WHAT CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CTO COACHES AND COACHING PROGRAMS

Many executives ask: What are CTO coaches and what type of work do professionals do? The answer is that most typically provide guidance, advice, and mentoring to Chief Technology Officers to help them be more effective leaders and succeed as managers. Common responsibilities and focus areas of a CTO coach would be…

• Leadership development – Helping executives as they work to enhance their leadership skills such as strategic thinking, vision setting, team building, influencing, conflict resolution, etc.
• Organizational strategy – Working with the management team to develop technology strategy aligned with business goals, plan organizational change, structure effective teams, etc.
• Goal-setting – Collaborating as a CTO coach to set professional development goals for the executives and create plans to achieve them.
• Performance improvement – Identifying working professionals’ strengths and needed development areas through assessments and helping them improve weaknesses.
• Executive presence – Coaching on executive communication styles, public speaking, executive presence, interacting with the CEO/Board, etc.
• Decision-making – Providing an objective sounding board for difficult strategy and investment decisions related to technology.
• Relationship management – Advising as a CTO coach on effective collaboration with peers, managing stakeholder expectations, and resolving interpersonal conflicts.
• Work/life balance – Helping the management team and its members maintain work-life equilibrium, manage stress, and lead by example for the organization.
• Career planning – Supporting the business leader’s career progression, succession planning, and navigating career transitions.

The bottom line here being that any given CTO coach serves as a trusted advisor, asking insightful questions and providing unbiased guidance and support. They help maximize the executive team member’s leadership impact to drive innovation and give the organization a technology advantage. Should you hire one to help you take your skills and talents to the next level? That all depends on where you think you range in terms of productivity and effectiveness and where you’re looking to brush up on a few new capabilities. Not to mention which CTO coach you’re thinking about choosing as well.