“A good coach will make their players see what they can be rather than what they are.”
—Ara Parseghian | Football coach
VIM Executive Coaching is a career and business coaching organization devoted to helping executives maximize their professional potential, not only in terms of improving their leadership and communication skills but in growing their authenticity, mindfulness and compassion.
We frequently post on many issues relating to executive leadership, but recently we were asked: “What sets you apart? What differentiates VIM, its coaches and its core philosophies?” The questions are fair.
Unbelievable!
The questions are also appropriate given the sheer numbers. The business of coaching has become huge; some might call it astronomical at approximately $20 billion on an annualized basis. There are at least 76,000 coaching organizations, with at least 130,000 “coaches,” nearly 5,000 podcasts and, frankly, no one can accurately estimate the number of books, workbooks, videos and seminars churned out by the industry.
Worse, the industry itself cannot really define what its coaches do, because unlike a physician, electrical engineer, jet pilot or architect, the credentialing for business coaches is a nebulous “black box” unrelated to the services provided.
Business coaches often range from fresh-out-of-college interns to professional athletes to actor-like motivational speakers to head-hunters. Most have never stepped foot in an organization, been in a workgroup, team, or business school for that matter.
We pride ourselves as always being pleasant, even-spirited, kind people, but when we realize that the business coaching industry is far too often an “easy-in,” high turnover, ill-defined concept, it greatly concerns us.
Who We Are
VIM Executive Coaching can point to at least 7 differentiators between our professional group and many other career coaching organizations. We would like to share these differentiators in brief and, as always, we are honored to share our methodology and credentials without any obligation.
- Our coaches are experienced. We are professionals with hands-on experience in more than 20-areas, ranging from finance to technology to healthcare. We match experienced coaches with executives in specific fields. We speak your language. We know the challenges. When a coaching client states a specific problem, we understand it not only from a human perspective but from an industry point-of-view.
- We are focused on our clients. We are, as Coach Parseghian stated, focused on what our clients can be, not on who they perceive themselves to be. We are not in the business of up-selling books or specialized programs or other frills. We value where you are, what troubles you, what makes you happy, and over-coming your challenges. We never believe in the one-size-fits-all mentality. In short, we believe in you.
- We are sounding boards. Simply put, we listen, reflect, respond and share. We don’t dictate or give-out canned, AI-generated answers. Your needs are unique to you. Experience has taught us never to judge or come at a client with an agenda. To be a sounding board with an agenda is fakery. A true sounding board is a compassionate proposition between the coach and a real-person needing help with issues.
- Career coaching is a joint effort. Our success is determined by your success, not by how many things we can sell, or how many pages of a huge book we can cover, or how many courses we can push. Most of our coaches remain “friendly supports” with clients long after formal coaching might end.
- The curriculum. VIM Executive Coaching has developed a unique curriculum totally exclusive to us, honed after more than 25-years of solid coaching experience. Our curriculum extends from the concepts of mindfulness going back to ancient Japan to the most modern concepts of today’s world.
- Coaches. VIM coaches are trained on our curriculum and we advise, teach and reflect from that. We always come from a place of authenticity and compassion. We recognize that every client who comes to us does so because they are seeking a trusted partner and not a “parrot.” It is easy to offer advice, but far more difficult to understand and appreciate the challenges each client is facing.
- Transparency. Everything we do is transparent. It comes from being authentic and from years of success and hard work. We don’t play games with clients.
Ask us questions. We are anxious to answer and help you on your journey.