Leaders make the best coaches

I like to think clients benefit from time we spend together. However, the best coach a client will ever have is their leader. We all know that learning is most effective when integrated with real life work situations and the person best placed to support that is the leader.

Along with some basic coaching tools and skills (such as powerful questioning) leaders need to have a coaching mindset which means being/having:

· Open to personal learning and feedback

· Empathy with others

· Ability to empowering others

· Developing and supporting others

· A belief that others want to learn

· High standards

(Ellinger, Beattie and Hamlin, 2010)

If you are a leader and you would like know more about developing a coaching mindset, and creating a habit of coaching your staff and team, please get in touch.

#leaderascoach#leadership#teamcoaching

The power of perspectives

I met several new colleagues over the last week. Superficially we seemed to have a lot in common – but our views on the topic in hand were not! The experience triggered powerful reflection which broadened my thinking. As a result I have adjusted my view around some parts of the subject and dug my heels in even harder on others.

An extract from something I am writing…

“Taking a walk in someone else’s shoes” is the easiest way to describe the act of perspective taking according to Duffy (2019). It requires both the ability to see another’s viewpoint of reality and, also understand that viewpoint in the same way that person processes and makes sense of the world. All perspectives are correct and valid, as each is the interpretation of our unique lens through which we make sense of the word. We do not know what we do not know, and perspective taking is a useful way to expand our own perspective, by learning from others perspectives.

If you or your team would like to experiment with the power of perspective taking, please get in touch. I have some fun techniques we can use to harness its power and achieve great outcomes.

#perspective#coaching#teamcoaching#learning

An oldie and a goodie...

Covey's Seven Habits (later Eight Habits) came up in conversation last week. This was the first leadership/self development concept/course I was exposed to in depth... back in 1998. I recall thinking at the time "this guy is onto something!" My interest was sparked enough to read and research other models - which ultimately led me to where I am today. Thanks Stephen - you changed my life! And thanks Gil Sewell for the reminder that oldies can be goodies! I still use some habits when working with individual clients and teams today.

#7habitsofhighlyeffectivepeople#leadershipdevelopment#selfawareness#oldiescanbegoodies