Do you know what it feels like to lose? Sometimes, we lose because the competition was just better. Other times we lose because we made too many mistakes and beat ourselves. I’ve experienced both as a leader, and I know the consequences of losing.
These experiences of losing and winning in leadership have shaped the way I work and why I do what I do. Instead of giving you a list of reasons, I’ll tell you three short stories to illuminate my personal “why.”
On the Edge
His job was in jeopardy.
Over several months of frank conversations, the CEO had expressed frustration and disappointment with the VP of HR’s performance. The last conversation ended with a final offer: the VP would have access to executive coaching for six months to try to turn things around. After that, they would have to look for someone else to fill the position.
In fact, both of them agreed to work with a coach so that we could work both sides of the relationship. Performance is not just about individual capacity or effort; it is also dependent on excellent communication and clear, achievable expectations. Both executives had to address how they had contributed to the situation. The mood was sober but purposeful.
Six months later, there was no more talk of finding someone else. Instead, the VP had become the right arm of the CEO. After another six months, there was a generous bump in compensation. Then the VP was written into the executive succession plan.
Leadership Questioned
The Board Chairman questioned whether the new Managing Director had the leadership chops to succeed.
There were dramatic differences between the styles of the outgoing and incoming MDs. The company had enjoyed several years of continuous success and a reputation for integrity in the market. The pressure was high for the new executive to demonstrate the ability to lead and continue the trend of success.
Executive coaching offered a focused approach to building confidence and navigating transition. The new MD engaged the coaching process wholeheartedly.
Twelve months later, the company had a record level of contracts and was projecting its best year to date. Even after paying out equity to the outgoing leader, they were able to make generous distributions to shareholders. The Chairman gave a ringing endorsement of the new MD’s leadership and accomplishments.
The Hard Choice
The dream had gone off the rails and was beginning to feel like a nightmare—the kind where you can’t wake up.
The executive had brought in majority investors to leverage his start-up into a multi-state success. Even during the down economy, they floated above storm and grew. But the investors were restless and did not share the founder’s vision or values.
Coaching offered a safe haven to consider options he couldn’t discuss with others. He made every effort to communicate and create alignment. But when it became clear that the two sides would not come together, we walked together through his exit strategy.
A year later, he has launched another start-up and has invested in another growing business, sharing his hard-won experience so they can succeed together.
Why I Coach
In each of these stories, real people were affected. Not just the executives, but also their families, their teams, their employees, and their employees’ families.
I coach because leadership matters.
It matters because leadership directly influences and impacts the lives of people every day. Leaders’ choices. Leaders’ communication. Leaders’ confidence. Leaders’ acumen and judgment. These factors have a disproportionate impact on others.
Leaders influence work relationships to get healthy or stay sick. Leaders create the environments that lift people up or pull them down. Leaders influence the culture where people rise to responsibility and perform at their best or drift into blame and mediocrity.
Bill Hybels is famous for saying, “Everyone wins when a leader gets better.”
The vision of my company is: People who love their work; leaders who lift their people. I coach so leaders can get better.
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