How much experience do you have working at or with senior leadership level?

I've held a senior leadership role myself (director level or above)

I've worked closely with senior leaders as a peer or advisor

I've had some exposure to leadership teams

Do you hold a recognised coaching credential (ICF, EMCC, AC or equivalent)?

Yes, at an advanced level (PCC/MCC or equivalent)

Yes, at foundation level (ACC or equivalent)

I'm currently in training toward one

How comfortable are you challenging a senior leader who is wrong?

Very — I can do it directly while keeping the relationship intact

Fairly — I do it, though I tend to soften it

It depends heavily on the person and the day

I find it difficult and usually avoid it

Do you work with a supervisor or use regular reflective practice?

Yes — regular supervision on a set schedule

Occasionally, when a case troubles me

I reflect alone but have no supervisor

How do you handle it when a client's stated goal isn't the real issue?

I name what I'm noticing and let the client decide where to go

I ask questions until they surface it themselves

I usually keep working on the stated goal

I'm not always confident I'd spot the difference

How clear are you on the boundary between coaching and therapy?

Very clear, and I have referred clients on when needed

Clear in principle, though I've not had to act on it

Somewhat clear — the edges feel blurry

How well do you understand how large organisations buy coaching?

Very well — I've navigated procurement, HR and budget cycles

Reasonably — I've sold to one or two organisations

Can you speak credibly about the business context your clients operate in?

Yes — P&L, strategy and org dynamics are familiar ground

Mostly, within the sectors I know

Do you have a defined pricing structure for executive engagements?

Yes — clear packages priced at executive-market rates

Yes, though I suspect I'm underpricing

How do you handle three-way contracting between coach, coachee and sponsor?

I run a structured three-way process with explicit confidentiality terms

I cover it informally at the start

How specific is your niche?

Very — a defined role, sector and problem I'm known for

Broad — I coach most kinds of leader

Where does your next executive client most likely come from?

A warm referral network that reliably produces leads

Past clients and occasional referrals

Do you have social proof at executive level — testimonials, case studies, results?

Yes — named senior clients with measurable outcomes

Some testimonials, though light on specifics

A little, mostly from non-executive clients

Are You Ready to Be an Executive Coach? The Readiness Scorecard 🧭

Coaching senior leaders is a different game from coaching individuals. The stakes are higher, the buyer is usually an organisation rather than a person, and credibility is won before the first session starts.

This executive coaching readiness scorecard scores you across four dimensions — Credibility & Experience, Coaching Craft, Business & Commercial, and Positioning & Pipeline — so you can see exactly where you are strong and where the gap is.

14 questions, about 4 minutes, with a radar chart and a concrete next step for each dimension.