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There is No Playbook: Leader as Coach During Challenging Times
Friday, April 26, 2024 • Rosenfeld Community
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There is No Playbook: Leader as Coach During Challenging Times
Speakers: Laura Weiss
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Summary

Managing others is hard work. Even in the best of times our talent may be restless, anxious, or disengaged. Whether conscious of it or not, people are motivated by opportunities to grow through a sense of purpose in what they do, a sense of autonomy in how they do it, and a sense of achievement for what they get done. When these needs are ignored or the opportunities don’t exist, people management can get even harder. If you struggle at times to engage effectively with your direct reports, or if you want to amplify your ability to support them on their professional journey, taking a coaching approach can help. Coaching is a mutually empowered and collaborative way to guide individual growth. It is fundamentally discovery-driven, not expertise-driven, so “there is no playbook”. Session participants will gain an understanding of how coaching differs from mentoring or advising and explore a set of basic coaching tools for improving communications, results, and accountability with their direct reports. They may also discover that these very skills can also improve engagement with peers and clients.  

Key Insights

  • Change is a constant, requiring proactive leadership approaches.

  • Coaching, rather than directing, is key to enabling sustainable change.

  • Effective leaders must be curious and inquire before advising.

  • Participants should identify their default mode when facilitating change interactions.

  • The brain's wiring emphasizes the importance of personal discovery in change processes.

  • Creating a positive environment leads to better team dynamics.

  • Asking open-ended questions fosters deeper dialogue and understanding.

  • Feedback should be timely and context-sensitive to be effective.

  • Shared values and common goals facilitate better communication in hierarchical relationships.

  • Iterative learning and prototyping apply to both coaching and change management.

Notable Quotes

"There is no playbook for leader as coach, especially during challenging times."

"We can take a proactive approach to change."

"Change doesn't always need to throw us back on our heels."

"In many situations, the most effective way to engage is by getting curious first."

"The brain is a connection machine that learns by linking new information to existing knowledge."

"Helping others to create their own mental map is essential for meaningful change."

"When we're engaged with others, we must work with what is unfolding in our conversation."

"People tend to support what they actively help create."

"The most important thing is where we are leading from when supporting others."

"You can't eliminate judgment; that's just part of human biology."

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