Leadership Mindset Transformation

What if your leadership acumen, developed over a long and successful career, seems to be failing?

A client came to me frustrated after he had tried ‘everything’ and ‘nothing’ was making a difference. He was a Director at an MNC who had successfully turned around businesses in markets across the world. Prior to his various international assignments, he had attended inter-cultural training and had read briefing documents specific to the country he was about to work in. So he felt totally prepared to lead his new team and transform the business.

Our first coaching conversation revealed that he was very much stuck in his perspective. He was convinced that the team he had inherited was verging on incompetence and was mentally preparing to replace a few key members. However, after speaking with the HR Director, he agreed to coaching before making any drastic decisions.

It was important for me to observe him in situ to get an unbiased understanding of the dynamics at work. He agreed it was a good idea to invite me into his workplace and introduced me to his team. In order to allay any fears or uncertainties that could arise from my presence, we held a Q&A with the team, explaining the purpose of my being there and addressing all questions openly.

I shadow coached him over the next month - a silent observer of all his interactions, both formal and informal. We set aside some time at the end of the day for feedback and reflection. These sessions helped him see what he wasn’t seeing before. For example, how his manner, though polite, was preventing people from speaking up about issues not in his immediate sight. Having been the expert, the boss with all the answers, he subconsciously dominated meetings and frankly, most conversations. In his previous assignments, his subordinates were comfortable challenging him. It was very different here. He had learnt about the people and culture in theory but it hadn’t occurred to him how this would show up in the workplace.

It was a tough lesson in discovering his blind spots and learning to let go of being the one with all the answers. To his credit, once he recognised the gaps, he was committed to changing his behaviour and creating a more inclusive and trusting environment. We worked on his listening skills, made subtle body language shifts, even some nuanced changes in the way he spoke. Our work together sparked a mindfulness in him that also helped to regulate his previously high stress levels.

All in all a very successful coaching journey that benefitted not only him but also his team and the business. Oh, and no one was fired.

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