The Importance of a Sounding Board

Frustration and burnout. They’re not uncommon among executives and CEOs, and part of the problem is that all too often you have no one to turn to. Leading an organization or team is hard to do in the best of times, but without someone there to listen, comment, ask questions, and offer advice, it can feel next to impossible. The idea that it’s lonely at the top certainly isn’t new. For CEOs, there are literally hundreds of conversations that simply can’t be had with another person in their organization, and that can be tough. From struggling with important decisions to dealing with conflict, to feelings of uncertainty, the chance to discuss ideas, problems, and even successes is a must. 

Finding a Sounding Board

In the past, many executives had personal or professional mentors that provided this level of interaction. These days, though, few people have mentors, and finding a place to turn is complicated. The answer to this is: Executive Coaching.

More Than Listening

While playing the role of a sounding board is certainly an integral part of any executive coaching session, there’s more to it than that. A CEO or executive might invest in coaching so they have someone to bounce ideas off of, but they leave with serious benefits. By ‘talking through’ issues, ideas, and ideals with a coach, executives can:

• Discuss current and lingering issues at a deeper level than can be discussed with others within the organization
• Develop personal and professional goals that help to target and focus their thinking and actions
• Investigate why initiatives in the past were or were not successful, keeping them from repeating mistakes in the future
• Bring to light various perspectives and unique angles to the problems at hand, helping them think ‘outside of the box’
• Holistically look at issues and solutions, ensuring they are engaged in “big picture thinking” rather than quick fixes
• Focus on action items, ensuring conversations lead to actionable steps

A sounding board is designed to give you the outlet you need, helping you find your own ways of tackling the problems that help to invigorate your work or your organization as a whole. Executive coaches can be those outside ears that help initiate that change.