Accurately Assess the Situation
What actually happened? Which people, interests, figures, and consequences are involved? We distinguish between facts, assumptions, and opinions.
Strategic Sparring and Coaching for Managing Directors of Mid-Sized Companies
Make clearer decisions. Effectively assign responsibilities. Create new opportunities for action.
When Responsibility Leaves No Room for Uncertainty
My executive coaching is designed for executives and entrepreneurs at medium-sized companies who are looking for a trusted partner to turn to when facing complex, deadlocked, or seemingly hopeless situations.
As a CEO, you are responsible for people, numbers, decisions, and the future of your company. There are many issues you cannot discuss openly within the company—especially when conflicting interests, personal relationships, or far-reaching consequences are involved.
You don’t need motivational coaching or off-the-shelf solutions. You need a clear, trustworthy partner who listens carefully, recognizes the bigger picture, helps you explore different perspectives, asks tough questions, and works with you to develop viable courses of action.
Decisions with Far-Reaching Consequences
When a decision affects employees, liquidity, the company’s future, or your personal future, a quick piece of advice is often not enough. Together, we’ll sort through the facts, interests, risks, and options for action.
Conflicts that cannot be discussed openly within the organization
Some topics cannot be discussed openly—neither with coworkers nor with business partners, nor even in a private setting. You’ll be provided with a confidential space to gain clarity, see things from a different perspective, and develop a sound strategy for conversation.
Growth, Responsibility, and Increasing Pressure
As your business grows, so do your tasks, expectations, and dependencies. We clarify priorities, roles, and responsibilities so that you can once again lead proactively rather than constantly reacting to demands.
This creates clarity that can actually be put into practice
What is it about a situation that actually takes up so much time and energy—the situation itself, or the perspective from which you view it?
In strategic coaching, we organize facts, interests, and potential consequences. At the same time, we examine the perspectives, judgments, or recurring patterns you have held onto so far. A targeted shift in perspective can transform a time-consuming and energy-draining situation into a clarifying, action-oriented, and energizing process.
What Changes in Sparring
The situation itself doesn't have to change first. What matters is the perspective from which you view it, how you interpret it—and what new possibilities that reveals. This is how you gain clarity and regain the ability to take action.
- Fewer mental loops
- Greater clarity regarding options and consequences
- A concrete next step
Recognizing Perspectives and Patterns
We’ll explore the perspective from which you’ve been assessing the situation so far, which thoughts keep recurring, and why this issue continues to take up your time and energy.
Opening Up New Perspectives
A deliberate shift in perspective reveals connections, possibilities, and room for action that were not apparent from the previous viewpoint. This allows us to reevaluate what previously consumed our time and energy.
Explore Options for Action
We compare realistic options and their consequences—for you, the people involved, and your company.
Establish the next step
The result is not a theoretical concept, but a concrete decision or action with a clear next step, a realistic timeline, and a verifiable implementation plan.
Confidential. Clear. On equal footing.
A safe space for what would otherwise remain unspoken
Perhaps you’ve long been aware of the technical possibilities. And yet, there are concerns, doubts, or personal issues that you cannot discuss completely openly with either your employees or your business partners.
In sparring, you don't have to play a specific role or come up with a quick solution. You're also free to voice contradictory ideas, reject possibilities, and look at a situation from unusual perspectives.
I listen carefully, identify connections, and ask the questions that may be uncomfortable—not to give you a ready-made answer, but to help you develop your own sound perspective and determine the appropriate next step.
Being Allowed to Think Freely
You can voice what has no place within the organization—without regard to hierarchies, expectations, or conflicting interests.
Clarity Instead of Approval
You won't get a favorable response. I ask questions, examine different perspectives, and draw attention to connections that are easily overlooked.
Organize even complex topics
Personal, economic, and interpersonal aspects are not considered in isolation when they influence one another.
Since 1997
working as a coach
1-on-1 Sparring
personal and confidential
Business and Personality
viewed in context
How We Work Together
From the Initial Conversation to a Viable Next Step
You don't have to know exactly what the solution looks like just yet. It's enough that you realize: You don't want to continue with the situation the way it has been.
Clarity Discussion
You describe what’s on your mind right now. We’ll review your situation and determine whether my coaching is a good fit for your needs and your work style.
Classify the situation and objective
To start, we’ll clarify what this is actually about, what needs to change, and how you’ll know that working together is helpful for you.
One-on-One Coaching
In confidential discussions, we examine facts, perspectives, context, and possible courses of action. You won’t receive a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather develop an approach that suits you and your company.
Implementation in Day-to-Day Business Operations
Decisions are translated into specific next steps. We assess what works, where new questions arise, and what needs to be adjusted.
Lessons Learned from Collaboration
What Can Change When New Perspectives Turn Into Concrete Steps
Every situation is different. The following testimonials show the changes clients have experienced in their individual collaborations with me.
The quotes are abridged excerpts from written references or a Google review. The developments described are based on the personal experiences of individual clients. They cannot be readily applied to other individuals, companies, or initial situations and do not constitute a guarantee of results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Should Know About Executive Coaching and Strategic Sparring
Would you like to see if my coaching is a good fit for your situation? Here you'll find answers to the most important questions about working together.
When is executive coaching a good idea?
Executive coaching is particularly helpful when a situation continually consumes your time and energy, even though you’ve already given it a great deal of thought. This could be a far-reaching decision, a conflict, a business change, or a personal obstacle in a business context.
Strategic sparring creates a confidential setting in which you can openly examine facts, perspectives, interests, and potential consequences. The goal is not a pre-determined answer, but rather a well-founded decision of your own and a clear next step.
What distinguishes strategic sparring from traditional coaching or management consulting?
A management consulting firm often focuses on technical analyses, structures, and recommendations. Coaching focuses more on the individual, their goals, ways of thinking, and behavior patterns.
In my strategic coaching sessions, I combine both perspectives. We examine economic facts and business implications as well as your personal perspective, recurring patterns, and the question of what has been preventing you from making a sound decision so far.
How can a change of perspective help in a deadlocked situation?
Sometimes it is not only the situation itself that is stressful, but also the perspective from which it is viewed. Those who repeatedly look at a problem from the same perspective often see only the same possibilities.
A deliberate shift in perspective can reveal connections, opportunities for action, and resources that were previously unrecognizable. What has previously consumed time and energy can thus be reframed and transformed into a clarifying, action-oriented process.
What topics can be discussed during the CEO coaching session?
Typical topics include complex decisions, conflicts with employees or business partners, growth, delegation, roles and responsibilities, strategic reorientation, business succession, and situations in which too many tasks remain with the CEO.
Personal issues may also be addressed if they affect the business situation, decision-making ability, or collaboration. Business and personal life are not artificially separated from one another when the two spheres are interconnected.
How confidential is executive coaching?
The conversations take place in a safe and confidential setting. You can also voice thoughts, doubts, or conflicting options that don’t have an appropriate outlet within the organization.
Before we begin working together, we will clarify which organizational and, if applicable, contractual confidentiality requirements are relevant to your situation.
How does the initial clarity session work?
During the clarity session, you’ll describe what’s currently on your mind and what you’d like to change. We’ll clarify what the core issue is, what kind of support you need, and whether my strategic coaching is a good fit for your situation.
The purpose of the meeting is to exchange assessments. You do not need to come prepared with either a detailed description of your goals or a solution in advance.
How long does a counseling session last?
The sessions typically last 90 minutes. For topics that are not merely to be addressed on a one-off basis but are intended to be integrated into the company’s day-to-day operations on a long-term basis, regular collaboration over a period of approximately three months has proven effective.
The duration and frequency depend on your current situation, the scope of the topic, and the desired outcome. Individual coaching sessions are also available.
Does the executive coaching take place in Mainz or online?
Executive coaching is available in person in Mainz as well as online. Online coaching is particularly well-suited for executives and entrepreneurs who work remotely or want to flexibly integrate sessions into their daily business routines.
We'll determine which option is best for you during the clarity session.
Does sparring replace professional, legal, or medical advice?
No. Coaching is not a substitute for medical treatment, psychotherapy, or legal, tax, or financial advice. Specific technical questions should be directed to the appropriate experts in each field.
However, this discussion can help you organize information, evaluate different recommendations, and, based on that, prepare your own sound decision.
Can't find your question here?
During the exploratory meeting, we’ll work together to determine whether and how I can support you in your current situation.
Your sparring partner
Cordula Ahrens – clear, approachable, and willing to ask even uncomfortable questions
You don't need anyone to explain to you how leadership works in theory. You need a partner with whom you can think openly, examine different perspectives, and reframe a deadlocked situation.
Since 1997, I have been supporting people through professional and personal processes of change. Since 2018, a particular focus of my work has been on entrepreneurs and business leaders who need to make far-reaching decisions, make sense of complex interrelationships, or develop new scopes for action.
In doing so, I don’t just focus on the visible problem. I listen carefully, identify connections between economic, personal, and interpersonal factors, and probe further where others might stop too soon at an obvious solution.
Because sometimes it’s not the situation itself that continues to consume time and energy. It’s the perspective from which it has been viewed so far. A change in perspective can reveal new possibilities and transform a burdensome issue into a clarifying and energizing process.
My goal is not to make decisions for you. My goal is to work with you to develop a perspective from which clarity, energy, and a viable next step can emerge.
Graduate in Cultural Management
University of Passau
Coach since 1997
has coached over 7,000 people, including more than 23 millionaires
NLP Master and Life Coach
supplemented by systemic and entrepreneurial perspectives
Management Consulting and Coaching
For CEOs, entrepreneurs, and people in leadership roles
I don't shield you from clarity. I create the space where clarity becomes possible and manageable.
Your Next Step
Which issue is currently taking up more of your time and energy than it should?
You don’t need to have a ready-made solution yet. Just bring the situation that’s currently on your mind. During the clarity session, we’ll work together to figure out what this is really about—and whether my strategic coaching is the right next step for you.
In person in Mainz or online
Confidential
clear and on an equal footing