Decisions and judgement
Explore options, test assumptions and make clearer decisions when the answer is uncertain.
EXECUTIVE COACHING FOR SME LEADERS
Lead with greater clarity.
Deliver stronger results.
Practical, personalised coaching for executives and senior managers who want to strengthen their leadership, make better decisions and achieve more through their teams.
Work directly with Russell Cummings to connect your development to the responsibilities, challenges and priorities of your role.
For you as a leader or for a key executive in your business.
40+ years of business advisory experienceWork directly with RussAustralia and New Zealand
WHEN THE ROLE ASKS MORE OF YOU
You know your business.
Keep growing as a leader.
Leadership brings decisions that cannot be solved by working harder. You may need to delegate more effectively, address a difficult conversation or create time to think beyond the immediate demands.
Coaching gives you a structured opportunity to work through those challenges with an experienced external perspective and turn your thinking into practical action.
- You are an executive or senior manager.You want to lead your team with greater confidence and deliver on the responsibilities of your role.
- You are stepping into greater responsibility.Your priorities are shifting from doing the work yourself to achieving results through others.
- You are an owner or CEO supporting a leader.You want individual development to contribute to the performance of the business.
DEVELOPMENT THAT CONNECTS TO THE JOB
Work on what matters in your role.
Coaching priorities are shaped around your responsibilities and business context. These are examples of the areas you might address together.
Delegation and accountability
Set expectations, give people ownership and follow up without taking every task back.
Communication and influence
Prepare for important conversations, listen more effectively and work through differences.
Priorities and execution
Connect your time and attention to the outcomes your role needs to deliver.
Self-awareness and leadership behaviour
Understand your strengths and the impact of your approach on the people around you.
Leading through change
Build clarity for your team and maintain direction as responsibilities and circumstances evolve.
THE SHIFFT APPROACH
Strategy. Capability.
Commitment.
SHIFFT brings these three foundations together to improve performance. In executive coaching, the focus is on how you lead and the contribution you make to the business.
Be clear on your contribution.
Connect your responsibilities and development objectives to the business priorities. Establish what progress should look like in your role.
Build the ability to deliver.
Develop the skills, behaviours and judgement your responsibilities call for. Use relevant assessments, tools and learning to focus the work.
Put development into practice.
Translate insight into agreed actions. Apply them at work, reflect on what happens and use regular conversations to maintain momentum.
Individual development connected to performance in the business.
HOW COACHING WORKS
A clear focus. Practical support.
Progress between sessions.
The programme is tailored around you. The starting point is understanding your role, the business context and the changes you want to make.
Understand the situation
Discuss your goals, leadership challenges and priorities. Explore where an external perspective could help.
Agree the development focus
Identify the outcomes to work towards and the support required. Relevant diagnostics and behavioural insights can inform the plan.
Coach and apply
Use individual sessions to work through real issues. Agree practical actions and maintain focus through momentum calls.
Review and adapt
Review progress against agreed priorities. Explore what you have learnt and adjust the next actions as your role and business evolve.
When the business sponsors coaching
Discuss the executive’s goals alongside the business expectations. Agree who is involved, what progress will be reviewed and the boundaries for sharing information before coaching begins.
Russ working with business leaders. Coaching is tailored to each executive’s situation.
SUPPORT AROUND YOUR DEVELOPMENT
More than the coaching conversation.
SHIFFT’s executive coaching offer combines individual support with practical tools and learning. Your proposal sets out the arrangements for your programme.
- Individual coaching: focused conversations about the decisions and challenges that matter to your role.
- Momentum calls: short check-ins to review actions and keep priorities moving between sessions.
- Behavioural insights: Harrison Assessment and relevant diagnostics to inform your development focus.
- Practical resources: business tools, online learning and a dedicated coaching platform.
- Supporting development: relevant Learning Sprints and Mastermind opportunities as agreed.
Session frequency, assessments, learning access and investment are confirmed in your tailored proposal.
DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE
From doing everything
to leading through others.
A coaching priority becomes useful when it changes what happens at work. Here is one way a delegation challenge could be approached.
Illustrative example - fictional executive
“Every issue comes back to me.”
An operations leader is solving routine problems for the team and has little time for the improvements they are expected to lead.
Clarify ownership.
Explore the leader’s habits, define which decisions the team can own and prepare clearer delegation conversations.
Try it. Observe. Adjust.
Delegate an agreed responsibility with clear expectations. Review what happened, how the team responded and what the leader needs to change next.
An example of the process rather than a promised client outcome.
YOUR COACH
Work directly with
Russell Cummings.
Russ brings more than 40 years of experience in business consulting, coaching and leadership development. Based on the Gold Coast, he works with family and privately owned businesses across Australia and New Zealand.
His approach combines practical business experience, thoughtful challenge and tools you can apply. You bring the knowledge of your role and organisation. Together, you work on the leadership priorities that matter in your situation.
Books, journals and frameworks support the work. The coaching relationship and your application at work remain central.
Read Russ’s full SHIFFT profile →
PUBLISHED CLIENT EXPERIENCE
“great value for money and someone who assists in delivering results.”
John McLean, CEO, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks
Published SHIFFT feedback about strategic planning and team development. This describes that engagement rather than a specific executive coaching result.
Read the full testimonial on SHIFFT →CLEAR ANSWERS BEFORE YOU COMMIT
Explore the right support for you.
How executive coaching works
Understand the development focus, what to bring to a session and how progress is reviewed.
Explore the process →Executive or business coaching?
Compare coaching focused on your leadership role with support for owners developing the business.
Compare the services →Reflect on your leadership
Explore SHIFFT’s personal diagnostics covering leadership, listening, resilience and time management.
Explore SHIFFT diagnostics →Understand behavioural insights
Learn more about the Harrison assessment tools available through SHIFFT and discuss their relevance with Russ.
Explore Harrison Assessments →COMMON QUESTIONS
Executive coaching FAQs
Who is executive coaching for?
Executives and senior managers in SMEs who want to strengthen how they lead and deliver in their roles. It is also relevant for owners and CEOs who want to support the development of a key leader.
What happens in a coaching session?
Bring a current challenge, decision or development priority. Work with Russ to explore the issue, test your thinking and identify practical next actions. The focus is tailored to your responsibilities and business context.
What happens between sessions?
You apply agreed actions at work. Momentum calls provide a shorter opportunity to review progress and address obstacles. Relevant resources and learning support the development priorities. Your proposal confirms the schedule and access arrangements.
Is a Harrison Assessment included?
SHIFFT’s published executive coaching offer lists a Harrison Assessment. Discuss the assessment, feedback process and how the insights will be used with Russ. Your tailored proposal confirms the assessment arrangements.
Can my employer arrange coaching for me?
Yes. An owner or CEO can enquire about coaching for a key executive. The development objectives, business expectations and arrangements for reviewing progress should be agreed alongside the boundaries for sharing information.
How much does executive coaching cost?
Investment is confirmed in a tailored proposal after discussing your goals and the support required. The proposal sets out session frequency, assessments, resources, fees and terms so you can make an informed decision.
Can executive coaching sit alongside business coaching or strategy work?
Yes. SHIFFT offers executive coaching alongside owner business coaching and strategic planning support. The executive’s development can connect to the priorities they are responsible for delivering. Any wider facilitation or team programme is scoped separately.
How do I get started?
Book a free 20-minute introductory call with Russ. Discuss your role, priorities and what you want to achieve. If there is a good fit, the next step is to agree the scope of a tailored programme.
START WITH A CONVERSATION
What would make the biggest difference to your leadership?
A free 20-minute introductory call with Russ to discuss your role, the challenges you face and whether coaching is the right fit.
- Explore the responsibilities and priorities you want to work on.
- Discuss support for yourself or a leader in your business.
- Agree whether a tailored coaching proposal is the next step.
Choose a time through Russ’s existing booking calendar. No commitment to a programme.