140 50 TOPEXECUTIVECOACHES
PRACTITIONERS
John Alexander
A
t the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), we specialize in coaching
that concentrates on leadership and personal development. It is feedback-
intensive, behaviorally focused, and results oriented. It can stand alone or be
integrated into a larger developmental initiative, either as a one-to-one expe-
rience or in group or team settings. Whatever the situation, we devote a lot
oftime to two aspects of coaching—the overall process and the actual con-
tent and conduct of the coaching sessions.
Process includes things such as organizational context and support for the
coaching experience, appropriate pairing of coaches with coachees, design of
the coaching program, assessment of client needs and desired outcomes, and
postprogram evaluation. The importance of these factors cannot be over-
emphasized. Too often, not enough time is spent assessing the purpose and de-
sired outcomes of the coaching, the readiness of the coachee and fit with the
coach, assumptions of organizational sponsors, and the organizational context
in which the coaching takes place.
Coaching experiences are, of course, as varied as the leaders and coaches
who participate in them. At CCL, we have developed a core framework of
coaching that provides a helpful structure while allowing the infinite diversity
ofcoaching experiences to unfold. That framework consists of three elements:
John A lex ander is President and CEO of the Center for
Creative Leadership, an international, nonprofit educa-
tional institution devoted to research and teaching in
leadership and leadership development. As a participant
in the Center ’s coaching network, John gives feedback in
the Center’s f lagship Leadership Development Program
and periodically serves as a coach to senior executives.
Organizational highlights during John’s tenure as presi-
dent include two number-one rankings in the Leadership
category in the BusinessWeeknondegree executive education survey and a Top
20 ranking for nondegree executive education providers worldwide in a Finan-
cial Timessurvey. In 1979, John was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in editorial
writing. John may be contacted at CCL’s headquarters in Greensboro, NC by
telephone at (336) 286-4002, via e-mail at [email protected], or on the
Internet at http://www.ccl.org.