Monthly Program

February 8, 2012

The Relationship in Executive Coaching: Fertile Ground and Land Mines
with Mark Burton, PsyD

Overview

Developing organizations often means assisting key individuals to become more effective through coaching. While many factors come into play, there is nothing more central to the success of executive coaching than the coach-coachee relationship. Research in executive coaching is beginning to yield findings similar to decades of research in psychotherapy – that, beyond technique, the quality of the coaching relationship is essential to achieving successful outcomes. While some aspects of a high quality coaching relationship are intuitive, others are less so. Having a working knowledge of the critical elements in a high quality coaching relationship can help anyone functioning in a coaching role achieve better outcomes.

In this interactive program, we’ll explore participant's reflections on coaching or mentoring relationships to uncover key factors that facilitate change. Research findings and case examples will also be provided, including how relationships can be maintained and enhanced when dealing with challenging coaching assignments. Anyone who serves in a coaching role, regardless of skill level, will benefit from this program, including OD practitioners, coaching professionals, and managers.

About the Speaker

Mark Burton has worked in the field of behavior change since 1978. He has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Psychology and obtained his Doctorate in Psychology in 1988. Mark has held managerial and quality improvement positions in both healthcare and corporate settings. He also has served as the President of the Oregon Psychological Association. Mark has coached business owners and executives for the past nine years including senior executive leaders from companies such as Nike and Waggener Edstrom.