The Benefits of Senior Executive Experience in Executive Coaching: Guiding Leaders to Their Own Solutions

Executive coaching is a transformative process, helping senior leaders deepen their self-awareness, refine their strategic thinking, and navigate the complexities of leadership with clarity. But not all executive coaches bring the same depth of experience. One of the most significant factors in an effective coaching partnership is whether the coach has ‘genuinely operated’ at a senior executive level—ideally as a Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, or head of a major institution.

Coaching is not about providing answers but about creating a space for exploration. The impact of working with a coach who has lived through leadership at the highest level is profound—allowing leaders to uncover their own insights through a process facilitated by someone who truly understands their world.

How Senior Executive Experience Elevates Coaching

✅ Empathy Through Experience

Leading a university or institution comes with immense pressure—balancing governance, funding allocations, research priorities, and relationships with external stakeholders. A coach who has ‘been there’ understands these challenges intimately, creating an environment where leaders feel truly understood as they explore their own thinking.

✅ Strategic Thinking in Complex Academic Environments

Leadership decisions in higher education require vision, foresight, and resilience. A coach with real senior executive experience has navigated high-stakes strategic choices and can guide leaders towards their own approaches—helping them think at scale while remaining aligned with their personal leadership style.

✅ Credibility That Builds Trust

Senior leaders engage more deeply with a coach who has walked the path of leadership themselves. This credibility fosters openness, allowing leaders to explore new perspectives and gain deeper insights into their decision-making.

✅ Navigating Organisational Complexity

Universities are complex environments, filled with shifting priorities and diverse stakeholders. A coach who has led within a similarly demanding setting brings the right questions—helping leaders uncover their own strategies for influence, collaboration, and change management.

✅ Resilience and Decision-Making Under Pressure

University leadership involves handling reputational challenges, policy shifts, and scrutiny. A coach who has lived through these experiences can guide leaders in building their own resilience, helping them access the tools they already possess to navigate uncertainty.

Real-World Impact: Coaching That Helps Leaders Find Their Own Way

Adapting to Changing Higher Education Policies

A newly appointed Vice-Chancellor struggled with major government funding shifts that threatened key university initiatives. Their coach—who had previously led a university through similar transitions—did not provide answers, but instead asked the right questions. Through reflection, the Vice-Chancellor uncovered new strategies for financial sustainability while remaining true to their long-term vision.

Managing Faculty Expectations with Greater Confidence

A Pro Vice-Chancellor overseeing research funding allocations faced resistance from academics. Instead of offering solutions, their coach—a former senior university leader—facilitated discussions that helped the executive uncover their own approach to transparent stakeholder communication. As a result, trust within the organisation improved.

Strengthening Leadership Presence in Public Engagement

A senior leader at a Russell Group university struggled with media interactions and sector event participation. Through coaching with a former Vice-Chancellor, they explored their own values and leadership style, eventually discovering a more authentic way to present their ideas and enhance their executive presence.

Sector Knowledge vs. Leadership Level

An ongoing debate in executive coaching is whether sector-specific expertise is essential. While industry context ‘can’ provide insights, the ‘real differentiator’ is leadership at the right level, not subject-matter expertise.

Senior university leaders, like those in corporate or public sector roles, share common challenges—decision-making, stakeholder management, organisational transformation, and leadership under pressure. A coach with true executive experience understands these realities regardless of sector, allowing them to ask the questions that guide leaders to their own solutions.

What Senior Leaders Say: The Value of Experience in Coaching

The necessity of executive experience in coaching remains a topic of discussion. Some argue that traditional coaching skills—such as deep listening and questioning—are sufficient. Others believe that without ‘lived’ senior leadership experience, a coach may lack the depth required to create meaningful engagement.

However, client feedback consistently supports the value of working with coaches who have operated at the highest levels. Senior leaders often express greater trust and openness when they know their coach has experienced leadership first-hand. This leads to deeper exploration, fresh perspectives, and a greater ability to develop their own approaches to leadership challenges.

Choosing the Right Executive Coach

For senior university leaders seeking coaching, selecting the right professional is crucial. Beyond coaching credentials and methodologies, meaningful executive coaching depends on the ability to create an environment where leaders can find their own way. A coach who has led a university or institution at the highest level offers wisdom that extends beyond theory—bringing lived experience to facilitate self-discovery.

Executive coaching is not about providing answers—it is about unlocking new perspectives and guiding leaders to their own solutions. A coach with senior executive experience enables this process in a way that theory alone cannot, helping leaders evolve into the kind of leaders they ‘choose’ to be.

If you would like to explore having an Executive Coach, who has over a decade as Vice-Chancellor and CEO, the first step is to book a call to find out more.

Please go to the booking page https://calendly.com/etonexec/30-minutes-initial-call