Do Executive Coaches Work for the CEO or the Company?

As a longtime coach for startup founders and CEOs, there are always a few questions I ask before I agree to become somebody’s coach. The first question is whether I am working for the CEO or the company. It’s an important distinction that must be made right off the bat.

Most people would say I work for the company. Assuming that’s the case, there is an even harder question next. If I ever feel that the CEO I’m coaching isn’t the right person to lead the company, should I tell that founder? You can see why there is a little gray area with this issue.

Why do I ask these tough questions? For starters, my focus as a coach is to focus on the effectiveness of the company. Some executive coaches are focused on the personal growth of the founder or CEO. However, I’m always trying to deliver the best results for the startup.

I should be clear that it’s never my intention to get rid of a founder. However, answering tough questions is an important part of being a founder. It can help founders adapt to the role they will need to play for their business to succeed. Keep in mind that the role of the founder needs to change over time. What works at the beginning isn’t necessarily what is going to work as that startup begins to grow.

In the end, asking tough questions will make founders more resilient to future changes. In fact, I have found that the CEOs who can pose difficult questions to themselves and ask if they are truly the right fit end up being the best leaders. This is why it’s best to find a coach who will ask the hard questions and force startup leaders to take a close look at themselves and the role they will play in the future.