When’s the best time to initiate coaching? Here are some of the most common practices:

• When a senior executive needs to adapt to a new and crucial role;
  
  
• When a valued executive encounters performance problems that demand new skills and/or behavioural changes;
  
  
• When highly regarded employees need to be actively groomed for new leadership roles;
  
  
• When a senior executive (especially the CEO) needs a confidant to help work through difficult strategic and operational decisions.  The coach helps the executive analyze issues and examine alternative courses of action in a safe, supportive environment.