Today's communication leaders face extraordinary challenges in a more complex and rapidly changing world. We're working more with less and navigating an increasing array of expectations. It's no surprise that more leaders are benefiting from executive coaching. Executive coaches provide insights and knowledge to help you achieve professional and personal goals. Like an elite athlete, leaders can find new ways to up their game and improve performance at work. I recently asked Karen Khaw, Founder and Director of V-Engage, Australia, five questions about the executive coaching industry. Karen specialises in helping businesses and individuals realise their potential through bespoke consulting and coaching on business strategy, strategic communications marketing, content and digital experience. She lives a portfolio career.

1. Lisa MacMillan: Why do you believe mid to senior communicators need a coach?

Karen Khaw: Communicators deal with different levels of problem-solving every day, and their role often entails working through issues and crises. While the role of communicators has never been more critical than during the pandemic, the workload has at least doubled with no signs of slowing down. Heads of communications are also dealing with a talent exodus and lack thereof. Being in communications for over 20 years, I understand the emotional roller coaster of the role. I believe every communications leader needs to have their coach to keep their goals on track. Just to be precise, a coach is not a therapist or counsellor. A coach deals with the present and finds ways to achieve goals. A coach is not a mentor and will not give you all the answers. Through coaching, you will be guided to discover ways that will work for you over a series of consecutive yet regular sessions often for at least over six months. The duration can vary but need to be sufficient to see shifts.

2. Lisa MacMillan: How does a coach bring value to communications professionals?

Karen Khaw: A coach is a trusted friend who is there for you and can be of great value to anyone, not just communications professionals. However, it adds more value if you have a coach with background and experience in your industry, field or market. Coaches are active listeners who help you reflect and work towards your goals. While coaches don't give answers, they provide relevant insights that are helpful if you're looking to navigate the next stage of your career. I have seen many communicators burnout, and they are often some of the most talented individuals that were too afraid or busy to ask for help. Communicators tend to put a lot of effort into promoting and protecting their stakeholders and brand, which compromises their career journey and well-being. I hope to help communicators tackle the situation early to take control of their journey. If you already have an internal coach, I suggest connecting with an independent and external coach to support your longer-term goals.

3. Lisa MacMillan: What are some of the most pressing topics/areas that a coach can address?

Karen Khaw: Technically, any accredited coach can guide their client to getting closer to meeting their goal. Some coaches specialise while others don't. More common areas coaches specialise in include career, life, transitions, executive and mindfulness. In practice, a coach is there to guide the client to find the solutions or answers themselves to meet the client's goal. As confidentiality is important in coaching, some more common areas I have come across in the past two years include: dealing with burnout, managing social media usage, career transitions, managing personal and professional relationships, finding life's purpose and navigating a complex working environment. This year, while these themes are still relevant, staying focus and reassessing their career aspirations are also coming into play.

4. Lisa MacMillan: Where are you seeing the greatest challenges in your work?

Karen Khaw: In coaching, we adopt a growth mindset to see opportunities rather than challenges. Coaching is still a relatively new concept, and some also feel it's only for very senior leaders. While in some markets in Asia, there's a belief that there's something wrong with you if you have a coach. There is confusion between a therapist, a coach, and a mentor and the misunderstanding that a coach will give you all the answers, which isn't the case. The power of coaching requires a clear goal and commitment by both parties for a significant amount of time. There are no quick wins in coaching. Before every coaching relationship starts, I will insist on having a 'discovery call' where I openly discuss expectations, look to define the scope and goal, and ascertain if commitment exists. The only exception is that a coach can offer insights based on their experience (for example, I have a background in communications which might help other communicators I coach as I understand the terminology). I suggest meeting online or in-person with your coach before engaging to ensure you feel right. Trust is really important as it is a medium to a long-term relationship.

5. Lisa MacMillan: How has the coaching space evolved over the past two years since the beginning of the pandemic?

Karen Khaw: Given the unprecedented times, coaching has become crucial to helping many maintain focus. Interestingly, though, the acceptance of virtual meetings has given clients access to a broader range of coaches as they can be located anywhere in the world. While face-to-face is great, coaching on zoom means complete one-on-one focus with your client. Coaching is all about the client. The landscape has also triggered more coaches to upskill in mental health and mindfulness, which are two very important areas to help clients keep a healthy balance in their lives. I have also seen more appetite around life and career coaching, with the latter closely aligned with the 'great resignation' or 'great reshuffling' trend. It will be pretty interesting to see what will happen next as some parts of the world gradually get back to the alternative norm. I would expect that hybrid coaching will continue with a combination to face to face and online coaching.

Learn more about Executive Coaching here.