Lonely at the Top? Coaches for General Counsel

General Counsel certainly don’t publicize it when they retain a coach for themselves.  The truth probably is that few do.  This is remarkable because the position has enormous pressures and the chief legal officer may not have a member of the department (or elsewhere within the company) to which he or she can confide.  More important, the position of power may warp the person’s sense of self-importance, invulnerability, and mastery.

An independent coach for the top lawyer, not someone who works within the company, can provide an antidote.  A coach can observe and recommend improvements for leadership styles, for personality traits, for career progression, and for better self-awareness.  Many general counsel and their law departments would benefit from the guidance of an experienced coach.