In one tender this Spring with a Fortune 50 company, based in the UK, who wanted to partner with best in class coaches the selection process was outsourced and involved a rigorous application form followed by a 2hrs session in a coach assessment centre (i.e. live coaching session with panel).
According to this client, "the competence and suitability of executive coaches in the marketplace varies dramatically and neither paper qualifications nor client recommendation have proven to be accurate indicators of coach quality".
In Ireland, ESB recently conducted a six month procurement exercise involving some 94 tender applications being narrowed down to just five successful applicants (of which Xenergie was one - see article).

 

On the other side of the continuum, it is not unusual that I am called by an HR business partner just asking for price quotes without understanding what they are seeking.  It's a bit like buying a diamond - you need to understand the qualities, options and fit for purpose - the differences between a qualified coach, an accredited Executive Coach and a coach with specific expertise or additional consulting/mentoring skills such as systems thinking and track record of relevant business experience.  Also the different approaches to coaching - from 1-1 coaching for performance improvement, to developing leaders to group and team coaching for transforming whole organisational cultures.   All these make a difference to what you are buying, the needs of the situation and the desired outcomes/benefits to the coachee and the organisation.   Quality diamonds don't come cheap but their sparkle lasts forever!

 

The purpose of this month's eZine is to shine the light on best business practice in the selection of external Executive Coaches and how to pick a diamond from the rocks that will bring your organisation real value.