Becoming an Executive Coach. Executive Coaching of a Major Defense Acquisition Program Leader

摘要

The importance of leadership to the performance of defense acquisition is clear. Committed to improving the results of acquisition programs--the quality and cost of products and services delivered to warfighters--the Defense Acquisition University initiated the training and certification of a small, select group of faculty as executive coaches. I had the privilege of being selected to be trained and prove myself as one of DAU's few executive coaches. It has been incredible journey of learning, growth and contribution. DAU Executive Coaching Flight School. When I was selected, I asked myself, 'What made me an ideal candidate to participate in this initiative.' Mentoring was a familiar concept, but what was the difference in skill sets between that and coaching. What did it mean to be an executive coach. Many other questions surfaced. In my experience, mentoring was rather straightforward and welldefined. It encompassed career progression. The mentor and protegee usually worked in the same line of business. Strangely enough, I quickly learned that an executive coach is not required to have direct experience in the coachee's occupational role. Executive coaching is also more formal than mentoring and concentrates on specific developmental areas. Its intent is to produce a dramatic impact on entire organizations.