To be an effective executive coach, certain competencies, skills, and prerequisites are essential. These not only ensure the coach can provide valuable guidance and support to their clients but also help in establishing credibility and trust. Here are some of the key competencies and skills required:

1. Active Listening: The ability to truly listen, understand, and reflect on what the coachee is saying is fundamental. This involves not just hearing words, but also picking up on non-verbal cues and underlying emotions.
2. Strong Communication Skills: Being able to clearly and effectively convey ideas, feedback, and instructions is crucial. This also includes being skilled in asking powerful and thought-provoking questions that can lead to insights and actions.
3. Empathy and Sensitivity: Understanding and genuinely caring about the coachee’s perspective and challenges. An executive coach should be able to connect with coachees on a deeper level to facilitate growth and development.
4. Confidentiality and Integrity: Adhering to the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality. Coachees must feel confident that their information and discussions are secure and respected.
5. Business Acumen: Having a good understanding of the business world, including organizational dynamics, leadership challenges, and professional growth. This helps in providing relevant and pragmatic coaching.
6. Psychological Knowledge: Basic knowledge of psychology and human behavior is beneficial, especially for understanding various personality types, motivation, and change management.
7. Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to help coachees identify problems, think critically, and devise effective strategies and solutions.
8. Cultural and Emotional Intelligence: Being aware of and sensitive to different cultures and emotional dynamics within a business setting. This is crucial for coaches working in diverse and global environments.
9. Adaptability and Flexibility: The coaching process is not one-size-fits-all. A good coach must adapt their approach to the specific needs, goals, and learning styles of each coachee.
10. Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement: The best coaches are those who are committed to their own ongoing professional development and learning.
11. Building Trust and Rapport: The ability to quickly establish trust and rapport with coachees is fundamental to an effective coaching relationship.
12. Goal-Setting and Accountability: Assisting coachees in setting realistic and achievable goals and holding them accountable for their progress.
13. Coaching Methodologies and Tools: Knowledge and proficiency in various coaching models, tools, and techniques are essential. This might include familiarity with models like GROW, CLEAR, or others.
14. Feedback Delivery: Skill in giving constructive, honest, and direct feedback in a way that is helpful and acceptable to the coachee.
15. Certification and Training: Although not always mandatory, having formal training and certification from recognized coaching institutions can add credibility and depth to a coach’s practice.

These skills and competencies are often developed over time, through education, experience, and continuous self-improvement. A good executive coach is not just a mentor but also a lifelong learner, constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of their coachees and the business environment.