Leadership Development & Organizational Effectiveness
What is a Coach?
A Coach is a confidential thought partner who can provide you with objective feedback as you deliberately move into areas of personal and professional growth. Coaching is not consulting and coaching is not psychotherapy. It is future and action-oriented.
People begin coaching for many reasons. They want greater insight into who they are today and how they can be the person they want to be tomorrow. They want to better understand how they are getting in their own way.
Individual coaching provides an opportunity to look at our strengths, our values, and our "growing edge". It provides an opportunity to consciously clarify blind spots and close skills gaps. It provides an opportunity to revise outdated narratives we have about ourselves. Most importantly, coaching leads to action steps and action steps lead to change.
Chart your own Course
We know from the research that we can improve our emotional Intelligence. We know that we can build our strengths. We know we can be better leaders. But, we may not be sure where to start. Clearly articulating goals and taking stock in who we are today, how we operate in the world and how we are getting in our own way without knowing it, is what coaching is all about.
Having a Coach gives you dedicated time to work on "you".
Group Dynamics
Groups have certain dynamics determined by the set of individuals participating and the setting in which they come together. Whether the group is our family, our sports team, our executive team, or our Board, each individual's style and pattern of thinking, feeling, acting and communicating impacts the processes, the culture, the effectiveness and ultimately the success of the group.
The "whole" can most certainly be greater than the sum of the parts when each member plays to their strengths, has their needs met and recognizes and understands the needs of others, experiences trust, safety and respect and can openly communicate. When "in-flow" the team feels like a "well-oiled machine".
At times of fast growth and change, however, it's not unusual to see breakage throughout the organization. Cultures shift and roles and responsibilities evolve. It's not always clear who is accountable for what, what the metrics for success are or what rewards and recognition are in place. Sometimes silos are created. Sometimes there is churn. At these times working with a dedicated coach can help leaders and their teams to re-align with organizational core values, to clearly articulate the mission, to define goals, responsibilities and accountability, to understand communication styles and patterns, to re-establish safety and build trust and more.
Organizations are systems in a constant state of change. Building in resiliency ensures longevity while also creating space for innovation.