A Good Executive Coach is Dr. Watson to their Client's Sherlock Holmes

In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes says to Dr. Watson: “Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt.”

As an Executive Coach, one of my roles is to support the innate genius of my clients to overcome their personal challenges. Holmes solves the crimes, but he could not do so without his trusted companion, Dr. John Watson.

Some ways in which Dr. Watson helps Sherlock:
- He is unwavering in his belief, support, and appreciation of Holmes
- He clearly articulates the "obvious facts" (assumptions really) that Holmes is stimulated to challenge

A good Executive Coach trusts that their clients have the innate capability to solve their own problems. The role of the Coach is to support and encourage their clients, sometimes surfacing and challenging their underlying beliefs and assumptions that may be getting in their way.