In their article titled The relational turn in executive coaching Haan and Sills (2010) suggest that a relational shift is needed in executive coaching. Haan and Sills purport that with the recent developments in neuroscience the “relationship” is key to a coherent and collaborative process in executive coaching, “…we have seen the emergence of a countervailing force to reckon with, a force that both directs us back to the diversity and uniqueness of our clients and also especially to the relationship between coach and client”, (p. 2). The essence of the neuroscience research they reference supports the role of supportive relationships, beginning at infancy and throughout the lifespan, that result in an internal template of enhance self-cohesion and stability.

They suggest that this (relational) process involves integrating psychotherapeutic techniques of working more “intersubjectively” with clients, thus allowing the “mutual influencing of all relationships”. It is their opinion that in these fast-paced times, where there is less of a cohesive support system in-place for executives, that the helping profession of executive coaching can play a vital role in this supportive relationship.

Haan and Sills describe inextricable links between coaching and psychotherapy and emphasize that coaches would benefit their clients to integrate more of these therapeutic techniques into their coaching sessions. These techniques include: setting up weekly meetings and clarifying expectations so that the client feels a sense of structure, client-centered listening and creating an meaningful alliance, “Relationship has been shown to be the single best predictor of outcome of therapy, in such a way that it is not only the quality of the relationship in the final session that is a good predictor of final outcome (which would be a trivial finding), but the quality of the relationship in the first sessions as well”, (Haan & Sills, 2010, p.3).

To add to the neuroscience research that supports this idea, I reference my neuroscience research on the role of mirror neurons and empathy in working intersubjectively with clients: http://gradworks.umi.com/35/08/3508085.html#!. 

Haan, E. & Sills, C. (2010). The relational turn in executive coaching. Journal of Management Development. Volume 29(1). Retrieved online October 20, 2013: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1891119&show=abstract

Current research supports cardiovascular exercise, like running and cycling, enhances neuroplasticity (the creation of new neural pathways) in regions of the brain that improve cognitive function.  This study was conducted on aging adults.

These finding suggest that adhering to a cardiovascular exercise regime may reduce cognitive and neural decline in aging adults and slow age-related decline in the hippocampus, a region in the brain that processes short-term memory to long-term memory and processes spatial navigating. This is also the first region in the brain to be damaged by Alzheimer’s disease, (Hayes, Hayes, Cadden, & Verfaellie, 2013).

Research in a previous article (http://www.brainfacts.org/Across-the-Lifespan/Diet-and-Exercise/Articles/2013/Physical-Exercise-Beefs-Up-the-Brain ) showed that the hippocampus is an area known for neurogenesis (the growth of new cells) as a previous study shows that running and exercise also increases this new cell growth.

This cumulative research shows that cardiovascular exercise increases both neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, which is overall great for your brain.

Hayes, S., Hayes, J., Cadden, M., & Verfaellie, M. (2013). A review of cardiorespiratory fitness-related neuroplasticity in the aging brain. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Volume 5(31). DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2013.00031 PMCID: PMC3709413.

Drug use among American's displayed on maps' citing drug type and usage. It show's that illegal pain pill are more common than cocaine: http://www.businessinsider.com/15-maps-that-show-how-americans-use-drugs-2013-9#ixzz2hv9f3m7o

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k11State/NSDUHsae2011/index.aspx

Self-awareness, compassion, and empathy are crucial (soft) skills that CEO's would benefit from developing. A balance of hard and soft skills is key: balancing the hard skills of conflict management with self-awareness and empathy would benefit leadership.

"...the core coaching element that CEOs need to grow their skills and effectiveness: Increased self-awareness, honest self-knowledge, about one's motives, personality capacities and values.".

"Self-awareness is crucial to leadership and it can be heightened through coaching."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/douglas-labier/why-ceos-dont-want-execut_b_3762704.html
Stanford Business 2013 Executive Coaching Survey
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/cldr/research/surveys/coaching.html
Standord School of Medicine, Compassion
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2012/july/compassion.html

By: Lisa Lukianoff, Psy.D.

It's a choice whether or not to allow self-sabotaging behavior trump personal success. An experienced coach, therapist, or psychological consultant, one who is trained in psychodynamic techniques, can help clients improve inter-personal skills. The scope of this brief examination is to explore these sometimes self-sabotaging and unconscious underpinnings involved in the executive coaching process.

The relational aspect of executive coaching involves psychodynamic aspects that warrant skill thought and interventions to facilitate greater self-awareness for the client. Unconsciously motivated behaviors are viewed from an object relations perspective, looking at conflicts and attachment styles, and psychodynamic interpretations and interventions. Kilburg (2004) comprised a list of notable behaviors that benefit from psychodynamic interventions. A few these include situations where the client is under-performing professionally, despite an interest in improvement, experiencing disruptive emotional reactions, and experiencing problems with relationships, both at work and at home, (p. 252).

Using psychodynamic thought and technique after an initial assessment phase and for ongoing sessions can be useful when these dysfunctional behavioral patterns emerge. Among the benefits of using psychodynamic (influenced) interventions, Kilburg (2004) presents in his findings that they may help with the following desired improvements, (p. 253):
1. Self-awareness
2. Emotional containment and management
3. Executive performance
4. Behavioral flexibility and creativity
5. Resiliency
6. Psychosocial development
7. Professional relationships
8. Intimate relationships
9. Mental abilities
10. Capacity for spiritual growth

(The next writing in this series will begin with a chart Kilburg (2004) developed describing developmental conflicts and general attachment patterns and descriptions.)

Kilburg, Richard R. (2004). When Shadows Fall: Using Psychodynamic Approaches in Executive Coaching. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. Vol. 56, No. 4, pp. 246-268. DOI: 10.1037/1065-9293.56.4.246.

Running (and cycling) produce positive neurological brain enhancements. Extrapolating from research on mice and monkeys, this research evidence shows that increased aerobic exercise increases cognitive functioning across the lifespan which is likely due to increased blood flow to the brain. Additionally, fMRI studies on older adults who exercised regularly show an increase in their hippocampus by 2%. These findings demonstrate a pattern of new cell growth in that region of the brain.

Read published research article on http://www.Brainfacts.orghttp://www.brainfacts.org/Across-the-Lifespan/Diet-and-Exercise/Articles/2013/Physical-Exercise-Beefs-Up-the-Brain

Runner's brains produce the stimulation of new neurons that release GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) which acts as a neural inhibitory activity. This produces a calming sense in the brain. This research suggests that the hippocampus of runners produces a different response to stress. For runners physical exertion stimulates neurogenesis (new cell production) in the dentate gyrus, an area in the hippocampus region known for high rates of neurogenesis and receiving excitatory input from the frontal cortex. It also increases production of GABA (gamma-Aminobutryic acid), which calms the nervous system. 

The results support the anti-anxiety effects of long-term running and increased neurogenesis throughout the dentate gyrus (Schoenfeld, T., Rada, P., Pieruzzini, P., Hsueh, B., & Gould, E., 2013).(Schoenfeld, T., Rada, P., Pieruzzini, P., Hsueh, B., & Gould, E., 2013). Journal of Neuroscience, 2013 May 1;33(18):7770-7. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5352-12.2013.Physical exercise prevents stress-induced activation of granule neurons and enhances local inhibitory mechanisms in the dentate gyrus.http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/18/7770.short