Moments that matter - when to call coach?
There are often many moments in a leader’s career when they could benefit from an independent voice to challenge their thinking, open new lines of thought, and spur intent into action.
One of the most common questions we hear is ‘When is the right time to call in a coach?’.
Sometimes the leader themselves may not see the need, but others around them can.
Often the catalyst for coaching is a leader’s leader – for eg a CEO, Managing Director, Head of or P&C Leader – who has the benefit of being one step removed and seeing the broader impact of a leader’s actions.
For any leader in a high performing organisation, there will be key moments of time, when the impetus to change gears, broaden perspective, drive different outcomes comes around. These include:
the 'blue flame special' who has been promoted beyond their years or experience and needs to determine how they will rise to the occasion.
What type of leader will I be? How do I build influence and maximise my impact in this new role?
The subject matter professional who is promoted and now needs to embrace a broader leadership role which requires them to step away from the tools and ask themselves:
Where is my value? And how do I demonstrate this as I step away from the tools?
The professional who is 'jammed' in their role and needs help moving up or sideways;
How do I get back on track? How can I reclaim that sense of achievement?
The highly successful professional who is wrestling a specific issue/s.
How can I accelerate my practices growth? How do I lead the transformation required? What will be my personal and professional legacy?
The returning parent whose professional identity has been recast by the arrival of a little person/persons.
How do I restart my practice on return? How do I rejuvenate my professional brand? How can I overcome my imposter syndrome?
More than a moment?
The truth is the ‘moments that matter’ differ for each and every one of us. Sometimes it is less about the moment and more about a feeling that drives leaders to search for a coach. In our experience, that feeling is often characterised by:
An inability to see the wood for the trees, exacerbated by busyness.
Feeling challenged in keeping your eye on the prize.
A keen sense that you can and want to make a bigger impact, but that you need the space, clarity, and frameworks to do so.
So, when do you call in the coach?
Put simply when you or one of your leaders need the clarity and conviction to define and commit to your or their goals.
It sounds simple, and in some respects on the surface it is. But with decades of professional services experience under our belt, we know first-hand how lonely the role of a leader can be when you are simultaneously juggling competing demands at work – clients, team, partners/colleagues, productivity targets, practice growth - let alone at home.
So, is it time to call the coach?
This article has been co-authored by Amanda Fong at Intent Advisory and David Lennane at POC Consulting. Through our respective businesses, we coach individuals and teams in high performing professional services firms to become better leaders and business builders.