In my role as a facilitator, trainer and executive coach i am privileged to work with many organisations, both large and small across a wide range of sectors. With the ever-increasing demands for profitability, sustainability and productivity the need to be able to make fast effective decisions, to be adaptable and flexible in the workplace has never been more important. Key to this is effective leadership and a robust learning and development programme that moves not only at the pace the business requires but also paces and leads the employee.
Leadership styles, at all levels, are therefore central in satisfying the needs of the business and also developing well-motivated, confident and competent people. With the need to be lean and agile and as increasing costs and pressures drive the pace of work, leaders may be tempted to adopt an approach that is either totally hands off and delegative when things are going well, and then totally hands on and highly directive when the wheels come off! Swinging from one style to the other with nothing in between can leave staff frustrated, confused and often undermines their confidence to the point they are afraid to make a decision in case they get it wrong.
The bit that gets missed then is the piece in the middle where staff are developed through a Coaching and Supportive leadership style because there simply “isn’t time” to spend on them in the battle to get things done! A coaching culture enables leaders to develop and grow competent confident individuals who are able to work effectively and efficiently; this is where empowerment and high performance begin to emerge in an organisation and transforms the way they operate. Staff retention improves as job satisfaction climbs and positive stories of success begin to permeate the restrooms and
cafeterias.
Having a personal coach to enable leaders to navigate these areas can be hugely beneficial, helping them gain clarity perspective and in doing so perhaps a new way of thinking about what is an eternal business challenge – Leadership.