The healthcare industry is constantly evolving and healthcare professionals are expected to keep pace with the changes.
Healthcare professionals must balance multiple administrative priorities, while maintaining current knowledge to deal with complex cases, and stay up-to-date with the latest advances in the field. In today’s environment, they also often need to navigate changing corporate culture and shifting responsibilities, due to mergers and acquisitions.
It’s no wonder that the pressure can sometimes be overwhelming, and even the most experienced professionals struggle.
This is where executive coaching comes in. Executive coaching is a process that helps professionals improve their performance by developing their skills and knowledge, and enhancing their perspectives and attitudes. Healthcare professionals who engage in executive coaching can benefit from the guidance of an experienced coach who can help them navigate the challenges of their profession.
In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive guide to the executive coaching process for healthcare professionals.
Define The Goals of The Coaching Relationship
The first step in the executive coaching process is to define the goals of the coaching relationship.
The coach and the healthcare professional work together to establish clear objectives that the professional will achieve through the coaching process.
These objectives can include improving clinical skills, developing leadership abilities, or enhancing communication skills.
Conduct A Thorough Assessment
Once the objectives have been established, the coach and professional will collaborate together to thoroughly assess the healthcare professional’s current skills, knowledge, perspectives, and attitudes. They will also assess the professional’s areas of greatest challenge in their role.
The assessment may include interviews, surveys, and other methods to gather information about the professional’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Develop A Coaching Action Plan
Based on the assessment, the coach and the professional will clarify the professional’s specific coaching goals. They will then develop an action plan that outlines the steps the healthcare professional needs to take to achieve their goals.
The coaching action plan will be customized for the specific needs and goals of the individual and may include a combination of training, mentoring, and other customized strategies.
Implement The Coaching Action Plan
Once the action plan has been developed, it is time to implement it. The coach and the healthcare professional will work together to implement the strategies outlined in the action plan. This may involve strategies, such as, attending training sessions, practicing new skills, or seeking colleague feedback.
Monitor Progress
As the healthcare professional begins to implement the action plan, the coach will monitor their progress and provide ongoing support and feedback. In addition, the coach may adjust the action plan as needed to ensure the professional is on track to achieve their goals.
Evaluate The Coaching Relationship
At the end of the coaching relationship, the coach and the healthcare professional will evaluate the effectiveness of the coaching process. This evaluation may include feedback from the healthcare professional, feedback from colleagues, and an assessment comparing the healthcare professional’s performance, in specific targeted areas, before and after the coaching process.
How Can an Executive Coach Make a Difference for a C-Level Healthcare Professional?
Let’s say that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of a large hospital system is struggling with burnout and is finding it challenging to balance the job’s demands with their personal life. The CMO has been in the role for several years and is highly respected in the organization, but they are starting to feel like they are not performing at their best.
An executive coach can help the CMO by thoroughly assessing their current situation, including their workload, time management strategies, and personal priorities. The coach can then work with the CMO to establish clear and specific goals for the coaching relationship, such as improving time management, increasing delegation, enhancing team accountability, reducing stress, and improving work-life balance.
Based on the assessment, the coach can develop an action plan that includes strategies such as delegating tasks to other team members, setting boundaries around work hours and availability, and developing new self-care routines.
The coach and the CMO would then work together to implement the action plan. This may involve attending training sessions, practicing new time management techniques, establishing new strategies to improve employee accountability, and seeking feedback from colleagues and direct reports.
Throughout the coaching relationship, the coach would monitor the CMO’s progress and provide ongoing support and feedback. The coach may also adjust the action plan to ensure the CMO is on track to achieve their goals.
At the end of the coaching relationship, the coach and the CMO would evaluate the effectiveness of the coaching process. This evaluation may include feedback from the CMO, feedback from colleagues, and an assessment comparing the CMO’s performance and mindset before and after the coaching process.
By working with an executive coach, the CMO can improve their performance, reduce stress, avoid burnout, and achieve a better work-life balance. This would benefit both the CMO and the organization, as a whole, as the CMO could lead more effectively, make better decisions, improve accountability, and also improve their personal life and well-being.
Contact Marilyn Fettner, LCPC, NCC, CCC, CPVC
Want to unlock your leadership potential and enhance your success in the healthcare field? Contact Marilyn Fettner for an executive coaching session today!
With decades of experience in healthcare and executive coaching, Marilyn has the know-how and expertise to help you develop the skills you need to achieve professional success and satisfaction.
Learn more about how the executive coaching process can help you now by clicking here.