Having a coach these days is almost a given, an essential part of any senior executive’s career portfolio. But while some leaders swear by their coaches, others just can’t seem to find the “right one.” What causes these wildly different experiences?

While there are multiple approaches and practices, coaching is primarily about emotional and intellectual support. It’s about providing a space for the coachee to develop and expand their mental model of understanding the world. Coaches communicate that support through their questions, inviting the coachees to pay attention to themselves and contexts they might otherwise miss. Coaches provide space and fill it with their intention and attention.

One common misconception is that the coach will “lead” the conversation or provide some magic solution to the coachee’s challenges. In reality, both parties must invest in the relationship for the experience to be truly effective.

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