Secrets of an Executive Coach: Proven Methods for Helping Leaders Excel Under Pressure

by Alan Downs

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly - "Being an executive isn't easy, according to management psychologist and former HR executive Downs. Many leaders are constantly dealing with fundamentals of commitment, isolation, self-confidence, belonging and leading. Offering guidance to fellow coaches, Downs uses his own know-how and the knowledge of his peers. Fifteen chapters explore coaching techniques to help executives when they're feeling overwhelmed. The most important "trade secret," Downs says, is for an executive to be 'emotionally involved and committed to his job, organization, and career.' The rest of his advice stems from this tenet, and though the book is dense, those working with managers or directors will find solid guidance. "

Product Description:

It's not just faulty products and poor fiscal results that can throw an executive into crisis. The more prevalent and pernicious problems are personal in nature. A manipulative or hierarchical boss may be suffering a crisis of confidence; a stressed-out or uninterested colleague may struggle with a crisis of passion.

According to experienced psychologist and executive coach Alan Downs, these often dormant interior conflicts flare up when the crushing demands of the business world collide with the inner needs of the individual. His new book offers a fresh, eye-opening perspective on how to steer executives back to a successful career path.

Secrets of an Executive Coach uncovers six crises that cause people to fail. And unlike the prevailing corporate model, which advocates suppressing crises, Downs explains how to confront and resolve them using 11 essential coaching techniques, including role playing, self-imitation, metaphor map, and devil's advocate. These classic methods gain new relevance in this breakthrough approach.