It's ironic that as the business environment becomes increasingly difficult to navigate, managers and leaders actually need more help to enable them to take both the right and sometimes extremely difficult decisions and actually implement these tough actions. Giving bad news, trying to get more from people with less, having really tough conversations, giving frank and sometimes negative feedback to people and teams, are just some of the tasks that managers and leaders need to do in difficult times.
Most leaders will admit that they don't like to do any of the above. Our research, over many years of working with managers and leaders at all levels, suggests that when it comes to the above the following happens:
1. Managers avoid facing the issues
2. Managers face the issues and deal with them poorly
3. Managers face the issues and deal with them effectively
Having a coach can dramatically increase the chances of number 3 happening more often. In difficult times when tough actions need to be taken and stress levels are at their highest, a coach can help leaders to challenge themselves to:
a) Become authentic leaders and develop a leadership style that reflects truly who they are
b) Navigate company politics and not be too politically correct
c) Speak up and not pull punches, clearly articulating their views
d) Have those difficult and crucial conversations and handle them more effectively (benefiting all parties involved)
e) Challenge their people -looking for the individuals who demonstrate the behaviours, attitudes and skills that the organisation can develop for the future
f) Create an environment of authentic and constructive feedback so that people know exactly how their behaviour affects their colleagues and the organisation as a whole
A coach can increase the effectiveness of managers and leaders dealing with real issues in real time, which equates to real decisions having real bottom line impact.
An effective coach can dramatically increase a leader's confidence levels which in turn can increase a leader's courage. (Yes, courage to do difficult things is coachable.)
Courage alone, of course, is not enough. A coach can help managers and leaders develop the skills to more elegantly manage the hard tasks that need doing.
As the line from the Carole King song 'It's too late' states "There'll be good times again for me and you", so the economies of the world will recover.
Developing a strategy for future growth, being ready for the up turn and keeping good people inside the organisation are some of the strategies and tactics that a coach can help leaders plan for and implement.
Coaches unlock skills and potential fast.... Just what is needed in difficult times.
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