From over 400 clients and 25 years of experience, George Smart knows that despite good intentions, hard work, and countless personal sacrifices your future may not nearly as clear -- or positive -- as it used to be. Although you may be very intelligent and accomplished compared to others, has your ability to get to the next level and influence others kept pace? Do you feel “stuck” or uncomfortable turning to colleagues, employees, or family? That’s where executive coaching can transform your leadership performance.
Coaching unites the best elements of leadership development, problem-solving, and change management. George Smart knows the special concerns executives have from talking with hundreds of people at their level. Without having met someone before, after an hour he can discern some of their innermost thoughts. Is he psychic? Hardly. He simply knows which issues commonly affect decision-makers.
In 1991, George Smart was one of the first full-time executive coaches in North Carolina. Today he is a highly sought-after consultant and speaker whose clients benefit from his breadth of experience. Although George is a successful coach it is his demonstrated ability to support clients through unique challenges that distinguishes his practice. George works with managers and business owners facing unusual professional and personal challenges – the “messy, complicated” issues that seem impossible. This unique combination coupled with his compassion, challenge, and disciple results in a compelling value proposition. George teaches every year in the North Carolina State University Certificate Program in Business Coaching. Additionally, George has an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and has received further training from the Center for Creative Leadership and the NTL Institute. He is author of "The Knights Templar Chronology" and appears on a recurring History Channel documentary called "Decoding the Past."
"With George, there are no tricks, shortcuts or mantras - the clear path to success emerges directly from the focused work under his guidance."
- Joe Schuch, Director, Next-Generation Educational Infrastructure/ ITS Teaching & Learning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"We brought him back many times to guide us in everything from team development to personally coaching some of my top people, including me. George is very reliable, quick, with a relaxed but engaging style. It was a pleasure working with him and I would recommend that any CEO wanting expertise in team dynamics to obtain his services."
- Jim Walker, Partner, The Advisory Group
FAQ
Q. How is coaching different from taking a training course?
A. Although you will learn a great deal from getting coached, the primary purpose is not teaching. Coaching is focused on achieving specific, measurable outcomes that impact the size and extent of your success.
Q. What kinds of business issues does George coach with clients?
A. George coaches already successful working professionals who want to:
- stop feeling like they are working harder but less effectively
- increase the speed of decision-making and turnaround of implementation
- reduce time "firefighting" and focus more on strategy and true planning
- improve the accuracy of decision-making and accountability
- discern known and unknown negative impacts of personal interactions
- enhance abilities to influence others - get agreement and support
- get past limiting career barriers imposed by current choices or assumptions
Q. What happens in coaching meetings?
A. George will help you identify outcomes - targets and objectives for the next 3 to 24 months. Then he surface your fundamental drivers and barriers to getting things done. Common issues are procrastination, underdelegating, hyperagressiveness, or fear of conflict with employees, among others. George will have you challenge and break from these barriers andl pave the way for you to have unprecedented breakthroughs in the quality of your relationships, decisions, and influence. Then he will monitor and assist your implementation, keeping you focused and helping you resist distractions.
Q. I\'m already successful. Why would I need a coach?
A. For people at the top of an organization, there are few places that can provide the level of feedback and insight needed to continue growth as a leader, whether facing tough times or unprecedented growth. And frankly, bosses can\'t be as honest with employees, even trusted ones, as they can with an outsider. Coaching provides executives the structure, support, and accountability they need to move to the next level.
Q. Is coaching therapy?
A. No. In therapy, the objective is analysis of past patterns where future change is implied but not an essential part of the work. Coaching focuses on assessing the here and now, planning the near future, and guiding the client on the most sustainable and effective route to get there.
Q. How long does it take?
A. Typical client engagements are 3 to 6 months, meeting weekly or twice a month depending on the client\'s objectives and level of complexity. You will notice changes in the first 30 days; however the bulk of personal change will come in the last 30 to 60 days.
Q. Do we meet in person or over the phone?
A. Clients get dramatically better results in person. George will, however, consider phone requests.
Q. What happens first?
A. You will spend the first few sessions identifying measurable objectives, such as additional sales, cost savings, or the handling of management issues. George will pin down those objectives in terms of dollars and lay out a realistic plan for implementation.
Q. What can I count on from George as a coach?
A. George will:
- Always show up for meetings and calls, no matter what, unless an unavoidable emergency exists. You will never be bumped for another project or client without several weeks notice. He will ask the same of you in return.
- Support you in understanding the coaching process, its methodology, and the mileposts through each stage.
- Provide a confidential, safe harbor to discuss any issue for your professional life and career.
- Provide you timely and responsive coaching support in alignment with identified objectives.
- Provide candor and straightforward feedback that is appropriate to your coaching objectives, always in a respectful manner.
- Confidentiality. He will not disclose any content of your sessions with anyone without your express permission.
- If you are not willing to consistently show up, follow through on what you promise, and treat the coaching process as a high priority, you are not ready for coaching.
- If you are unwilling to change any of your behaviors or decisions, priorities or actions, you are not ready for coaching.
- If you want your coach simply to agree with you so you can prove to someone else (a spouse, a boss) that you were “right,” you are not ready for coaching.
Being coached does not commit you to any one course of action. It does, however, require that you act.
While there are important elements of self-discovery, coaching is not an exercise in navel-gazing. It is a transformative launching pad to the next level of your career.
For a free 60-minute initial consultation as to your readiness for coaching, please call (800) 849-8326 or gsmart@strategicdevelopment.com.
