Making the Case for Your Growth, Without the Awkwardness

Many high-performing leaders want coaching but aren’t sure how to ask for it. Here’s how to make a compelling case for company sponsorship.

Why Companies Say Yes

• Accelerates performance in new or expanded roles

• Clear ROI—delivers measurable impact sooner

• Strengthens leadership pipeline and succession planning

• Increases retention and engagement of top talent

• Drives clearer decision-making and alignment

Reframing the Request

Instead of: “I need help”

Say:

• “I’m ready to grow faster.”

• “I want to scale my leadership to match the opportunity.”

• “I want to increase my impact.”

Sample Email to Send Your Leader or HR

Subject: Request for Executive Coaching Support

Hi [Manager/HR],

As I continue to grow in my role, I’ve been reflecting on how to accelerate my development and expand my impact. One resource I’d like to explore is executive coaching.

I’ve identified a coach, Jessica Kral, who has deep experience with executives and a track record of helping leaders deliver outcomes. Her background as a public company CIO and Fortune 5 tech executive makes her uniquely credible.

I believe this would be a valuable investment, not only in my growth but in our broader goals. I’d love to discuss whether this is something the company would support.

Thank you for your consideration,

[Your Name]

Need help framing your specific request? Contact me, I’m happy to help.

For some, it can be helpful to have some prompts when considering what goals to choose or to refine goals that have already been chosen.  What follows are some questions to prompt your thinking.  You do not need to answer each question, they are intended only to help you think through your goal(s):

• Imagine this coaching produces great results.  What would you have achieved?

• What is a goal you would like to achieve in the next 6-12 months?

• What’s important to you about achieving this goal?

• What will be different for you when you achieve this goal?

• What will happen if you don’t achieve it?

• How will you know you have been successful?

• How achievable is this goal in the timeframe available to you?

• How much of this goal is within your control?

• What are the pros and cons of achieving this goal?

• What might you have to sacrifice to achieve this goal?

Find out what other clients have chosen for their goal(s).

Coaching is a process for achieving results.  I am your partner, but you are in charge. I expect you to provide a goal(s) for our overall coaching engagement and an agenda/goal for each meeting to ensure we have clear focus and direction for our time together. You can expect me to keep us both on track.

I use listening, reflection, and questions to help you gain insights.  You can expect me to tell you what I see, hear, and sense is going on. For us to have an effective partnership, I need you to tell me when I’m right or wrong.  I will invite you to look at new ways of thinking and being. I may challenge your beliefs and shed new light on your actions. However, I will not confront or make you wrong. You decide what to change in your life and you can expect me to be totally accepting of whatever that is.  If coaching isn’t working the way you expected it to – say so and we’ll work through it. 

Most of your growth will occur in between coaching meetings. Together we will define experiments, actions, or shifts to focus on between one meeting and the next. Remember: coaching is about action, and you are responsible for your results.

Some may confuse coaching with other professions.  Coaching is the process of facilitating self-determined and self-directed change.  Mentoring is sharing personal experience and giving advice.  Consulting is applying expertise to solution generation and implementation. Therapy is intended to relieve or heal a disorder.  I may leverage mentoring or consulting in our coaching meetings, but it will be rare because I believe you are capable, competent, creative, and resourceful. I am not a therapist and do not provide therapy.

I am committed to the International Coaching Federation’s defined set of ethical standards. One important aspect of those standards is maintaining strict confidentiality within the coach/client relationship. Confidentiality is fundamental to coaching and creates a safe environment to explore and develop. Confidentiality in coaching applies to me as your coach, but not to you. You may share freely. If your employer is sponsoring this engagement, I will share attendance/cancellation information, but nothing else.  I recommend you set expectations with your employer about what, if anything, you will share.

You are responsible for scheduling meetings as defined in your coaching agreement. Advance scheduling provides more options for you.  While I try to be flexible and accommodate occasional rescheduling, frequent rescheduling is a problem. I will not extend our engagement to make up missed meetings.

Occasionally, you may want to discuss something with me between our scheduled meetings.  I am your coach for the entire engagement and am available via email, text, and for quick calls as needed.