The Difference Between Coaching and Training CEOs

People often conflate them, but they serve distinct purposes.

When it comes to guiding CEOs to success, two terms often get tossed around: coaching and training.

They might sound similar, but they’re fundamentally different in approach and impact. Let’s break it down.

What Is CEO Coaching?

CEO coaching is about individual transformation. A good coach makes the CEO better by helping them evolve as a person. It’s deep, introspective work. The coach helps the CEO explore who they are, what their values, mindset, and habits are, and where change and improvement are required. The coach challenges the CEO to shift how they think, how they lead, how they show up, then holds them accountable for making progress in those areas. The coach holds up a mirror to the CEO and says, “Let’s refine who you are and create a better version of you as a leader”—and maybe even as a person.

A well-coached CEO comes to see their blind spots, clarify their goals, and develop the inner strength to make progress on what’s most important. It’s about becoming a better version of…