SOMETIMES LEADERS JUST NEED A COACH ON THE BENCH WITH THEM

Have you ever come back from a leadership course enthused to try and start "implementing" some of the new strategies you have just learned, only to be met with blank stares by coworkers?
Have you tried to use the "new tools" in the next team meeting, and found they didn't work the way they were supposed to? Did you find yourself looking around wondering "why isn't this working" and feeling less enthused?
​How long did it take until you just got frustrated,  quit, and went back to your default methods of leadership?  You may have just needed a coach on the bench with you...​

Leadership can be a really tough and lonely journey. You read the books, take the courses, and then set sail, on our own, to try and lead, inspire and guide our employees to organizational success.  You know the "business" end of things really well. Now you just have to mobilize your "team" to get engaged in meeting targets, hitting goals, and helping the organization flurish and grow. Easy right?
Maybe not... Just like in the game of hockey, every team you lead will be different. Players will have different skills, personalities, and interests. All of those "exercises" you learned in the books and on the courses are fantastic, but when you add in the human element, the "game" gets complicated. As the leader of the Organization, you may find yourself trying to pivot mid-game, adjust to changing markets, supply issues, and new players. The competition keeps adding in powerplays and using their own new strategies. It is often hard to keep up. Players don't seem to know their role, or even how to score. Everyone is trying to quickly determine Are we winning or losing? Who's on the next line? What's the next play?"  You may find yourself looking around and wishing someone was on the bench with you to help develop the next strategy.
That's my role. As a consultant and a leadership coach, I help leaders to slow down the game. First I watch what is happening from the bleachers (to get an entire game perspective) and then I come down to the ice. I talk to the players, the coaches, study the game stats and create a mid-season report. 
The next part is critical. I don't just go back up to the bleachers to see what happens. I SIT ON THE BENCH WITH YOU. I help you learn how to institute the new plays. I mentor you in resolving issues between players and increasing communication on the ice. As a leader you start having quick wins, and suddenly the players become more engaged in the game. They start watching the game play instead of just sitting back on the bench. They begin offering suggestions and trying out the strategies and tools that you suggest. The scoreboard reflect your efforts, and you feel more confident in your ability to lead the team.
The role of a leadership coach is NOT to take over the team. I simply sit on the bench with you for a while, help you implement new strategies, and adjust to the new game. I encourage and offer potential ideas and will be a sounding board when you feel frustrated and overwhelmed. I am there to support and guide you. You and your team are the ones scoring the goals and increasing your profit margins.
If you are interested in learning more about how my business Inspiring Organizational Growth supports leaders and teams please visit my website www.inspiringorganizationalgrowth.co/home .