The leader as coach
Whenever I have the chance to discuss the topic of leadership, my whole system fills with energy. And I mean, I get REALLY motivated for this! Like an Italian chef loves talking about pasta.
When it comes to leadership, Simon Sinek has inspired me a lot. A line in one of his keynotes stuck with me ever since I heard it. A leader in conversation with one of his colleagues; “Your performance is down this month. Is everything ok?”
A manager with a top-down approach would have told their colleague that they would need to improve. Otherwise, their position cannot be guaranteed.
Yesterday a former client called me for advice 30 minutes before meeting her colleague for whom she is responsible in her organization.
You guessed it; her colleague's performance has been down for the past month, and she asked me how to structure the conversation. "Well, allow me to put on my Simon Sinek glasses and bring out the flip chart," I said.
Ok, I might have made that part up, but I could've easily done that too ;)
The key elements we discussed are:
Clarity (Are you ok? What is going well? Where do you want to improve? What's holding you back?)
Accountability (We trust you with responsibility. What are your ideas?)
Support (How can I help you? I've got your back.)
Action (What is the next step you're going to take?)
She called me afterward, telling me the conversation went great. She felt confident in her role as a coaching leader. Her colleague left the room with an action plan she had designed herself and a big smile on her face.
Needless to say, this made my day!
Leadership is an essential part of my coaching. Like the person in the example above, my clients can always reach me for quick advice on the leadership challenges they may face. Both personal leadership and professional leadership are fields I explore with my clients so they can grow as confident and resilient leaders.
My coaching programs are tailored to overcome your biggest blocks and maximize your impact. Are you curious about what working together would look like? Please go to the contact page and let me know in what areas you would like support.