The value of coaching for leaders is often a missed opportunity. An effective coach can have a tremendous impact of a leader and their effectiveness within an organization.

My Story:

Google's Project Oxygen

Reading the Harvard Business School/Google Project Oxygen Study inspired me to get training as a coach after. It concluded the most important role of a manager is to: Be a good coach. Provide constructive feedback and personalized guidance to help employees grow and tackle challenges. This aligned with my passion and experience having helped dozens of individuals grow to make it to VP or C-Level. I also have experience Advising and coach various CEO and other execs.

About CD (Chris Dolezalek) - Co-Active Training Institute Certificate

I’ve completed the training and practical portions of the Coaching program by the Co-Active Training Institute. I’ve put that learning to good use since. I since enrolled in some refresher training.

Career History

I culminated the first part of my career taking BroadVision from Pre-IPO to a $25B valuation as VP of engineering. I took a break to give back to the community by having impact as a K-8 teacher. The temptation of the adrenaline rush of fast-paced, disruptive tech couldn’t keep me away. I re-entered that world of overcoming challenges by joining Intuit. Starting over as an IC, I then built a team that developed what became QuickBooks online.

My journey continued with transformative roles at IMVU, the cradle of The Lean Startup movement. This was followed by an early-stage Twitch, where, as EVP of Engineering. I scaled the engineering team threefold and played a pivotal role in the Amazon acquisition. At Pure Storage, I helped achieve an unprecedented 99.99999% reliability. At Prosper, I led a turnaround that countered the impacts of Covid, marking the best year in its 15-year history. I stayed with using AI and ML in the FinTech space to revolutionize investment strategies by joining Hum Capital as their EVP of R&D.

My career is marked by a fervent passion for embracing challenges and elevating companies to pinnacle moments, including three acquisitions and three IPO filings, with several ventures reaching unicorn status. I’m proud of the enduring relationships I’ve built, with numerous engineers and colleagues repeatedly joining me in these ventures.

Guided by the wisdom imparted by Bill Campbell during his departure from Intuit, I prioritize grooming successors and ensuring a seamless transition, leaving a legacy of success and stability. My journey reflects a blend of resilience, innovation, and leadership, driving transformative change and setting the stage for future success in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

A Coach’s Financial Impact:

  • ROI: A study by the International Coach Federation (ICF) found that companies reported an average return on investment (ROI) of 5.7 times the initial investment from executive coaching. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  • Revenue Growth: Coached organizations enjoyed a median revenue growth of 21%, compared to 11% for those without. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  • Sales Increases: One study found that coaching helped CEOs increase their net income by an average of 46%. (Source: The Angel Advisors, 2023)

Leadership Development:

  • Improved Communication: 58% of companies say that coaching improved communication within their teams. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  • Enhanced Self-Awareness: 70% of coached employees report improved work performance. (Source: upcoach, 2023)
  • Stronger Relationships: 86% of executives reported substantial improvements in their working relationships after undergoing coaching. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)

Industry Growth and Acceptance:

  • Market Size: The executive coaching market is worth over $1 billion annually and is expected to reach $11.6 billion by 2027. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  • Demand Surge: 47% of human resources leaders increased their investment in coaching and mentoring programs in 2021. (Source: upcoach, 2023)
  • CEO Utilization: 39% of CEOs have an executive coach, with usage increasing in larger companies. (Source: upcoach, 2023)

Additionally:

  • 87% of participants in a study agreed that business coaching has a long-lasting impact on employee performance. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  • 77% of HR professionals believe coaching is an effective way to improve leadership skills. (Source: ZipDo, 2023)
  1. Percent of New Leaders Failing Within 12-24 Months:
    • Research shows a significant proportion of new leaders face challenges that can lead to failure. A study by the Corporate Executive Board indicates that about 50-70% of executives fail within the first 18 months of being appointed to an executive position. This failure is often attributed to a lack of adequate support, preparation, or alignment with organizational culture.
  2. Percent of Businesses Failing Within the First Three Years:
    • According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.

Other Statistics Commonly Used to Convey the Value of Coaching or Having an Advisor:

Improvement in Performance and Productivity:

Coaching is often linked to significant improvements in personal and team productivity. For example, the International Coach Federation (ICF) reports that over 70% of individuals who receive coaching benefited from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills.

ROI:

The ICF also states that the average return on investment (ROI) for companies investing in coaching is seven times the initial investment. Some organizations even report an ROI of 49 times the initial investment.

Employee Engagement and Retention:

Companies with strong coaching cultures tend to have higher employee engagement and retention rates. A study by Gallup found that organizations with high employee engagement report 21% greater profitability.

Succession Planning:

Effective coaching can aid in successful succession planning, preparing future leaders and reducing the risk of leadership gaps.

Reduction in Stress and Burnout: Coaching can help individuals manage stress and prevent burnout, which is particularly important in high-stress environments.

The value of having a coach or advisor, particularly in the context of business leadership, is supported by a variety of statistics. These statistics highlight the impact of coaching on individual and organizational performance, engagement, and financial outcomes.

  1. Impact on Business Measures and ROI:
    • A study involving a Fortune 500 company found that 77% of respondents indicated that coaching significantly impacted at least one of nine business measures, including productivity and employee satisfaction. This study concluded that Executive Coaching yielded a 788% ROI. Excluding the benefits from employee retention, a 529% ROI was delivered​

​.Another research by Manchester, Inc., involving executives from Fortune 1000 companies, showed that a company’s investment in Executive Coaching realized an average ROI of almost six times the cost of the coaching​​. ICF found that 86% of organizations saw an ROI on their coaching engagements, with tangible factors like increased productivity, higher levels of overall employee performance, reduced costs, and growth in revenue and sales​

Improvement in Work Performance and Relationships:

  • Over 70% of individuals who receive coaching benefited from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills. This underscores the role of coaching in enhancing personal effectiveness and team dynamics​

​.In a survey of 100 executives, 86% reported substantial improvements in their working relationships after undergoing coaching​

Human Resources Investments:

  • In 2021, 47% of human resources leaders increased their investment in coaching and mentoring programs, reflecting the growing recognition of the importance of these initiatives in nurturing talent and driving organizational success​

Impact on Leadership Skills and Employee Engagement:

  • Approximately 77% of HR professionals believe coaching is an effective way to improve leadership skills. This highlights the correlation between proficient leadership and business success​

​.Coached organizations enjoy a median revenue growth of 21%, emphasizing the tangible benefits of business coaching​​.56% of companies implementing coaching reported an increase in employee engagement levels​

Preference for External Coaches:

  • Business coaching is most effective when delivered by external coaches, with 57.4% of organizations in a survey making use of them​

Long-lasting Impact on Employee Performance:

  • 87% of participants in a study agreed that business coaching has a long-lasting impact on employee performance​

Financial Performance Impact:

  • A study found that coaching positively impacts financial performance, with a 39% increase in financial results among companies with strong coaching cultures​

See Also

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