Jennifer Selby Long

That's been a real interesting space for us to work in because those chief experience officers have often end-to-end processes that include a great deal of technology driving the change, but it's all about getting the people to change how they work, how they think. In some cases, it radically alters and uplevel jobs.

That's been a real interesting space for us to work in because those chief experience officers have often end-to-end processes that include a great deal of technology driving the change, but it's all about getting the people to change how they work, how they think. In some cases, it radically alters and uplevel jobs.

such that a whole new set of soft and personal skills are required for people who used to spend all day making magic with the Excel spreadsheets. We really cut across the spectrum of leaders who are leading something that either is directly technical or technology has become a huge component of the business that they lead or the part of the business that they lead.

such that a whole new set of soft and personal skills are required for people who used to spend all day making magic with the Excel spreadsheets. We really cut across the spectrum of leaders who are leading something that either is directly technical or technology has become a huge component of the business that they lead or the part of the business that they lead.

It's a great question. The answer is yes, absolutely. And when I began coaching, it just barely existed. As they say, it wasn't a thing. There was a very small number of coaches in the world.

It's a great question. The answer is yes, absolutely. And when I began coaching, it just barely existed. As they say, it wasn't a thing. There was a very small number of coaches in the world.

And many of the great ones worked at an organization called the Center for Creative Leadership, still in existence today, originally focused on helping leaders of nonprofits come together and grow as leaders and then expanded beyond into business. And my last boss in a real job, as I jokingly say, said, I need you to go off to this leadership school because we report up to HR.

And many of the great ones worked at an organization called the Center for Creative Leadership, still in existence today, originally focused on helping leaders of nonprofits come together and grow as leaders and then expanded beyond into business. And my last boss in a real job, as I jokingly say, said, I need you to go off to this leadership school because we report up to HR.

You have a career trajectory upward here, but frankly, you don't get along well enough with HR people and you need to work on that. And so I'm sending you there to work on that. And it was an absolutely eye-opening week. And so the coach who led our group was a coach of Olympic champions. She was a sports psychologist.

You have a career trajectory upward here, but frankly, you don't get along well enough with HR people and you need to work on that. And so I'm sending you there to work on that. And it was an absolutely eye-opening week. And so the coach who led our group was a coach of Olympic champions. She was a sports psychologist.

To this day, I still incorporate a great deal of sports psychology or what's now called performance psychology into my practice because athletes engage a coach because they want to win and leaders engage a coach because they want to win. Both of these people want high performance in themselves and in others. And that's why the coach is there, right?

To this day, I still incorporate a great deal of sports psychology or what's now called performance psychology into my practice because athletes engage a coach because they want to win and leaders engage a coach because they want to win. Both of these people want high performance in themselves and in others. And that's why the coach is there, right?

Yes, coaching has a little bit of a therapeutic feel to it, but a coach is not a therapist paid for by the company. The coach is there to help you win at your goals. And in our case, those are largely goals that revolve around their capacity to continue to lead and change and transform businesses. So that coaching was absolutely instrumental to me. It was eye-opening.

Yes, coaching has a little bit of a therapeutic feel to it, but a coach is not a therapist paid for by the company. The coach is there to help you win at your goals. And in our case, those are largely goals that revolve around their capacity to continue to lead and change and transform businesses. So that coaching was absolutely instrumental to me. It was eye-opening.

Because a good coach helps you face yourself and look at those flat sides and not just the ways in which you're great. When you think about it, it's largely high performers and people who are successful who get sponsored for coaching.

Because a good coach helps you face yourself and look at those flat sides and not just the ways in which you're great. When you think about it, it's largely high performers and people who are successful who get sponsored for coaching.

And so it becomes super important that the coach helps you see that what got you here won't necessarily get you where you want to be next and to really face yourself. And how you might be caught up or getting in your own way of that. And by extension, getting in others ways.

And so it becomes super important that the coach helps you see that what got you here won't necessarily get you where you want to be next and to really face yourself. And how you might be caught up or getting in your own way of that. And by extension, getting in others ways.

Another type of coaching that's been extremely valuable to me because I had absolutely no background running a business or having a small business was hiring a business coach. Someone who was more of an advisor in their style. and who specializes in small practices that are advisory and coaching such as my own. So they have tremendous depth.

Another type of coaching that's been extremely valuable to me because I had absolutely no background running a business or having a small business was hiring a business coach. Someone who was more of an advisor in their style. and who specializes in small practices that are advisory and coaching such as my own. So they have tremendous depth.