According to Gulf News, “the Dubai coaching industry is in high demand” and the “demand for executive coaching has increased significantly in recent years.” And a study by LinkedIn notes that the UAE is the top country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for hiring executive coaches. This is due to the fact that business leaders in Dubai are looking for ways to enhance their skills, overcome challenges, and drive business growth. But if you want to get on the coaching train and find your power-partner, you’ll need to know what to look for.

When it comes to choosing a top executive coach in Dubai, it’s important to make sure you select the right person for your needs. You can pretty much throw a rock and hit a coach anywhere in Dubai, and with so many coaches to choose from in the Dubai coaching industry, it can be challenging to know where to start. I’ll help you out with what to look for when choosing an executive coach in Dubai, so you can make an informed decision and get the most out of your coaching experience.

Experience and Credentials of an Executive Coach in Dubai

The first thing to look for when choosing an executive coach in Dubai is regional experience and global credentials. You want to work with a coach who has a proven track record of success in the MENA region, and globally recognised credentials to back up their coaching abilities. Look for coaches who have certifications from reputable organizations.

In addition to certifications, look for coaches who have experience working with executives and business leaders in your industry, and in the MENA region. The culture and demands of business in MENA are different to the rest of the world, and what works in coaching here is a bit different as a result. Likewise, a coach who has experience working with CEOs in the tech industry may not be the best fit for a CEO in the healthcare industry. Look for coaches who have a deep understanding of your industry and the challenges you face.

Coaching Style and Approach

The coaching style and approach of a top executive coach in Dubai can also be an important factor in choosing the right coach. Different coaches have different styles and approaches to coaching, and it’s important to find a coach whose style resonates with you. Some coaches are more directive and hands-on, while others take a more collaborative approach. 

An article by Entrepreneur Middle East emphasizes the importance of choosing a coach who is a good fit for your personality and communication style. They suggest asking potential coaches about their experience and success rates with previous clients, as well as their coaching process and approach.

My style, for example, is collaborative and advisory. I’m not the kind of coach that just asks you questions and makes you solve your own problems. I have 30 years of experience in business and 4 post-graduate degrees, I tend to offer strategies for change that I know will work. Think about what coaching style and approach would work best for you and look for coaches who align with those preferences.

Chemistry and Rapport

I only coach people I’d hang out with socially. Chemistry and rapport between an executive and their coach is critical to the success of the coaching relationship. You want to work with a coach who you feel comfortable with and who you can trust. Look for coaches who have good communication skills, are good listeners, and who have the ability to build rapport quickly. Chemistry and rapport can be difficult to quantify, but they are essential to a successful coaching relationship.

Specialization and Expertise

Another important factor to consider when choosing a top executive coach in Dubai is specialization and expertise. Some coaches specialize in specific areas, such as leadership development or team building, while others have expertise in specific industries or functional areas. If you’re looking for coaching in a specific area, such as conflict resolution or strategic planning, look for coaches who have experience and expertise in that area.

References and Testimonials

Finally, when choosing an executive coach in Dubai, it’s important to ask for references and testimonials from previous clients. My references are on my Linkedin profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrieblock/ . Look for coaches who are willing to provide references and who have a track record of success with their clients. Reading testimonials and talking to previous clients can give you a better sense of a coach’s coaching style, approach, and effectiveness.

No one gets to the top without a coach. The world’s top surgeons, musicians, and athletes all have coaches. And it’s not different in business. Most of the FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 CXOs have coaches now too. That’s how they got to the top, and that’s how they’re defending their positions. Coaching is the not-so-secret ingredient in individual performance in every industry. Just make sure you’re partnering with someone that’s got the credentials and experience you need most.

I’ve been called the UAE’s top business coach recently, and I’m honoured by that. But what I really love is when I can make a significant impact in my client companies as a corporate strategist. It’s like coaching, but on steroids! In one company, I served 6 months as their interim Chief Strategy Officer and I added 11% to the balance sheet and 5% net profit during that time. In another company, I increased their employee engagement score by 13% in under 90 days.

External business strategists can see things that those in the company often can’t see. Organizations should invest in strategy consultants for a variety of reasons, including:

1. Fresh perspectives: Strategy Business Strategy Consultants bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table. They are not bound by the company’s history or culture and can provide an objective viewpoint. As the strategy retreat facilitator for Al Masaood Group, I was able to help the organization think through 4IR implications, and create 9 initiatives for adaptation, innovation, and disruption.

2. Expertise: Strategy consultants have specialized knowledge and expertise in strategy development, making them well equipped to help organizations navigate complex challenges and make informed decisions. In the Blue Rhine Group, I was able to design and implement the first B2B ecom platform in the GCC.

3. Access to best practices: Strategy consultants have access to best practices and insights from working with a range of organizations, allowing them to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization. In the Emirates Macaroni Company, I was able to restructure the entire company and fully professionalise the management for the first time.

4. Improved decision-making: Strategy consultants can help organizations make better decisions by providing data-driven insights, market analysis, and risk assessments. I helped an entrepreneur this week decide to close their business after accumulating losses of more than $5m. It was hard, but it set this leader free from their sunk cost bias.

5. Increased efficiency: Strategy consultants can help organizations streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Eliminating process steps and improving communications at Bizzmosis reflect some of my best methods for helping SMEs streamline their business models.

6. Better alignment: Strategy consultants can help organizations align their goals, strategies, and resources, ensuring that all stakeholders are working towards a common goal. When I facilitated the leadership retreat where we wrote the Vision, Mission, Values, and Goals for Meda’in Properties, it was the first time that the company had done that with all of the leaders involved in the process.

7. Improved communication: Strategy consultants can help organizations improve communication between departments and teams, facilitating better collaboration and decision-making. At ADEK I was able to help all of the departmental leaders communicate better by having them play games with each other.

8. Improved competitiveness: By working with strategy consultants, organizations can gain a competitive edge in their industry, helping them stay ahead of the curve and remain relevant in an ever-changing marketplace. I wrote a custom-researched sales strategy for Interel and trained their sales staff. It changed the game for them completely and gave them an edge over their competitors in negotiations.

9. Enhanced innovation: Strategy consultants can help organizations foster a culture of innovation, encouraging employees to think outside the box and come up with new and creative solutions. Coaching executives from AW Rostamani helped them think differently about how to create omni-talented teams and be more effective leaders.

10. Increased accountability: Strategy consultants can help organizations increase accountability and ensure that strategies are implemented and goals are met. Each and every one of my coaching clients count on me to follow up with them each week and hold them accountable every month to the goals they set for themselves. It’s amazing what accountability can accomplish.

Investing in a business strategy consultant or corporate strategist can bring numerous benefits to organizations, including improved decision-making, increased efficiency, better alignment, improved communication, enhanced competitiveness, and increased accountability. These benefits can help organizations achieve their goals and remain successful in the long term.

As a leading business strategist and strategy consultant, I am often asked if a company’s Vision really has any meaningful effect on its success. In this article, I outline what Vision is, and the authors and thinkers I’ve learned from on this concept. Vision is a crucial component of organizational strategy and has been widely discussed and defined by various leadership experts over the past 30 years. A vision statement serves as the company’s guiding principle, providing direction and purpose for the organization. It serves as a beacon for the company’s future, inspiring employees and stakeholders to work towards a common goal.

Jim Collins, a renowned management consultant, and author, defined vision as a clear, vivid picture of a desirable future that inspires, energizes and provides a direction for an organization. In his book “Good to Great”, Collins emphasizes the importance of a vision in creating a successful company, stating that a clear vision allows companies to align their efforts and focus their resources towards a common goal.

Peter Drucker, another prominent management consultant and business strategist, defined vision as a description of what a company wants to achieve in the future, along with the purpose behind that achievement. Drucker emphasized that a vision must be more than just a statement of goals, but rather a picture of what the company wants to become. As a business strategist myself, I like this definition because the idea of a picture of the future is closely related to the concept of vision as a quality of having sight.

John Kotter, a Harvard Business School professor and leadership expert, also defined vision as a clear and inspiring picture of the future that motivates people to work towards a common goal. In his book “Leading Change”, Kotter stressed the importance of having a vision that is simple, credible, and appealing to both employees and stakeholders. He also emphasized that a vision must be communicated effectively and supported by action to be effective.

Leadership expert Stephen Covey defined vision as a clear picture of the future that provides direction and purpose for individuals and organizations. Covey emphasized the importance of aligning an organization’s vision with its values and principles, stating that a vision that is aligned with an organization’s core values will inspire and motivate individuals to work towards a common goal.

The definition of Organizational Vision strategy and business growth consulting has evolved over the past 30 years, but its importance has remained constant. A vision is a clear and inspiring picture of the future that provides direction and purpose for individuals and organizations. It serves as a beacon for the company’s future, inspiring employees and stakeholders to work towards a common goal. Effective leadership and communication of the vision are critical to its success, and they must be aligned with the company’s values, principles, and business strategy. Whether defined by Collins, Drucker, Kotter, or Covey, a vision is a powerful tool that can drive an organization toward greater success and fulfillment.