alignment, team enhancement, management

development, conf lict, and executive coaching. Ken is also the author of the

recent book, So... You Call Yourself a Leader: 4 Steps to Becoming One

Wo rth Following. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].