COACHING
Hotline Coaching | Coaching Template for Chairs (Microsoft Word document, 219 kb) | Coaching Template for Women Faculty (Microsoft Word document, 223 kb) | Testimonials
The executive coaching program for women faculty
and chairs of the departments and deans of the four
participating schools is one of the most exciting
and innovative elements of the ACES project.
An executive coach is someone who has general
academic/organizational experience and who provides
performance-related and career-related advice. The
coach helps the participant to determine career and
leadership vision, goals, plans, and actions. They
give advice, resources, and feedback on how to best
accomplish the identified vision. The ACES executive
coaching intervention consists of a 2-3 session coaching
program with a professional coach for women faculty, or for deans and
chairs.
The objectives of the NSF-ACES Executive Coaching
Initiative at Case are to facilitate professional and
personal growth, provide academic and career
guidance and leadership development coaching,
promote improved academic workplace cultures
and enhance overall recruitment, retention, and
advancement of women faculty in the S&E disciplines.
To date, ACES has successfully provided executive
coaching to 63 women and one male minority S&E
faculty, 3 members of the provost’s office, 2 deans, 2
associate deans, and 15 chairs and associate chairs
of S&E departments. Executive coaching receives
consistently high annual evaluations of coaching
effectiveness. Overall, there is now a very positive buzz
about executive coaching among women faculty on our
campus.
At this time, women faculty in non-ACES departments can
find information on coaching and leadership training opportunities
through the Weatherhead Executive Education programs. (Link will open a
new browser window.) If you need temporary coaching for one or two "emergency" sessions, please see Hotline Coaching. For additional resources, you may download the Coaching Template for Chairs or the Coaching Template for Women Faculty.
Testimonials
A Male Department Chair had this to say
about his experience:
- "I completed my ACES coaching this month and would like
to express my thanks to you and the University for having
provided this resource/opportunity. I found the experience
beneficial on many levels, in particular for a deeper
understanding of the inter-relations of my professional and
personal lives.
- Though I started with a clear picture in my mind, I have
to admit that I now have a much higher resolution picture
related to both. The process was also very helpful for better
understanding of how I impact the people around me and
vice versa. In sum, it was one of the best resources the
University has provided me since I arrived at Case. I would
love to have an opportunity to do it again in 5 years and
see how things have evolved for me."
Women Faculty said the following
about their experience:
- "Simply taking the time to focus on one issue, and think it
through so that I had a sense of how I wanted to proceed,
was helpful. Without a coach, I often consider issues, but
never settle on a chosen course of action, so I keep spinning
around the issue intermittently over days and weeks."
- "We focused on a particular issue that I wanted help with
at the beginning of each session, and [my coach] asked
questions to help me weigh pros and cons of different
options. (So far, we have discussed 1) how to manage RA's
who are not meeting my expectations, 2) how to approach
my department chair about a request for resources and
3) how to protect my writing time and not be too hard on
myself during the writing process.) Then she would initiate
a wider conversation about other things I might want to be
thinking ahead about."
- "The experience has been very positive. I was 'forced' to
come up with a 'game plan,' which I likely would not
have done if 'left to my own devices.' In general, the
greatest aspect was to have someone to talk to about
my previous experiences and my hopes for the future, in
particular."
A department chair had this to say about the coaching experience:
- "I completed my ACES coaching this month and would like to express my thanks to you and the University for having provided this resource/opportunity. I found the experience beneficial on many levels, in particular for a deeper understanding of the inter-relations of my professional and personal lives. Though I started with a clear picture in my mind, I have to admit that I now have a much higher resolution picture related to both. The process was also very helpful for better understanding of how I impact the people around me and vice versa. In sum, it was one of the best resources the University has provided me since I arrived at Case. I would love to have an opportunity to do it again in 5 years and see how things have evolved for me.
- I wish the funds existed for the university to provide this resource to every faculty, i.e., all can use it!
- A large part of the success of my experience was due to my coach, [XX]. I found him very insightful and familiarity with the academic environment. He also has a very pleasant disposition. I highly recommend him, and have recommended him to friends outside Case."
From a female faculty member:
