Executive Coaching– not required for every Executive

I was having dinner with three college friends I hadn’t seen in a long time and one decided to tell a story about his therapist. Another chimed in with something about her therapist. Both these two were always very “touchy feely” and it didn’t surprise me that they had therapists. The third, a very practical scientific type, had something to add about his therapist too. They all turned and looked at me, probably because I had been uncharacteristically silent.

“Don’t look at me,” I quipped, “I’m not crazy!”

A couple months later in an airline lounge I overheard a similar conversation between three presumably up and coming young executives. One was pontificating on how helpful his executive coach was. The second added a couple of comments on his executive coach and their relationship. The third was silent until asked about his executive coach. “Oh I don’t have an executive coach,” he stated. The other two looked at him strangely as if something was seriously wrong; as if he was obviously not reaching his full potential as an executive and shortchanging his company and himself in the process. As fascinating as the conversation was, I decided to get a cup of coffee and talk to my 2 year old on the phone instead.

There is nothing wrong with having a therapist. Many people do and derive great benefits. The vast majority probably are not mentally ill either. But some of us neither have nor need a therapist. I know I don’t want a therapist, don’t feel I need one, and probably wouldn’t listen to one if pushed into therapy. I know of no study that says that everyone can benefit from having a therapist. I also know of no study that says that every executive can benefit from having an executive coach.

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