by Paddy Barr, Managing Partner, Barr Performance Coaching and IMI associate
Senior roles in organisations can be very lonely places. Invariably, everyone you speak to in a company has, to a greater or lesser extent, a vested interest in the outcome of the conversation. Consequently, it can be difficult to prepare for key strategic discussions or challenging conversations as one is possibly constrained by the inability to truly explore the full range of possibilities when trying to identify solutions in isolation. The first part of the value proposition of a good coach is the ability to enable the client think creatively and thoroughly about the challenges they are facing. Gaining an understanding of the impact of their conscious and unconscious biases and perhaps anticipating the unintended consequences of decisions can be very insightful and valuable to the client. The unearthing of blind spots is always very enlightening.
The pace of change in the modern world means that there is no standard “playbook” a leader can rely on to help them navigate through the challenges that lie ahead. Consequently, access to a coach can help them design and develop their own solutions. The value of an independent sounding board cannot be underestimated when it comes to the development of robust business solutions and the reduction of stress and anxiety for the senior leader. The opportunity to work with an independent person to express their worries and work through an action plan to build their confidence is of immense benefit to senior leaders.
The coach enables the senior leader sustain high performance. As senior leaders they have successfully risen to the top of their organisation. However, attaining high performance is significantly easier than sustaining high performance. Invariably to sustain high performance the leader will have to reinvent themselves as the ecosystem around them changes. The coach will share insights to help the leader prioritise and handle the pressure of leading in a demanding environment.
In summary a good coach provides a suites of benefits to leaders, the key ones are summarised in the list below.
- Help the leader raise their self-awareness and develop their leadership style
- Can help reduce the stress, anxiety and loneliness of leadership
- Independent sounding board
- Offers insights and alternative perspectives
- Can enable the leader raise and sustain their performance
- Can assist the leader in dealing with conflict
It is particularly beneficial when future leaders are exposed to the benefits above as it helps them gain an understanding of what will be required of them prior to starting a leadership role. The list is not exhaustive, there will be many personal benefits derived from the coaching process that the leader will find extremely useful. There is a very high correlation between a leader’s success and the engagement of a coach at some stage in the leader’s career.
About the author
Patrick is the owner & Managing Partner of Barr Performance Coaching a boutique coaching and leadership development company focusing on enabling clients maximise their potential and achieve exceptional personal and professional results. Patrick’s commitment is to collaborate with clients to design, develop and implement high quality business, career & personal development strategies using challenging innovative processes and creative, insightful thought leadership.
