◈ Homepage — http://executivecoachingsanfrancisco.com/Home Services Michael’s Insights Success Stories About Contact Us Where Top Executives Take Flight Home for Executives and Leaders Reaching New Altitudes of Growth, Results, and Success for Over 25 Years Start Your Journey           Preparing For Take-off Incorporating the 4 elements of flight – lift, weight, thrust, and drag – into your  Strategic plans can help you achieve your goals faster,  with less stress.  By focusing on lift, you can identify the key factors that will help your business rise above the competition.  Addressing weight can help you eliminate unnecessary burdens and streamline your operations.  Thrust is what propels your business forward, and identifying the sources of your momentum can help you stay on track.  Finally, drag can cause resistance and slow you down, so it is important to identify and address any obstacles that may be holding you back.  “Michael, Can’t thank you enough for all of your help. You are a great contribution to every aspect of my life as well as to our business growth.” Dr. Mitra Ray, CEO rREST Inc “Michael’s gentle communication style coupled with his business acumen inspired a better public speaker in me. I am now able to carry forward the healthful message of Acupuncture. More than a year later, we continue… Beth Schiffman B.A., L.AC, M.S. Founder, Many Lives Chinese Medicine “I have participated in many (some extensive) management training programs over the course of my career, many of which were excellent and assisted my development. Michael Whatmore provided my direct reports and me with a… Michael Enxing, VP Sales Vertos Medical Inc. Michael has an extraordinary skill set which he applies with good judgment in an Executive Coach with a strong business background. I highly recommend Michael for his proficiency, intuition, and intelligence. Ron Means, Chair Vistage International Michael: “I just wanted to let you know that Eric specifically came by my office to thank me for referring him to you. He said that you have been a tremendous help to all concerned.” Norma Lambert MacLeod Law and Mediation Office “I will be forever thankful to Michael for his first-rate efforts. Without hesitation, he inspired me with his coaching; ” Thank you, Michael Sara Werner-Costa Luxury Real Estate Advisor “Thanks for your excellent coaching and consulting.” Tom Scripps, President Canyon Pacific Management “Working with Michael Whatmore as my business coach is a great privilege for me. While supporting me in my goals, he has been instrumental in my achieving three distinct areas of business that I pursue Dr. Cindy Sholes Mind Wave Institute Michael: “You sure got to see what happens as I venture into unfamiliar territory; your professionalism is appreciated. In retrospect, the whole coaching process was amazing for me and very educational. It helped me realize… Doug Barlow Shining Star International “Michael, Can’t thank you enough for all of your help. You are a great contribution to every aspect of my life as well as to our business growth.” Dr. Mitra Ray, CEO rREST Inc “Michael’s gentle communication style coupled with his business acumen inspired a better public speaker in me. I am now able to carry forward the healthful message of Acupuncture. More than a year later, we continue… Beth Schiffman B.A., L.AC, M.S. Founder, Many Lives Chinese Medicine “I have participated in many (some extensive) management training programs over the course of my career, many of which were excellent and assisted my development. Michael Whatmore provided my direct reports and me with a… Michael Enxing, VP Sales Vertos Medical Inc. Michael has an extraordinary skill set which he applies with good judgment in an Executive Coach with a strong business background. I highly recommend Michael for his proficiency, intuition, and intelligence. Ron Means, Chair Vistage International Michael: “I just wanted to let you know that Eric specifically came by my office to thank me for referring him to you. He said that you have been a tremendous help to all concerned.” Norma Lambert MacLeod Law and Mediation Office “I will be forever thankful to Michael for his first-rate efforts. Without hesitation, he inspired me with his coaching; ” Thank you, Michael Sara Werner-Costa Luxury Real Estate Advisor See Our Testimonials ©2026 Michael Whatmore, CMC ◈ Interior Pages — 20 pages crawledExecutive Assessment Tools and Tests Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners Everything DiSC The Power Of DiSC In Executive Assessment & Communications   Michael Whatmore is an expert speaker , trainer and coach . As a former business executive, he experienced the joy, genuine value and power of structuring effective teams, and led to following his passion of working with people. Consistent with his ongoing curiosity in human behavior, Michael’s view of the “perceived” differences between weaknesses and strengths of certain personalities is that weaknesses often show up as undervalued strengths and not necessarily obstacles. This view also depends on how the aspects of our personalities are used. Michael relies on personality profiles as a way to guide management teams and provide objective executive assessment. Practiced in the use of Everything DiSC, his coaching contributes to the leadership growth of managers and executive teams, which quickly and easily understand motivations and discover how to use Everything DiSC to build on their communications and strengthen personal leadership styles. No DiSC style is better or worse than any other; every style adds something important to effective working relationships. Michael’s clients are often surprised with the insights that Everything DiSC delivers and their usefulness in team building.   More effective work relationships can change your life   Michael combines his business leadership accreditations with personal experiences to deliver leadership development based on authentic situations for real-world leaders. Skilled managers understand that investment in personal development can markedly improve their business lives, outcomes and personnel. Everything DiSC is such an investment . Used wisely, personal growth results emerge, which correlate with overall performance, improved bottom line and reduced employee turnover. Michael believes that personal development is not an event but a process. This process facilitates understanding and promotes underpinnings in organizational culture, ensuring that fresh ideas and behaviors are fully integrated into your organization. Michael Whatmore builds trust and rapport with his clients and has a genuine belief in the innate brilliance of human beings. When coaching individuals on their DiSC styles , his observations, techniques and advice encourage more effective and truly engaged teams.   Research and compliance   Many studies have been completed on the efficacy of DiSC. When measuring behaviors, motivators, acumen or proficiency, a recent review concluded that no evidence exists to suggest a bias in any DiSC assessments that could cause an adverse influence regarding gender, race or disability status. Subgroups were determined to be U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity compliant and well within psychometric guidelines for the population median. We use it as an integral part of our executive assessment process. To learn more about how Everything DiSC analysis can enhance your professional management and performance, contact Michael today.   Contact Michael Whatmore today. See what some of Michael’s clients are saying about him .   Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 How Employee Assessment Tools Can Save You From Bad Hiring Decisions by Michael Whatmore | Nov 15, 2016 The right employees will help drive your business forward. Hiring is one of the most critical activities in which business owners engage and one of the most feared, and personality assessments can be an appropriate tool. New employees cost money; it takes time and resources to recruit, interview, and train new employees. Applying a personality assessment can help you hit the ball out of the park on the first pitch and not lose out on that investment; conversely, making a wrong choice is disruptive and far more costly than any employee assessment tools. read more How to Get Employee Buy In and 7 Warning Signs To Watch For That Indicate You Don’t Have It by Michael Whatmore | Sep 20, 2016 Change at work can be daunting—both for the employees who must adjust and for a leader who wants to effect change. The challenge of how to get employee buy in is a critical one. read more How Your Working Style Influences Your Employees by Michael Whatmore | Dec 15, 2015 Have you recently looked at your working style and checked to see if it varies from those of your employees? It goes without saying, that to successfully manage others, we must know how to manage ourselves. Certainly, we can’t do everything perfect all of the time, but do we expect more or less from others than what we are contributing ourselves? Now may be a good time to review your company’s working environment by asking yourself a few questions about your working style… read more Essential Employee Team Building Skills, How to Build Camaraderie? by Michael Whatmore | Dec 1, 2015 A few rare individuals are natural born leaders. The rest need training to develop effective employee team building skills. I recently conducted an “off-site” brainstorming session for one of my clients. This particular organization had recently participated in a major trade show event, and their manager wanted to bring the team together to share ideas picked up at the event, as well as create a plan to move forward for the upcoming year. read more Why Employee Assessments Like DiSC Can Greatly Improve Your Business Efficiency by Michael Whatmore | Nov 3, 2015 Employment assessment tests can make a huge difference in getting a “right fit”. Understanding personalities in the workplace is critical. It’s not necessarily the technical aspects; it’s the people who are going to move projects and objectives forward. Leaders must understand how best to do that. read more « Older Entries Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Article Library v2 - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Blog Search All Executive Assessments Executive Coaching Business Coaching Improving Communication Leadership Successful Business Team Building All How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. Read More » The Importance of Leadership In Management When Faced with Adversity Read More » Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have political sensitivities, back stories, and Read More » How Employee Assessment Tools Can Save You From Bad Hiring Decisions The right employees will help drive your business forward. Hiring is one of the most critical activities in which business owners engage and one of the most feared, and personality assessments can be an appropriate tool. New employees cost money; it takes time and resources to recruit, interview, and train Read More » How to Recognize When Your Leadership Style Is No Longer Effective Leaders can become entrenched in a particular style when, after experiencing an initial success, they adopt the style as a sole “winning strategy”. The reality is that effective leadership styles change and evolve with the culture that we operate in. To stay fixed or rigid in a particular style, especially Read More » One Of The Benefits of Business Coaching Is Helping Illuminate Your Own Strategies For Success In this entire coaching process—including and especially strategizing—the coachee must find answers from within. As Carnegie wisely points out, a person led to an “opinion” or a course of action against their will has not grown or changed, and the chances of the strategy yielding success are slim to none. Read More » Mobilize Your Mission And Vision By Defining Your Core Values A vision statement guides your organization and captures the reasons why you are in business. The intention of a mission statement is to define how your product or service is delivered. Together, your mission and vision statements define you. Defining your core values forms the underpinnings of your company and Read More » Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Executive Assessments How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. Read More » How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. Read More » Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have political sensitivities, back stories, and Read More » Mobilize Your Mission And Vision By Defining Your Core Values A vision statement guides your organization and captures the reasons why you are in business. The intention of a mission statement is to define how your product or service is delivered. Together, your mission and vision statements define you. Defining your core values forms the underpinnings of your company and Read More » The Two Top Qualities of A Business Leader & How These Influence Their Teams As a manager, your behavior is a major influence on the attitude of your team. Every time you walk into your workplace, start a meeting, ask a question, solicit feedback, or react with reason and intellect, you set the tone for your employees and create an atmosphere for ongoing performance. Read More » How to Increase Workforce Productivity By Adding Workplace Competition According to a recent survey, nearly half of senior managers believe that employee competitiveness has increased over the last decade. Orchestrating internal competition is a good way to increase workforce productivity and leverage the natural undercurrent that exists in an organization. Creating and recognizing a fast-track organizational achievement is a Read More » How To Use Competition for Enhancing Performance Management As you know, competition is an essential part of business development. Superstars such as Apple, Google, and 3M work tirelessly to distinguish themselves from others in their field. Without competition innovation would stagnate. Question is, is competition within an organization just as powerful and innovating? Read More » Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Executive Coaching How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. Read More » How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. Read More » Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have political sensitivities, back stories, and Read More » Mobilize Your Mission And Vision By Defining Your Core Values A vision statement guides your organization and captures the reasons why you are in business. The intention of a mission statement is to define how your product or service is delivered. Together, your mission and vision statements define you. Defining your core values forms the underpinnings of your company and Read More » The Two Top Qualities of A Business Leader & How These Influence Their Teams As a manager, your behavior is a major influence on the attitude of your team. Every time you walk into your workplace, start a meeting, ask a question, solicit feedback, or react with reason and intellect, you set the tone for your employees and create an atmosphere for ongoing performance. Read More » How to Increase Workforce Productivity By Adding Workplace Competition According to a recent survey, nearly half of senior managers believe that employee competitiveness has increased over the last decade. Orchestrating internal competition is a good way to increase workforce productivity Home - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Where Top Executives Take Flight Home for Executives and Leaders Reaching New Altitudes of Growth, Results, and Success for Over 25 Years Start Your Journey A Great Business Starts With Great Professionals. Take our "Flight Plan" Review Are you Soaring or Stalling? The best leaders are harnessing the 4 Elements of Flight, the others are grounded, whether they know it or not. We’ve used our decades of experience in executive development to create a powerful tool that can help us find out. It's Time To Go Back to The Basics That Build Strong Leaders... Executive Coaching Don’t make the same mistakes leaders have been making for years! Skip the line to success and seize every opportunity your business gets Strategic Analysis Measuring key metrics in clever ways to uncover new paths forward and discover your businesses best direction Leadership Programs Providing Managers & Business executives fresh perspectives on solving today's pressing challenges in a quickly evolving landscape The 4 Elements of Flight: The best professionals are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, but there is more to the story. Find out what you might be missing. Watch the video and request your Flight Plan review today. Review Your Flight Plan             Preparing For Take-off Incorporating the 4 elements of flight – lift, weight, thrust, and drag – into your Strategic plans can help you achieve your goals faster, with less stress. By focusing on lift, you can identify the key factors that will help your business rise above the competition. Addressing weight can help you eliminate unnecessary burdens and streamline your operations. Thrust is what propels your business forward, and identifying the sources of your momentum can help you stay on track. Finally, drag can cause resistance and slow you down, so it is important to identify and address any obstacles that may be holding you back.   Unlock Spectacular Leadership A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. It effectively sets and preserves the lines of responsibility in your company, while freeing the boss to focus on oversight and growth. It’s brilliant! Discover how fast things can move when your team is empowered to focus on problem-solving. Allow your team to stretch their imaginations, they will discover creative solutions to their own problems, this management tactic produces more satisfaction than you ever imagined! Shifting your management and communications style is worth every scrap of your energy. I teach managers how using the Freedom Scale improves productivity, creates greater job satisfaction, and drives a more successful organization.   Recognize Achievement Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Your results can be better, with less oversight, while improving team self-sufficiency. Cultivate a culture of employee appreciation, recognition programs clearly improve morale. Regular check-ins, open communication, and clear performance metrics are simple tactics to keep your team engaged and enthusiastic, even during challenges or setbacks. Ensure such a program is geared towards everyone in your organization. Organize an over-site committee which includes a cross-section of your workforce to recommend outstanding performance.   Celebrate Bigger Wins Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Employing ways and means to celebrate wins communicates the importance and value of your mission. Birthday and anniversary cards demonstrate you care about your people. The key is to align your company culture and values with your employees, together on a common vision of purpose and success. Plan celebrations that truly resonate with your team. These will have a positive impact on your workplace. An annual outing or party provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the dedication of individuals and teams with awards.   Reject Limiting Beliefs Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Vision describes the desired future state of your company. An inspiring goal of overarching optimism, with an emotionally driven long term destination. It motivates you and your team. A mission statement identifies precisely what the organization does, and who it will serve. It speaks about the performance of the business, its products, and services and to what end. A Purpose Statement is an explanation of your company’s motivations, reasons for being, and why it works the way it does. Purpose-driven businesses outperform competitors and attract enthusiastic employees and customers. Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. Checked Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Hand Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Stop Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Achieve success Lock Checked Hand Stop Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Checked There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Hand There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Stop There are four elements critical to your business success: Visi Business Coaching San Francisco for Executives, CEO's,Business Owners Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners CEO and Business Coaching CEO and Executive Business Coaching in San Francisco, USA and Canada Independent professionals dedicate years of education to become specialists in their field and excellent practitioners of their craft. The best road to autonomy is starting your own business. Education to date often misses the skills needed to run an effective business. Management skills in sales, marketing, customer relations, and strategy are necessary to realize personal success. Planning strategically with a Vision is a compelling way to position your business and attract the best clients. It empowers you to work on things about which you are most passionate. As a business coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area with clients throughout the US and Canada, my goal is to help professionals, executive, CEO’s and business owners in an array of industries and professions lead their organizations with business-savvy confidence. ECSF Values My personal belief is that business lives in language, my purpose is to listen, discover, clarify, align with and then guide the objectives that you wish to achieve. More than anything else, business relationships thrive when there is a solid foundation of trust. My extensive experience with senior-level executives runs deep. Read about how coaching changed these clients lives. Passionate about coaching and consulting, I help by improving communications to achieve certain and lasting changes in behavior―more than just for the leaders I work with, also for their people and support teams. Mission My executive business coaching process encourages individual discovery and stimulating self-generated solutions. I employ prominent executive coaching strategies that lead to on-going break-through’s in problem-solving. Moreover, I want to leverage all knowledge and experience (including my own) to support your business and you in achieving the desired change in performance. I hold my clients responsible for goals, and accountable for results. I enjoy working one on one with successful top level business leaders, helping them get even better. What I do I work one on one with successful top level business leaders, helping them get even better. Inherent with my traditions is reaching into my knowledge base to share solutions that have shown prior success. Improving communications will achieve certain and lasting changes in behavior―more than just for yourself, also for your people and support teams. A true business asset for you; I coexist as a CEO’s secret weapon. My clients tell me routinely that Executive Business Coaching is transformational. It changes perspectives, judgement and their ability to identify fresh ideas―leading to outcomes they would not have realized before. Who I work with Leaders who have achieved success and Aspire to focus on development of leadership behaviors, communications and business strategy (not financial acumen or other non-behavioral skills) and who Choose to work with a coach to become even more effective. My approach I employ a unique and practical methodology that begins with using the highly respected Executive Assessment; Everything DiSC Work of Leaders Profile. Characteristics of my executive business coaching process include: Delivery of consistent personal interactions, and the wisdom of an experienced coach who understands how to relate to senior executives. Measurable outcomes regarding changes in leadership behavior as determined by milestones included in a “Coaching Outcomes Contract”. Confidentiality, and with a positive outlook, valuing the diverse skills, talents, experiences and cultures of my clients. A straightforward approach that does not require significant amounts of time. A focus on changing leadership behaviors and subjective perceptions of behavior. Highly responsive and adaptive practices that bring meaningful individual change. When asked, I will hold my clients responsible for goals, and accountable for results. See what business owners and executives are saying about Michael. Contact Michael Today. Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 Discover More Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Contact Michael Whatmore, CMC - Business Coach Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners Frustrated in Navigating Your Leadership Role? Tell me about your situation: [fc id=’1′][/fc] Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Success Coaching Stories Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners Success Stories CEO In Hiding THE CLIENT: Rosemary Block had been president of Miflex Manufacturing, which had operated profitably for 20 years.   THE CHALLENGE: In 2007, the company suffered a significant loss. Rosemary was unfamiliar with how to deal with the shock of such an issue and became withdrawn and uncommunicative. She was brilliant and could manage money with great skill, but this event brought her to a dead stop. She ceased communicating with her staff and providing the leadership they needed. Essentially holed up in her office out of fear, the organization was floundering.   THE SOLUTION: A major stakeholder contacted Michael Whatmore about coaching Rosemary. In an intensive effort to rekindle her passion and drive, Michael began by running sales, production and staff meetings and generally modelling executive behavior. As the weeks unfolded, Rosemary stepped up fairly quickly and took over the leadership of these meetings. Regaining courage and confidence, these meetings quickly overtook her complacency. Conversations about vision, where the company was headed, how individual team members could contribute and what achievements the business was experiencing made persistence worthwhile and more milestones possible. Throughout the process, Rosemary found solid ground on which to stand in order to make sound decisions and implement the necessary changes for the survival of the company. When Michael began working with this individual, the company had suffered a $270,000 loss; by the next year end, they had turned a slight profit and rounded the corner. Rosemary’s attitude had turned the corner as well. She realized that she did not want to lead a team any longer and decided to sell the business. With Michael’s help, the business was sold, the buyer retained Rosemary and the business continued to flourish. Oftentimes, coaching can help improve leadership roles; other times, it can clear the way and lead us in a new direction. In any case, the change is positive. Vision Too Small THE CLIENT: Bob Ruskin, a well-educated and skilled property manager, is president of Barclay PM. He considers his organization a “boutique” business rather than a “big” busines.   THE CHALLENGE: Bob’s perspective was getting in the way of growth. The sales cycle is long in this type of business. By the time Barclay PM was presenting a proposal, his salesperson had already spent eight to 10 months creating rapport with the potential client and establishing a relationship sufficient to garner an invitation to meet. Bob’s notion was to show up at these presentation meetings on his own or with an assigned property manager; however, Bob’s competitors would arrive at prospect meetings with a team of several people. Bob’s belief that he was “small time” made him appear that way to potential clients, which decreased their confidence in his ability to perform and meet their needs. Too often, lucrative accounts signed with a competitor.   THE SOLUTION: Working with Michael Whatmore, Bob Ruskin realized that his view of Barclay PM was restricting his ability to compete in the marketplace. He was encouraged to bring his team of specialists, including salespeople, to presentation meetings. Michael coached Bob on how to orchestrate a presentation with his key players in ways that support and contribute to the value of Barclay PM proposals. This small and simple change shifted the company paradigm, and landing deals that would otherwise have been out of reach became possible. The high quality of their work was augmented by their new approach: They looked and acted well organized, like a company worthy of doing business. Now, Barclay PM gets the attention of the decision makers and closes more contracts. What is your perception of your company? Do you think that your actions and leadership skills restrict your competitive position? How could running your business become easy and effortless? Earl Nightingale, motivational speaker and author, said, “The mind moves us in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts.” With coaching, sound advice and support, you can change how you think — and how others think of you. Listening & Being Heard THE CLIENT: Matt Kroger is a mid-level executive with great potential.   THE PROBLEM: Matt was told by the chairman and a vice president of his company that he had a “communications problem” and needed to get a coach. Although thoughtful, his communication style was different. He used fewer words than most people to describe situations and frequently became impatient when others misunderstood him or failed to follow his direction.   THE SOLUTION: Throughout the coaching process, Michael Whatmore dissected situations and apparent miscommunications in his daily work, such as, “Who said what? What was the reaction? How did you respond? What was said? What was the demeanor of the other person? What was their body language?” Michael and Matt reconstructed these conversations and crafted a toolbox of responses, which were more productive and appropriate for business use. Practice, coaching and more practice led to significant improvement in Matt’s communication skills. The shift was quite dramatic. It became apparent how Matt’s messaging style affected others and how others felt and respected him. Matt became better at working with a wider variety of people and driving his projects to success more rapidly. The board also recognized this shift in talent, offering Matt promotions as chief executive officer and then president — top positions in which communication skills are vital. Control Crisis THE CLIENT: Brian Dobbs dreamed of owning his own company, but it was barely breaking even.   THE PROBLEM: A cellular phone rings with a shrill tone. The ring and its volume stem from an employee’s personal telephone, now at a crisis point for Brian. The ring was certainly piercing and annoying, much like his employee’s voice: “It’s driving me crazy!” This behavior was disruptive and probably driving customers away.   THE SOLUTION: The first step of solution was realizing that the ring tone was not the problem. This business owner was trying to control every minute detail of his organization’s daily operations. He was unable to concentrate on actually building it. The pressure of trying to both run and trying to work in his company was overwhelming him. Michael helped the business owner revamp its organizational structure to include a general manager position. The GM took over the details – including the phone calls – and provided the owner with the time and energy to work on vision and strategy. Today, the owner has time to go surfing and play tennis, secure in the knowledge that his business is running effectively and efficiently. He has implemented a sound structure and freed himself from day-to-day handling of the company. Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download When Should You Revisit A Vision Statement for a Business? Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners When Should You Revisit A Vision Statement for a Business and Organization Technology and innovation has always confronted businesses to re-evaluate how they do business. However, when is the right time to revisit a vision statement for a business. Whenever a major market or technology shift has the potential to impact your business model, you should take time to consider the potential impacts and whether or not it warrants a change in your vision statement. Marks & Spencer, one of the United Kingdom’s largest retailers, was founded in 1895 with the simple yet profound vision of being “The standard against which all others are measured.” Known affectionately as Marks & Sparks, this vision has carried the company forward throughout a century of global change and technological development and onto international success. Today, they employ 78,000 people around the world, with over 800 stores in the UK and Europe. Meanwhile, an early competitor to M&S had specified in their vision statement , of forming their business in stores ranging in size from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet. Appropriate at the time, small by today’s standards. Retailing changed over the decades, and the competitor was overtaken by technology and the confines of its vision. Once the shift towards larger stores was clearly more than just a trend, it would have been an ideal time for the leadership to revisit their vision statement. Simply put, failing to change their vision kept this competitor’s company small. Limited by outdated thinking, the organization fell out of favor with the public and finally went out of business. When a major shift occurs in technology, it is a good time to revisit the vision statement for a business. While you may not feel the current industry shift warrants a change, it will keep you alert to any change in future that might warrant attention. Marks & Spencer’s vision is successful because it allowed for growth and adaptation in a drastically changing marketplace; conversely, their competitor, constrained by a narrow vision from the outset, was ultimately confounded by the failure to revisit it. Marketplaces will change, the economy will shift and technology will evolve.  You can count on it. However, a vision should be a far-reaching beacon. When well crafted, it remains a secure reminder of what the organization is striving to achieve. If the vision potentially restricts growth, change will be difficult, and it will impede that which it is trying to accomplish. Your company’s vision statement is its guiding force. When economic, social or legal storms rage outside your door, this vision sustains and drives your employees forward.Test the vision statement for your business against the backdrop of any major industry shift. If your company vision statement doesn’t pass this test; it’s time to pull your team together and go back to the drawing board. Your company’s very existence depends on it. An executive coach like Michael will facilitate this process in ways that make candid discussions possible. Open your door to thoughtful ideas and elegant solutions with the support of an executive coach. Without facilitation, one or more people could easily dominate the discussions that, in the final analysis, tether the management team to less than optimal vision and mission statements. See how business and executive coaching changed these people’s lives.   Contact Michael Whatmore today. Benefit from being the company with a smart long range vision; What are you meant to be? See what business owners and executives are saying about Michael. Email:  [email protected]  or call (650) 444-5881 Want more information? Michael Whatmore improves Communications for Leaders, he teaches Executives and their Teams Strategies to Accelerate Growth. To learn more about his unique style of Executive Coaching . Get in touch now! Contact Michael Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Executive Coaching Tips and Newsletter Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners Michael’s Insights How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI by Ellie Williams | May 12, 2026 Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. read more The Importance of Leadership In Management When Faced with Adversity by Michael Whatmore | Feb 29, 2024 It is difficult to shut off your emotion when confronted with stress, but that is exactly what you are often asked to do at work. You can’t leave your feelings at home; however, managing your emotions and putting the needs of your employees first underscore the... read more How Do You Increase Employee Productivity When A Staff Member Doesn’t Fit by Michael Whatmore | Dec 13, 2016 A few years back, I coached a CEO who directed an educational institution. Prior to meeting in person, I had been in contact with his office and was surprised at what seemed like offhand treatment by an assistant. Our first appointment underscored some of what this executive was experiencing. read more Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff by Michael Whatmore | Nov 29, 2016 Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have political sensitivities, back stories, and even latent conflicts, making communications messy. How do you make it work? As a new leader, the first critical step is to be certain you have alignment of purpose (i.e., everyone at least facing the same direction). read more How Employee Assessment Tools Can Save You From Bad Hiring Decisions by Michael Whatmore | Nov 15, 2016 The right employees will help drive your business forward. Hiring is one of the most critical activities in which business owners engage and one of the most feared, and personality assessments can be an appropriate tool. New employees cost money; it takes time and resources to recruit, interview, and train new employees. Applying a personality assessment can help you hit the ball out of the park on the first pitch and not lose out on that investment; conversely, making a wrong choice is disruptive and far more costly than any employee assessment tools. read more How to Recognize When Your Leadership Style Is No Longer Effective by Michael Whatmore | Nov 1, 2016 Leaders can become entrenched in a particular style when, after experiencing an initial success, they adopt the style as a sole “winning strategy”. The reality is that effective leadership styles change and evolve with the culture that we operate in. To stay fixed or rigid in a particular style, especially if the results are no longer as forthcoming can actually stunt a leaders development and efficacy. How can leaders overcome this challenge? read more One Of The Benefits of Business Coaching Is Helping Illuminate Your Own Strategies For Success by Michael Whatmore | Oct 18, 2016 In this entire coaching process—including and especially strategizing—the coachee must find answers from within. As Carnegie wisely points out, a person led to an “opinion” or a course of action against their will has not grown or changed, and the chances of the strategy yielding success are slim to none. On the other hand, when a coachee develops a plan of action (Invented Here) and rallies the determination to implement it, he or she will gain enormous traction from the experience. More than simply resolving an issue, the action steps increase self-esteem. For a coach, this is the most favorable outcome. read more Mobilize Your Mission And Vision By Defining Your Core Values by Michael Whatmore | Oct 4, 2016 A vision statement guides your organization and captures the reasons why you are in business. The intention of a mission statement is to define how your product or service is delivered. Together, your mission and vision statements define you. Defining your core values forms the underpinnings of your company and reflects what really matters to the people working in it. read more « Older Entries Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners CEO and Executive Training Expertise I am a reliable CEO business coach, dynamic public speaker, professional trainer, and peer group leader, my passion is helping clients rediscover their motivation for being in business. I want the business professionals with whom I work to be inspired, and striving for improved performance. ECSF was established in January 2000 as a resource for CEO’s and innovative leaders who strive to beat the competition . My executive business coaching specialty is encouraging continuous growth, facilitating productivity and resolving a business persons most important life challenges. C-level executives, hone their leadership skills, learn to make savvy decisions, and ultimately achieve higher levels of success for a superb career outcome. Business coaching can be extremely beneficial because it addresses several crucial skills, including: Communications To reiterate, a long-held belief is business lives in language. Conversations are currency. Accordingly, the quality of your conversations does determine the outcome of your best laid plans. Ultimately your success. Business is a journey. The complexity of communications can easily run afoul of our objectives, in an instant, we can find ourselves defending a position based on semantics. Even seasoned executives get blocked. Such bottlenecks are frustrating and time wasters. Executive leadership and team growth Effective leaders enjoy strong leadership skills. They are insightful about their strengths and areas of improvement. Maximizing performance is crucial to leveraging strengths, and who doesn’t want to improve performance? I teach CEO’s how to improve communications and strategize with their teams to accelerate growth. Doing and observing results is a “best practice.” I have found DiSC executive assessments minimize petty personality conflicts that disrupt productivity. You will discover as I did, that leveraging your time through better communications affords more “think time”. A critical element that’s in short supply in too many businesses. Management’s time My friend William Oncken Jr. said “no manager” is an island.” So, your performance is a combination of the competencies (skills, traits and proficiency) you bring to the job and the organizational support provided by your boss, peers and staff. The demand for support almost always exceeds the available supply and ongoing competition for those limited resources exists within every organization. I teach the Oncken theory that “support” must be earned and how to leverage emotional intelligence. As a C-level leader, you’ll find it easy and effortless to increase your influence. Discover how building on people and productivity by using your professional judgment and creative thinking will help you get more done in less time. Significant to your success are the differences between your use of vocational and management time. CEO and executive training can be a trans-formative process. Teaching executives―how to have coaching conversations This might strike a chord; as humans, we have the potential to learn useful information through listening to the perspective of others. It could be information we put into use immediately, simply by listening and being present in the moment. Too often though listening suffers because the other person is simply waiting to speak, talking past others, upstaging or over-speaking. What if you could change this in your organization? It’s possible, by implementing a scientific based approach to how you conduct your conversations! Recent research verifies that we can restyle our conversations to make them infinitely more productive. If it were possible to reshape your conversations into highly productive outcomes, wouldn’t you be freed-up to get more done in less time? Brainstorming I find it is easy and effortless to help C-level leaders employ their emotional intelligence and creative thinking. Increasing the number of “thought leaders” in a business is valued and companies that use my methods uncover hidden talent in their ranks. I teach executives to inspire their support teams to activate new neural brain techniques proven to generate fresh solutions for their biggest challenges. Senior leaders who work with me achieve sharper personal growth, avoid emerging threats, willingly tackle their toughest challenges and recognize new opportunities―it’s the right thing and it works! Speaking in Public Some say public presentations are feared more than death. Not always! Over 10 years, I successfully trained hundreds of business persons on “How to Speak About Your Business”. In above 130 trainings, I worked with people who discovered their true strengths, overcome their deepest fears and acquired the knowledge and ability to optimize public speaking and deliver superb presentations. If speaking in public is gnawing at your psyche, call me. Co-founder Coaching Your objective for partnering in business was to draw on others’ special knowledge and skills. A challenge though is how to keep your original intentions alive and well! Differing personality styles and values can strain a partnership and affect your ability to work well together. Instead of utilizing our conversational skills to create healthy connections and trust, we can fall into set patterns like talking past each other, banging heads, getting addicted to being right. Executive assessments are a great tool. I’ve found DiSC Personality profiles to be one of the best tools ever to overcome relationship glitches. In 40 years of management, DiSC Assessments helped me strategize, address and reverse barriers, and affirm the strengths of my relationships. Incorporating DiSC in your business life will reduce partnership stress. Anticipated Next Steps and Duration An Outcomes Contract is completed (between CEO and Coach). This contract sets out the purpose, scope, meeting times, goals and milestones for our engagement. Anticipated duration is four months, and we agree to meet four times monthly. Additionally, I am available between meetings by email and telephone.   See what business leaders are saying about Michael. Contact Michael Whatmore today. Become the confident, smart business leader you were meant to be: Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download New Executive Coaching - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Executive Coaching Experience may be a good teacher, but, in the world of business, the steep learning curve takes time, and that is risky! CEO’s, C Level Executives, and Entrepreneurial business owners can hardly afford the luxury of unscrambling things as they go. The cost is too great, or potentially fatal. Michael Whatmore brings 35 years of Executive business experience to the table. His goal; to support each client to win real gains, allowing coachees to see their businesses, careers and their lives from a richer perspective. He offers: Let Michael help you rediscover your inspiration and motivation for being in business. His guidance to correct your current business trajectory relieves stress. Home-in on your flight path, and develop the skills to overcome challenges, seize fresh opportunities for growth, and discover strengths that reinforce your leadership and your company. Michael offers dynamic DiSC Training Seminars for your team in specialties such as Leadership, Management Strategies, Productive Conflict, and more. He is a dynamic facilitator, a keynote speaker, and a business development consultant. Schedule a Call For discreet, private executive coaching with Michael. Ideal for middle and senior managers, and entrepreneurial business executives who want to fly higher. Business Coaching for Professionals (what Michael often refers to as “people with a specialist education or training," who find themselves in business because of their education) fields such as law, architecture, health care, and other disciplines, where starting and managing their own businesses are secondary to their specific education. Often, in such contexts, these professionals are working in the business, rather than enjoying the voyage of growing their business. Use the Four Forces of Flight to Make Course Corrections in Your Business and Life Airspeed Lift = Weight Thrust = Drag Use the Four Forces of Flight to Make Course Corrections in Your Business and Life Thrust Things that propel you, provide urgency and momentum. Being supported, making requests. New knowledge, insights. Physical energy. Lift Things you find uplifting; spirituality, humor, giving and receiving love or appreciation. Things that give you a boost or a sense of exhilaration; buoyancy, freedom and joy. Having fun. Weight Things that weigh you down. Heavy burdens. Things you are resigned to. Obligations you wish you didn’t have. Deadlines that seem impossible to meet. Guilt, resentments. Drag Things that hold you back or impede your progress. Tedium; things that present frustration, irritations or boredom. Negative complaints. Needless paperwork and burdensome rules. Airspeed Lift = Weight Thrust = Drag What to Expect Michael brings certainty to coaching. Ensuring the right fit and establishing mutual trust are essential components to a successful coaching engagement. Thus, Michael begins with a 45-minute, pro bono coaching consultation to: Discuss your situation and business objectives Consider how coaching will accelerate your flight path Assess the potential for mutual rapport and growth Mutually determine that you and Michael want to work together Determine the best schedule to help you achieve your goals Michael’s perspective is that every business owner is capable of greatness. His client-centered approach focuses on real-world issues, which business executives face daily. He engages the imagination and creativity of the leaders he works with. Constructive feedback with continual support and sound advice helps clients unlock the answers to their most stubborn challenges. Make your decision with confidence. Reach out to Michael now! email: [email protected] or phone (650) 444-5881 and schedule your free Discovery Session. Sign up to talk to Michael for a free "Flight Plan" conversation. Schedule a Call Four “must have” elements are critical to your business growth: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. These important documents function as a Homing Guidance System, like keeping your flight path on track and business thriving. Wise leaders use them to get better results, and to grow their companies with less stress. Timing Tuesday - 7 AM - 3 PM Wednesday - 7 AM - 3 PM Thursday - 7 AM - 3 PM Friday - Monday - Closed Quick Links About Michael Contact Us Michael's Insight NewsLetter Articles Services Executive Coaching Assessment Tools and Test ©2023 Michael Whatmore, CMC Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download About Michael Whatmore, CMC, Executive and Business Coach Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners About Michael “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” ~ Peter Drucker Michael Whatmore is the founder and owner of Executive Coaching San Francisco. A Business Services Consultancy based in San Francisco, California. You could say that Michael has lived the American Dream, Canadian-style. He is highly successful at business, having held numerous chief officer positions across many industries. A hard worker with the Midas Touch, Michael bought his first house at age 17; at 21, he owned a real estate company. A few decades later, Michael climbed to the top levels of numerous corporations, building cohesive, inspired, and successful divisions in sectors as diverse as real estate, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, and business consulting. After hundreds of seminars and thousands of hours coaching employees and colleagues, Michael launched his executive coaching business in 2000, fueled by a passion to help corporate leaders discover (and rediscover) their commitment and excitement for their business. Being a chief executive is demanding, and Michael believes that top executives and emerging entrepreneurs have the potential to re-energize, keep learning, and become confident, inspired, and creative business leaders. When necessary, I bring other experts, business specialists to contribute as needs dictate. When he’s not busy speaking and coaching, or engaged in community initiatives in his hometown of Redwood City, California, Michael can be found on or near San Francisco Bay , or relaxing with his family. Email Michael Whatmore at [email protected] or call 650 444 5881. More effective work relationships can change your life Michael combines his business leadership accreditation’s with personal experiences to deliver leadership development based on authentic situations for real-world leaders. Skilled managers understand that investments in personal development can markedly improve their business lives, personnel relations and planned outcomes. Executive assessments are such an investment. Used wisely, personal growth results emerge, which correlate with overall performance, improved bottom line and reduced employee turnover. Everything DiSC personality assessments are the instruments he recommends for executive use. Michael believes that personal development is not an event but a process. This process facilitates understanding and promotes durable underpinnings in organizational culture. This technique ensures fresh ideas and supportive behaviors are fully integrated into your organization. Michael Whatmore builds trust and rapport with his clients and has a genuine belief in the innate brilliance of human beings. When coaching individuals on their DiSC styles, his observations, techniques and advice encourage more effective and truly engaged teams. Research and compliance Many studies have been completed on the efficacy of DiSC. When measuring behaviors, motivators, acumen or proficiency, a recent review concluded that no evidence exists to suggest a bias in any DiSC assessments that could cause an adverse influence regarding gender, race or disability status. Subgroups were determined to be U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity compliant and well within psychometric guidelines for the population median. See what business leaders are saying about Michael. To appreciate the true value of DiSC analysis and how it will enhance your professional management and performance, contact Michael today; [email protected] or call 650 444 5881. Credentials Proud member of: FORBES Coaches Council Certified Management Consultant (CMC) Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) Registered Corporate Coach Instructor (RCCI) Fellow, Real Estate Institute (FRI) of Canada Fellow, Trust Companies Institute (FTCI) of Canada Certified DiSC Administrator Alumni Association, University of Western Ontario Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Hiring a Business Coach, Why I Can't Afford It and Other Excuses Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners I Can’t Afford to Hire a Business Coach and Other Excuses You may have experienced one of the doubts below or have a different doubt when thinking about hiring a business coach. No matter what your doubt is, it costs nothing to begin exploring the value you could receive from a business coach. If some of the most successful sports teams and individual athletes in history have benefited from a coach, why can’t you? “How Can I justify the cost of hiring a business coach?” “I don’t have time to sit around and talk for an hour” “An outsider won’t really understand my situation” “Those who can, do; those who can’t, coach” “My business does not produce enough revenue to have a coach.”   Are excuses for hiring a business coach a way for you to avoid dealing with change? If so, do you believe the conversations around those excuses? There are certainly reasons why executives don’t engage business coaches, but these reasons have little to do with the excuses they might offer. What underlies this hesitation to use a proven, effective business tool to better your career and your organization? While “I can’t afford to hire a business coach,” sounds like a good excuse, it undermines the inherent value of a coach-client relationship , which will surely enrich your professional and personal life. In terms of dollars, if you do not earn back my coaching fee seven to 10 times over the next 12 months, then I’m not doing my job. Something other than money may be holding you back, such as: The fear of becoming vulnerable. The thought of laying all your cards on the table is difficult. How do you expose yourself to a stranger? You don’t want to talk about—or you may not have consciously explored—your challenges or the areas in your professional/business approach that might respond to development; yet, in the deep recesses of your mind, some things are begging for attention and you know that a business coach could help. Executives have to play a role and assume command. Being open to observations by others and allowing yourself to be vulnerable can seem as if you are giving in to weakness; however, in a professional coaching environment, separated from your office and colleagues, a safe venue is available to explore those rumored weaknesses and turn them into strengths. It is my view that a supposed weakness is simply an undervalued strength. The fear of work. When you are coached, you may be afraid to put real change into motion or to take on more work when you already feel bogged down. It is important to remember that “seeing the forest through the trees” could profoundly change your life and career. Business coaching can help lighten your burden, refocus your work and teach you how you manage your time more effectively. Reappraising your current workload often leads to a paradigm shift that changes motivation. Motivations such as freeing up the time you need for inspiration and new ideas, this and more could be yours. The fear of judgment. Business coaching may be erroneously perceived as a remedial response to performance. Executives might even feel foolish looking into it, or worry that their ability or credibility is on the line — especially when coaching is recommended by a superior. Getting past a potential basketful of emotions before you can commit to coaching may seem daunting. One way of responding to these emotions is to realize that a coach has a professional perspective to help you get the most out of your personal development, your goals and your life, which can make a huge difference. The new levels of success you will achieve will speak for themselves, and only your coach will know for sure. My clients are always reassured that I am fully committed to their success. The fear of change. Whether you have fear of success or fear of failure, change can be a scary thing. You naturally don’t want to fail or let yourself or others down. You may avoid change because giving in to your fears means you won’t have to discover that you can’t do something. On the flip side, what if you can do it? What if your status changes as a result of achieving a big goal? What if you get the opportunity to discover that you want more than what you’ve settled for, so far? What if you were to find harmony in a new approach to your work? Hiring a business coach can be a real catalyst for change. Read more about how business coaching changed these clients lives. Tennis great Arthur Ashe once said, “Fear isn’t an excuse to come to a standstill. It’s the impetus to step up and strike.” Strike out the excuses you’ve been using, such as the persistent robot in the back of your head that keeps reminding you of shortcomings as well as the challenges that have been impeding you and the fears that have been restricting your performance. Isn’t it time to review your current belief systems? Make a significant change for the future now! Your satisfaction in your career and your life could swing in a new direction when you work with a dedicated thoughtful business coach. Contact Michael Whatmore today. See what some of Michael’s clients are saying about him . Smart leadership is confident; become who you were meant to be: Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 Want more information? Michael Whatmore improves Communications for Leaders, he teaches Executives and their Teams Strategies to Accelerate Growth. To learn more about his unique style of Executive Coaching . Get in touch now! Contact Michael Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Executive Coaching, Michael Whatmore CMC Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners Executive Coaching Experience is the best teacher, and the steep learning curve of the business world takes time, and that’s risky! Chief executive officers, executives and new business owners can rarely afford the luxury of figuring out things as they go. The cost is too great, if not fatal. Michael Whatmore brings 35 years of business experience to the table. He guides each client towards real gains, allowing coachees to see their businesses and careers from a richer perspective. He offers: Executive coaching, for middle and senior managers and business executives CEO and business coaching, generally for businesses that have plateaued and for specialists (what Michael often refers to as “people with a professional education or training, and who find themselves in business as a result”) fields such as law, health care and other disciplines, where starting and managing their own businesses are secondary to their specific education. Let Michael help you rediscover your motivation, develop the essential and necessary skills to overcome challenges, seize opportunities for growth and discover strengths that will help you better lead your company. For 35 years, Michael Whatmore has run top-level departments in major North American companies and is a leading executive coach for middle and senior-level executives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to executive individual coaching; Michael offers training seminars for your department or team in marketing, effective communications, strategic planning and a unique program targeted at generating fresh ideas. He is a dynamic facilitator, a keynote speaker , and a business development consultant. If you’re an executive, high-level manager, or business owner, here are some results you can expect to achieve while working with Michael Whatmore: Love what you do Lead with confidence Manage conflict with creativity, compassion, and certainty Get great feedback Communicate effectively Earn more money Read about clients success with Michael. Connect with Michael Whatmore, now and select a coaching package that is right for you. See what business leaders are saying about Michael. Schedule a FREE Coaching Session: Contact Michael Whatmore now, Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 for a no-charge Discovery Session. We will jointly decide if working together makes sense. Experience is the best teacher Experience is the best teacher, and the steep learning curve of the business world takes time, and that’s risky! Chief executive officers, executives and new business owners can rarely afford the luxury of figuring out things as they go. The cost is too great, if not fatal. Michael Whatmore brings 35 years of business experience to the table. He guides each client towards real gains, allowing coachees to see their businesses and careers from a richer perspective. He offers: Executive coaching, for middle and senior managers and business executives CEO and business coaching , generally for businesses that have plateaued and for specialists (what Michael often refers to as “people with a professional education or training, and who find themselves in business as a result”) fields such as law, health care and other disciplines, where starting and managing their own businesses are secondary to their specific education. Let Michael help you rediscover your motivation, develop the essential and necessary skills to overcome challenges, seize opportunities for growth and discover strengths that will help you better lead your company. What To Expect? Michael brings certainty to coaching. Ensuring the right fit and establishing mutual trust are essential components to a successful coaching engagement. Thus, Michael begins with a 45-minute, pro bono coaching consultation to: Discuss your unique needs and situation Assess the potential for rapport Decide if you and Michael want to work together Discuss how functioning together might work Decide if Michael is the best coach to help you achieve your objectives After this initial consultation, you will be able to make your decision with confidence. In most cases, Michael will work with executive coaching clients for an hour per week. It is crucial to meet frequently for the first three to four months in order to establish an optimal working relationship and to allow Michael to get an accurate sense of your goals, operating style, and how he can bring the greatest value to your situation. Meetings are always scheduled with your best interests in mind. Michael can accommodate a preference for fewer, longer sessions or shorter, more frequent ones. Clients often have deliverables that guide future sessions or urgent situations that require immediate attention. As a client, your needs always drive the agenda. Executive and CEO business coaching delivers “soft” benefits, such as increased confidence, better decision-making skills, improved staff management, greater job satisfaction and renewed engagement, all of which lead to better functioning teams and more profitable businesses. There are “quantifiable” advantages as well. Michael’s clients can feel secure that their investment will be recovered; even better, they should derive seven to 10 times the fee value resulting from improved performance and productivity. Michael’s perspective is that every client is capable of improvement and greatness. His client-centered approach focuses on real-world issues, which business executives face every day. He engages the imagination and creativity of the leaders he works with. What do you envision for your future? How about the future of your company? What do you need to unlock your biggest opportunities? Where is your pain? What does “success” mean to you? Strategic questions, and constructive feedback with continual support and sound advice help clients unlock the answers to their most stubborn challenges. You can reach Michael by email: [email protected] or phone at (650) 444-5881 to schedule a no-charge Discovery Session. Contact Michael for Coaching How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI by Ellie Williams | May 12, 2026 Let’s be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer. read more « Older Entries How Do You Increase Employee Productivity When A Staff Member Doesn’t Fit by Michael Whatmore | Dec 13, 2016 A few years back, I coached a CEO who directed an educational institution. Prior to meeting in person, I had been in contact with his office and was surprised at what seemed like offhand treatment by an assistant. Our first appointment underscored some of what this executive was experiencing. read more Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff by Michael Whatmore | Nov 29, 2016 Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have political sensitivities, back stories, and even latent conflicts, making communications messy. How do Leadership Coaching Articles, Executive Training Blog, Michael Whatmore Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page All Executive Assessments Executive Coaching Business Coaching Improving Communication Leadership Successful Business Team Building How Employee Assessment Tools Can Save You From Bad Hiring Decisions The right employees will help drive your business forward. Hiring is one of the most critical activities in which business owners engage and one of the most feared, and personality assessments can be an appropriate tool. New employees cost money; it takes time and resources ... Read More How to Get Employee Buy In and 7 Warning Signs To Watch For That Indicate You Don’t Have It Change at work can be daunting—both for the employees who must adjust and for a leader who wants to effect change. The challenge of how to get employee buy in is a critical one ... Read More How Your Working Style Influences Your Employees Have you recently looked at your working style and checked to see if it varies from those of your employees? It goes without saying, that to successfully manage others, we must know how to manage ourselves. Certainly, we can’t do everything perfect all of the ... Read More Essential Employee Team Building Skills, How to Build Camaraderie? A few rare individuals are natural born leaders. The rest need training to develop effective employee team building skills. I recently conducted an “off-site” brainstorming session for one of my clients. This particular organization had recently participated in a major trade show event, and their ... Read More Why Employee Assessments Like DiSC Can Greatly Improve Your Business Efficiency Employment assessment tests can make a huge difference in getting a “right fit”. Understanding personalities in the workplace is critical. It’s not necessarily the technical aspects; it’s the people who are going to move projects and objectives forward. Leaders must understand how best to do ... Read More How Do Your Influence and Persuasion Skills Measure Up? What is Your Dominate Style? The lifebood of our business is our clients but how well do we know them? Understanding customer needs and expectations is a key part of developing ongoing business success. “Within you right now are the powers to do things you never dreamed possible. This power ... Read More Leadership Assessment Tests Can Help Grow Your Sales Leadership assessment tests can help you better identify and understand the different personality traits of the people you sell to. This allows you to make adjustments around how to pitch an idea. DiSC is a personality assessment tool that classifies individuals in four categories ... Read More Why Team Building Tools like DiSC Can Strengthen Team Dynamics DiSC is a personality assessment tool that classifies individuals in four categories: (1) Dominance; (2) Influence; (3) Steadiness; and (4) Conscientiousness. The DiSC model is often used in business, employee screening, education and leadership development. To varying degrees, these four traits make up our personality ... Read More Disc Personality Profiles & Leadership Styles. Illuminating a High-D Style As critical as it is for leaders to recognize and understand their personalities—strengths, weaknesses, behavioral traits, and communication styles—it is equally essential that they understand how they are perceived by others. How do I, S, C, and other D DiSC personality profiles respond to High-D ... Read More DiSC Personality Traits of The Rich & Famous What drives the rich and famous? To get an in depth understanding of any celebrity we would need to read their biography or an in depth interview. However, disc personality traits can tell us a lot. “If it wasn’t for the coffee, I’d have no ... Read More How Employee Assessment Tools Like DiSC Can Build a Fully Engaged Team Employee assessment tools allow you to get the best out of your team. “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” – Peter F. Drucker ... Read More Why The Power Of Observation is Critical For Effective People Management As Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” As with many of his verbal flubs, this one has more than a little truth and wisdom behind it. By simply watching, managers can become more effective in their roles. People management ... Read More Using Employee Assessment Tests For Effective Conflict Resolution Business lives in language. Getting it right will help motivate another person (or not). The role of a leader is to smooth the road so others on the team are motivated to produce their best work. How is this possible with a diverse workforce? Employee ... Read More DiSC High C Personality Profile Spotlight Individuals with a High-C style bring the same exacting approach to mathematical calculations, cooking, wiring, and artwork. Characteristic of High-C individuals, these traits, in the right role and environment, are a tremendous asset to an organization. How can managers and leaders harness this conscientious behavior ... Read More DiSC High S Personality Profile Spotlight, Michael Whatmore By a wide margin, High-S is the most common DiSC personality style. Considering that some people —from Gandhi to Mother Theresa to Michael J. Fox to good ol’ Charlie Brown— xhibit strong High-S personalities, one recognizes a wide range of behaviors and tendencies in this ... Read More How to Hire Employees; Michael Whatmore’s Guide to the Interview Hiring is always a challenging process; what steps can you take during the interview to ensure that you get the best candidate for the job? I recommend a minimum of three interviews and, for an executive position, four or five. Here is my strategy for ... Read More DiSC High I Personality Profile Spotlight DiSC High-I Personality Profile is one of the four dominant personality styles in the DiSC executive assessment, a personality tool I recommend for leaders to administer among their executive teams. While all people exhibit each of the four DiSC personality styles in varying degrees, the ... Read More DiSC Personality Series: Spotlight On High-D What do Michael Jordan, John McEnroe, Tiger Woods, and Charles Barkley have in common? They are all standout athletes who delivered victory after victory and broke record after record. They have something else in common: Each exhibits characteristics of a DiSC High-D personality profile ... Read More How Business Executive Coaching in San Francisco Pays for Itself: A Real Look at ROI Let's be honest about something upfront. Hiring an executive coach costs real money, and it is completely fair to ask whether it is worth it. That is not a question to dodge. It deserves a straight answer ... Read More How Do You Increase Employee Productivity When A Staff Member Doesn’t Fit A few years back, I coached a CEO who directed an educational institution. Prior to meeting in person, I had been in contact with his office and was surprised at what seemed like offhand treatment by an assistant. Our first appointment underscored some of what ... Read More Why Transformational Leadership Training is Invaluable for a New CEO inheriting existing staff Being the new kid on the block and the leader are not easy. Staff will not automatically know what you expect nor will they necessarily fall into alignment with your vision. In addition to a preexisting corporate culture and social hierarchy, you very often have ... Read More Mobilize Your Mission And Vision By Defining Your Core Values A vision statement guides your organization and captures the reasons why you are in busi New Testimonials - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Testimonials When You're With Us, You're in First Class Michael has an extraordinary skill set which he applies with good judgment in an Executive Coach with a strong business background. I highly recommend Michael for his proficiency, intuition, and intelligence. Ron Means, Chair Vistage International Michael: “I just wanted to let you know that Eric specifically came by my office to thank me for referring him to you. He said that you have been a tremendous help to all concerned.” Norma Lambert MacLeod Law and Mediation Office “I will be forever thankful to Michael for his first-rate efforts. Without hesitation, he inspired me with his coaching; “ Thank you, Michael Sara Werner-Costa Luxury Real Estate Advisor “Thanks for your excellent coaching and consulting.” Tom Scripps, President Canyon Pacific Management “Working with Michael Whatmore as my business coach is a great privilege for me. While supporting me in my goals, he has been instrumental in my achieving three distinct areas of business that I pursue… Read more “Dr. Cindy Sholes” Dr. Cindy Sholes Mind Wave Institute Michael: “You sure got to see what happens as I venture into unfamiliar territory; your professionalism is appreciated. In retrospect, the whole coaching process was amazing for me and very educational. It helped me realize… Read more “Doug Barlow” Doug Barlow Shining Star International “Michael, Can’t thank you enough for all of your help. You are a great contribution to every aspect of my life as well as to our business growth.” Dr. Mitra Ray, CEO rREST Inc “Michael’s gentle communication style coupled with his business acumen inspired a better public speaker in me. I am now able to carry forward the healthful message of Acupuncture. More than a year later, we continue… Read more “Beth Schiffman B.A., L.AC, M.S.” Beth Schiffman B.A., L.AC, M.S. Founder, Many Lives Chinese Medicine “I have participated in many (some extensive) management training programs over the course of my career, many of which were excellent and assisted my development. Michael Whatmore provided my direct reports and me with a… Read more “Michael Enxing” Michael Enxing, VP Sales Vertos Medical Inc. “It is a pleasure to recommend Michael Whatmore. Feedback from participants is positive. A new group training program designed by Mike has shown positive results. Under his leadership,” Ed Craine - Executive Director San Francisco West-Bay BNI Region “I absolutely love Michael’s energy – – – so steady and penetrating – – – right to the point. He is clearly present all the time. I admire that ability to be selfless.” Barbara Bessey Michael, “We had good leadership meetings today. Thank you for your coaching and guidance.\ Thank you for all your help.” Dan Sowell, President Midland Packaging & Crating Michael – “Thank you so much for the wonderful training and mentoring at the recent RCC training. Your caring for your students, your clients, and the coaching profession was unmistakable! I look forward to not… Read more “R. ALAN SMITH, J.D.” R. ALAN SMITH, J.D. BUILD MOMENTUM NOW! “Just wanted to thank you for your effort and pointing me in the right direction in terms of our marketing effort.” Deepak Patankar, Founder Evoco Architecture | Interiors Michael: Since we’ve been working together our company and my relationship with my partner is heading in a wonderful direction. Better than ever expected! I’ve never been more hopeful for the growth and success of… Read more “Eric Ibsen, CEO,” Eric Ibsen, CEO, Studylog Systems Inc. “Hi Michael, thank you SO MUCH! You are a business coach who has real knowledge, real experience and real success to draw from. I am skeptical about some business coaches, but you are the real… Read more “Jane Ransom, MA, C.Ht., M.Ht.” Jane Ransom, MA, C.Ht., M.Ht. Hypnotherapy That Works “Michael I just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you again. You were very generous with your time. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for possible referrals.” Jennifer Jaynes, Esq. The Law Office of Jennifer Jaynes “Through much research and trial sessions with multiple coaches, we gratefully found our way to Executive Coaching San Francisco (ECSF). The coaching helped us talk through some deep differences and learn new communication skills. I… Read more “jennifer lightstone” Jennifer Lightstone, Co-Owner Psoas Massage + Bodywork “Thanks for all of your great work Michael You helped us get through a very difficult situation and we couldn’t have done it without you.” Mark Choey, Top Producer Climb Real Estate Group “I am pleased to support of Michael Whatmore, an executive coach of great character at a time when management challenges had risen to new heights at De La Salle. Michael became immediately involved. Ever cooperative,… Read more “Bruce D. Shoup” Bruce D. Shoup, President De La Salle High School “Michael is a very intuitive business leader, well-grounded in years of international experience. He is a statesman, a deep thinker, Michael is part change agent, part ‘keep the ship afloat’, part sanity checker. When you choose… Read more “Craig Ackerman, Founder” Craig Ackerman, Founder Realtor® & Author “I had the pleasure of meeting regularly with Michael when I was first taking on a new position as manager of a small team. Michael has a calm and clear-sighted approach to leadership – served… Read more “Anna Vilborg Hartwig, PhD” Anna Vilborg Hartwig, PhD Director of R&D, Toma Biosciences “Michael is an accomplished and experienced executive professional with a talented gift to help other executives be successful. He has a unique ability to help CEO’s break through obstacles in their business to achieve their… Read more “Candice A. Katayama” Candice A. Katayama Creative, Strategic, Effective Sales and Marketing Professional “Michael’s leadership abilities were essential in the creation and growth of GraceWorks. Michael kept us focused on shared goals and guided a collection of strong individuals into a team who produced a timely and effective… Read more “Deborah Frangquist” Deborah Frangquist Transformational Career Consulting & Executive Coaching “Michael is extremely knowledgeable; his intuitive approach to business has helped keep me on track. Having his expertise to draw upon leads me to find better solutions and gain better results. He truly cares about… Read more “Greg Corvi” Greg Corvi, Top Producer Marin and San Francisco Realtor “Michael Whatmore helped me grow my business in many productive ways. He is an intuitive business coach with real-world business knowledge who listens thoughtfully and keeps me on track. I favorably recommend his coaching.” Gwen O'Neill Franchise Partner “What Michael can do for you is help you take it to the next level. As an experienced business coach, I highly FAQ - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Executive Coaching San Francisco FAQs Search As a leader, it can be scary to have questions and have nowhere to turn. Over the last 30 years, Executive Coaching San Fransisco has been the trusted resource for executives and managers just like you. Please explore our frequently asked questions below and don’t hesitate to ask us directly with a quick message here: Name Email Message Send What Makes ECSF Unique? Over three decades, ECSF has worked with hundreds of business owners and CEOs across North America. Every engagement is a personal journey and reflects the goals of our client. Simply put, your needs and aspirations are paramount. What is Executive Coaching? Executive coaching is a high-impact developmental partnership between coach and business leader (client), where both engage in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires and challenges the client to maximize personal and professional potential. Executive coaches are often thought of as thought partners, accountability partners, advisors, sounding boards, advocates, and people who challenge you all at once. Foremost, for me, is to identify and help clarify your goals, your timeframe and intended outcomes. My role is to help you define a vision, mission, and purpose that produces a personal legacy for you in business. What are the Different Types of Executive Coaching? Career Coaching is best for persons who are dissatisfied with current progress and who require greater clarity to identify career possibilities, develop strengths, skills, and values through a personality assessment such as an Everything DiSC profile. Performance Coaching is targeted on the performance of either an individual, a team, or executive performance. The objective is to help leaders prepare psychologically, physically, emotionally, and professionally, to face challenging situations in the business world. Leadership Coaching follows the sole purpose of developing and enhancing leadership skills in executives and their teams. The coach helps the individual to discover ways and means to encourage delegation, develop an authentic trust in teamwork, and being mindful of valued leadership skills that include kindness, selflessness, confidence, and genuine self-awareness. Organizational or Business Coaching concentrates on improving the overall performance of the business organization. The coach acts as a confidential sounding board, who asks questions and listens for clues as to who this person is being. The executive receives feedback from the coach to help with improving communications. Open discussions lead to gaining insights, and to clarify questions, enabling the person to solve problems of their own accord. Executive and Life Coaching differences A life coach works on personal matters, by helping a client create and align their life objectives. Coaching creativity for a life in alignment and equilibrium with personal goals and values. Executive Coaching is not Mentoring, usually provided by a person of experience, sharing knowledge, who is intended to guide another for professional development. Training, such sessions are usually conducted in a classroom setting. A trainer teaches clients about the best practices and imparts knowledge and wisdom. Consulting, Consulting is providing specialized expertise, and knowledge, to identify problems and appropriate solutions. Management is the authority to act in a direct manner to oversee employees making progress to attain a certain outcome. Therapy has a focus on identifying a past event that stops a person from moving forward. It is intended as a healing process. Executive coaching is forward looking and focuses on attaining a certain future outcome. Some Benefits of Executive Coaching: A heightened self-awareness, a catalyst that leads to growth. A sharp self-awareness in a leader correlates with higher levels of effectiveness, leading to greater business profitability. Improved self-regulation, is an acute understanding of managing one’s own reactions and behaviors. Improved empathy is the ability to comprehend the feelings of others. Like standing in another person’s shoes, thinking from the perspective of another person. Flexibility in thought is ridding oneself of rigid thinking, and having the courage to recognize solutions that may be outside your traditional belief systems. Heightened levels of motivation, a leader that demonstrates initiative-taking, keeps a team motivated to strive for quality, and work better together. Improved leadership abilities , leading by example validates a passion for making it easier for their followers to do the same. It is essential for organizations to have an effective leader. Achieve personal growth, the true purpose of executive coaching is to help, and you cut through all the “noise,” and facilitate your journey and your own commitment to accomplish an objective. Deepened emotional intelligence, an ability to be aware, express, and control personal emotions in ways that approach interpersonal relationships thoughtfully. Better use of resources, through making optimum use of energy, skills, and time to achieve your intended goals, in business and in life. Enhanced overall concentration, important skills such as tracking your progress, learning to set simple goals like targeting the outcome for each day to be better than the last, transforming into a better executive. Some Benefits of Executive Coaching As a Strategic Thinking Partner I help entrepreneurs to visualize creative scenarios for future opportunities, Facilitate thinking beyond the constraints of what you already know, to target new strategies for moving forward Aid in transforming dreams into commitments, and enthusiasm into results, Ease the creation of business plans that are grounded in realistic outcomes, Support realizable goals, and objectives, and provide “feed-forward” in their attainment. Some Benefits of Executive Coaching As an Enterprise Resource I will provide a source for innovative ideas with experienced insights, proven approaches Contribute personal attention and momentum for ventures that may otherwise never get underway Make available a singular coach with whom to collaborate, invent and discover Become a foundation of new networks, and alliances that expand your reach Enable an eagle’s view of your endeavors, focused on high-value actions vs. low-value activities to assist managers to free-up valuable time and energy Help identify new opportunities, and develop tactics for handling challenges Alter personal reactions to apparent obstacles, to enable creative ways forward. Some Benefits of Executive Coaching As a Unique Sounding Board My contributions are fresh perspectives, and objective observations. To impart a uniform dialogue, a steadfast means of staying focused. The concentration to keep working on your business; not just working in it. Solution-based expertise provides experienced brainstorming techniques for more effective decision making. A non-judgmental collaborator, who is fully committed to your success. Help identify new opportunities, and develop tactics for handling challenges Provides a thinking-partner, without the downside of partnership concerns. What Is the ROI of Executive Coaching? Executive coaching produces a whopping 788% ROI, plus the benefits from employee retention, 529% ROI! Almost 20% of execu Home - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Where Top Executives Take Flight Home for Executives and Leaders Reaching New Altitudes of Growth, Results, and Success for Over 25 Years Start Your Journey A Great Business Starts With Great Professionals. Take our "Flight Plan" Review Are you Soaring or Stalling? The best leaders are harnessing the 4 Elements of Flight, the others are grounded, whether they know it or not. We’ve used our decades of experience in executive development to create a powerful tool that can help us find out. It's Time To Go Back to The Basics That Build Strong Leaders... Executive Coaching Don’t make the same mistakes leaders have been making for years! Skip the line to success and seize every opportunity your business gets Strategic Analysis Measuring key metrics in clever ways to uncover new paths forward and discover your businesses best direction Leadership Programs Providing Managers & Business executives fresh perspectives on solving today's pressing challenges in a quickly evolving landscape The 4 Elements of Flight: The best professionals are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, but there is more to the story. Find out what you might be missing. Watch the video and request your Flight Plan review today. Review Your Flight Plan             Preparing For Take-off Incorporating the 4 elements of flight – lift, weight, thrust, and drag – into your Strategic plans can help you achieve your goals faster, with less stress. By focusing on lift, you can identify the key factors that will help your business rise above the competition. Addressing weight can help you eliminate unnecessary burdens and streamline your operations. Thrust is what propels your business forward, and identifying the sources of your momentum can help you stay on track. Finally, drag can cause resistance and slow you down, so it is important to identify and address any obstacles that may be holding you back.   Unlock Spectacular Leadership A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. It effectively sets and preserves the lines of responsibility in your company, while freeing the boss to focus on oversight and growth. It’s brilliant! Discover how fast things can move when your team is empowered to focus on problem-solving. Allow your team to stretch their imaginations, they will discover creative solutions to their own problems, this management tactic produces more satisfaction than you ever imagined! Shifting your management and communications style is worth every scrap of your energy. I teach managers how using the Freedom Scale improves productivity, creates greater job satisfaction, and drives a more successful organization.   Recognize Achievement Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Your results can be better, with less oversight, while improving team self-sufficiency. Cultivate a culture of employee appreciation, recognition programs clearly improve morale. Regular check-ins, open communication, and clear performance metrics are simple tactics to keep your team engaged and enthusiastic, even during challenges or setbacks. Ensure such a program is geared towards everyone in your organization. Organize an over-site committee which includes a cross-section of your workforce to recommend outstanding performance.   Celebrate Bigger Wins Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Employing ways and means to celebrate wins communicates the importance and value of your mission. Birthday and anniversary cards demonstrate you care about your people. The key is to align your company culture and values with your employees, together on a common vision of purpose and success. Plan celebrations that truly resonate with your team. These will have a positive impact on your workplace. An annual outing or party provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the dedication of individuals and teams with awards.   Reject Limiting Beliefs Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Vision describes the desired future state of your company. An inspiring goal of overarching optimism, with an emotionally driven long term destination. It motivates you and your team. A mission statement identifies precisely what the organization does, and who it will serve. It speaks about the performance of the business, its products, and services and to what end. A Purpose Statement is an explanation of your company’s motivations, reasons for being, and why it works the way it does. Purpose-driven businesses outperform competitors and attract enthusiastic employees and customers. Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. Checked Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Hand Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Stop Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Achieve success Lock Checked Hand Stop Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Checked There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Hand There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Stop There are four elements critical to your business success: Visi Why Executive Coaching? How can I benefit from a coach? Here's how... Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Executive Coaching Strategic, personal and professional growth for CEOs, Managers and Executives Executive Assessments Informative, inspirational engagements for business-oriented professionals CEO and Business Coaching Personal insight and business skill development for independent Professionals and Practitioners “So You’ve Been Told You Need Executive Coaching!” Now What? by Michael Whatmore | Dec 7, 2016 “I think it’s time for you to consider getting an executive coach.” Why executive coaching? What’s wrong with my management style, you may be thinking to yourself. Hearing these words from a colleague, friend or senior executive in your business can feel like having the floor drop from beneath your feet. Your confidence might be shaken, and you certainly might question your superior’s faith in you. Resistance and anger are normal reactions, but they’re not very productive. If someone has suggested that you need coaching, accept that you’ve reached a point where you’re ready for growth. You may even thank that person for their observation! Executive coaching is a chance to understand your motivation and what opportunities lay before you. It is an opening where you can develop your insights and remove any barriers to your success. Your company may benefit; nevertheless, the real winner is you ! Not Your Idea? It’s not surprising why executive coaching engagements that begin with third-party referrals can sometimes be challenging in the beginning. A designated coachee may bring feelings of resentment, hostility and self-consciousness to the table. Once these types of feelings are handled, real productive coaching conversations can begin. One of my clients was sent to me for coaching because the chairman and the vice president in her organization suggested that she had a communication problem. My client didn’t think that she needed coaching and wasn’t happy to hear that other people did. In the early weeks of working with this client, her brilliance was evident. So, what was the reason why executive coaching was recommended? Although she was quite thoughtful and thorough with problem-solving issues, her communication style could be described as “terse.” As a woman of few words, coworkers and direct reports didn’t know how to take her directives and were frequently frustrated by the interaction and delivery style, which clearly inhibited their ability to understand and support her objectives. My client and I spent considerable time dissecting situations where misunderstandings were evident, and then crafted fresh responses for future use. We painstakingly reviewed conversations (e.g., who said what, what the reactions were and how outcomes differed from intentions). Her commitment to the coaching process shifted her self-esteem, which led to achievement of some significant goals—some of which were considered impossible when we first met. She has since moved on to become president and chief executive officer, filling roles in which communication and understanding are crucial. Consider The Bigger Picture Here is a question I frequently ask in an attempt to break through resistance: “Would changing your current situation be valuable to you? Not to the vice president, the chairman or the president, but to you?” So often, mandated executive coaching begins with someone else’s interpretation of your shortcomings or challenges, often referred to as “areas needing improvement.” It is important to grasp that when you hear, “You need an executive coach,” your superior is stating an opinion and not necessarily the truth. Nonetheless, it is the job of the client—and of the coach—to uncover the truth and work towards finding improvement and new ways of approaching leadership conversations. This is why executive coaching can often surprise coachees with benefits they never could not foresee and why they hire a coach on a permanent basis. It becomes an invaluable relationship. If you are willing to face that truth, be open to new ideas and be willing and able to do the necessary work, then executive coaching will deliver results. See how these executives lives were changed by coaching. See what business owners and executives are saying about Michael. Contact Michael Today. Email: [email protected] or call (650) 444-5881 ← Previous Insight Next Insight → Want more information? Michael Whatmore improves Communications for Leaders, he teaches Executives and their Teams Strategies to Accelerate Growth. To learn more about his unique style of Executive Coaching . Get in touch now! Contact Michael Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download Home - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Where Top Executives Take Flight Home for Executives and Leaders Reaching New Altitudes of Growth, Results, and Success for Over 25 Years Start Your Journey A Great Business Starts With Great Professionals. Take our "Flight Plan" Review Are you Soaring or Stalling? The best leaders are harnessing the 4 Elements of Flight, the others are grounded, whether they know it or not. We’ve used our decades of experience in executive development to create a powerful tool that can help us find out. It's Time To Go Back to The Basics That Build Strong Leaders... Executive Coaching Don’t make the same mistakes leaders have been making for years! Skip the line to success and seize every opportunity your business gets Strategic Analysis Measuring key metrics in clever ways to uncover new paths forward and discover your businesses best direction Leadership Programs Providing Managers & Business executives fresh perspectives on solving today's pressing challenges in a quickly evolving landscape The 4 Elements of Flight: The best professionals are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, but there is more to the story. Find out what you might be missing. Watch the video and request your Flight Plan review today. Review Your Flight Plan             Preparing For Take-off Incorporating the 4 elements of flight – lift, weight, thrust, and drag – into your Strategic plans can help you achieve your goals faster, with less stress. By focusing on lift, you can identify the key factors that will help your business rise above the competition. Addressing weight can help you eliminate unnecessary burdens and streamline your operations. Thrust is what propels your business forward, and identifying the sources of your momentum can help you stay on track. Finally, drag can cause resistance and slow you down, so it is important to identify and address any obstacles that may be holding you back.   Unlock Spectacular Leadership A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. It effectively sets and preserves the lines of responsibility in your company, while freeing the boss to focus on oversight and growth. It’s brilliant! Discover how fast things can move when your team is empowered to focus on problem-solving. Allow your team to stretch their imaginations, they will discover creative solutions to their own problems, this management tactic produces more satisfaction than you ever imagined! Shifting your management and communications style is worth every scrap of your energy. I teach managers how using the Freedom Scale improves productivity, creates greater job satisfaction, and drives a more successful organization.   Recognize Achievement Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Your results can be better, with less oversight, while improving team self-sufficiency. Cultivate a culture of employee appreciation, recognition programs clearly improve morale. Regular check-ins, open communication, and clear performance metrics are simple tactics to keep your team engaged and enthusiastic, even during challenges or setbacks. Ensure such a program is geared towards everyone in your organization. Organize an over-site committee which includes a cross-section of your workforce to recommend outstanding performance.   Celebrate Bigger Wins Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Employing ways and means to celebrate wins communicates the importance and value of your mission. Birthday and anniversary cards demonstrate you care about your people. The key is to align your company culture and values with your employees, together on a common vision of purpose and success. Plan celebrations that truly resonate with your team. These will have a positive impact on your workplace. An annual outing or party provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the dedication of individuals and teams with awards.   Reject Limiting Beliefs Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Vision describes the desired future state of your company. An inspiring goal of overarching optimism, with an emotionally driven long term destination. It motivates you and your team. A mission statement identifies precisely what the organization does, and who it will serve. It speaks about the performance of the business, its products, and services and to what end. A Purpose Statement is an explanation of your company’s motivations, reasons for being, and why it works the way it does. Purpose-driven businesses outperform competitors and attract enthusiastic employees and customers. Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock A strength of Michael’s management style is his confidence in the incredible value of applying the principles of “The Freedom Scale.” This simple management tool makes scaling exponential growth possible. Checked Take steps to remove blocks that keep you from your full potential. Create a culture of innovation, learning and growth, recognize individual and team achievements. Consider this, “what gets recognized gets repeated.” Hand Innovative leadership converts to more successes. Beyond just reaching your goals, celebrate your wins. Create openings for greater comradery to build morale and motivate your people to achieve even more. Stop Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Keep your motivation in perspective; “For the sake of what, does your company exist?” How does it plan to achieve its goals, and what the business becomes? Sharp vision, mission, and purpose statements provide your company with direction and focus. Achieve success Lock Checked Hand Stop Achieve success There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Lock There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Checked There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Hand There are four elements critical to your business success: Vision, Mission, Purpose, and Strategy. Once properly in place (and in balance), you’ll get results faster and with less stress. Stop There are four elements critical to your business success: Visi Contact Us - Executive Coaching - San Franciso Home Services Executive Coaching Executive Assessment Tools and Tests Executive Training That Will Transform How You Run Your Business CEO & Executive Business Coaching Michael’s Insights Newsletter FAQ Article Library Success Stories About About Michael Testimonials Contact Us Select Page Contact Form First Name Last Name Email Subject Your Message Submit Form Facebook X RSS LinkedIn ©2026 Executive Coaching - San Franciso | WebSite Designed with Passion by heART Web Design Share This Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Get In Touch Download