Dress the part; that is what they say. What if you want to be a major executive? A bigwig player in an even bigger pond? How do you do that? Maybe your attempts to look and dress the part have been missed, or maybe you lack something the higher-ups are looking for. Do you know how to find out for sure? Hire an executive coach. Here is how an executive coach will transform you into the position you want to be.
Your Wardrobe
The big execs all dress in nice suits. Nice pantsuits, nice skirt suits, and nice tailored suits are the dress code. The first thing your executive coach is going to do is ransack your wardrobe. He/she is looking for anything that will be impressive enough to rub elbows with those you are desperate to call colleagues. If nothing is passable in your wardrobe, you'd best pull out the cash and/or the plastic because your coach is taking you out to shop for some proper suits. Expect to spend big, too, as you will have to do so when you finally make it big. For now, your coach will help you find two or three complete suits, tailored to perfection, that will flatter you and make you stand out. The suits will also have pieces you can mix and match, so it does not look like you are wearing the same two or three suits all week long.
Your Resume
Sometimes it is something as simple as how things are worded on a resume that causes you to lose that promotion. If you created your own resume, be ready to dump it. Your exec coach is about to write a new one for you in executive-speak, the language CEOs love to see on applications and requests for a promotion. You will see a vast difference between the resume you created and the one the coach makes for you.
Your Education and Experience
Oh, dear. Reaching above your education and experience level is the stuff movies are made of. It does not happen often in real life unless you are a financial wizard or you pull off the biggest deal your company has ever seen. If you want the corner office with the name on your door and the personal administrative assistant, your education and experience have to match. If they do not, your coach will show you where and how to get the education fast, and then the experience part has to come with time.