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For midlevel professionals, a coach can help identify what needs to be done to reach the executive level. Coaches also focus on interpersonal skills, helping people communicate and network more effectively, says Todd Dewett, a leadership development coach and management professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
People benefit most from coaches if they are open to change, says Mr. Dewett, adding that the best candidates are often those who have already been working on their own to improve.