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Leverage Smarter Team Practice
Back in 2004 I started a qualification in professional coaching. At the time I didn't appreciate how impactful it would be. Collectively we can achieve far more than we can individually. To do this we have to focus on real-life business challenges and help the team.
I was leading a team of 9 and a virtual team of around 10 people in a global business services organisation.
When I made that transition to coaching versus leading the team, I was amazed at how the team blossomed. Individuals who were normally quieter, stepped up to the plate and took personal leadership for the collective success of the team.
When I left the team I knew my successor, one of the quieter team members, would continue to nurture and coach the team. Translate purpose to outcomes –this gives meaning to the work the team does and helps them answer the question – why are we here? Often teams fall apart when there's no clear reason for them to work together Leverage collective responsibility –blaming and shaming doesn't work. A reality check on the impact of people not showing up and doing what they say they will is more productive. Build positive behaviours – this is going to help the team grow and flex with change.
I was also working with the Executive team and started to apply my coaching and facilitation skills more often. I was curious how listening and asking questions generated more powerful outcomes than advising. One particularly tense meeting with the global board left my Managing Director asking, ‘How did you do it?' He was surprised at how I'd influenced the conversation.
Nearly twenty years later, I have never stopped learning and practising my coaching. My coaching transformation taught me the power of moving from leading to coaching the team. As you can imagine, this is something that doesn't happen overnight. Typically unlearning existing behaviours and learning new ones takes between 6-12 months.
The team leader needs to feel supported, and I work with them individually to learn tools they can apply straight away. Leveraging performance is about being in flow so that no matter what, the team is capable and ready to tackle anything. Ro Gorell Grow Talent Ro
