Leader as Coach: it’s an enormous movement in corporate America today. In fact, the concept of a leader operating as a coach or mentor has never before taken such a prominent role in the leadership development arena. Why? Research clearly shows that leaders who take the time to coach their team members have direct, positive impact on their employees’ productivity, engagement, retention and development.
Given this trend, I was delighted to have a master level training opportunity last month in Colorado with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). The event was part of an intensive on-boarding process in preparation for my role as an adjunct Executive Coach with CCL. Perfect timing! I’ve followed CCL for years and have always been highly impressed with the group’s solid research, coaching approach, and leadership programs. Once again, CCL’s emphasis was spot on.
My time in Colorado was both energizing and affirming. Days started early and nights ended late, but I was never tired, bored or distracted. Instead, I was totally in my element. Fully engaged and truly fired up. That might seem surprising, since I regularly spend most of my days (and many nights) engrossed in the concept of leadership. But somehow, diving even deeper into this subject thoroughly captivated me and reminded me why I have such a passion for what I do.
Though I’ve had formal training in coaching methodologies and have coached leaders for years, the insights I gained from this program were invaluable. I left Colorado armed with new tools that will add real value for my coaching and clients. Plus, I’m excited about sharing my coaching work on a broader scale through my expanded workshop offerings. Check out my new session on Coaching Practice for Leaders!
If your organization hasn’t made the shift to a coaching culture, I hope you’ll take a moment to consider the potential impact of adding “leader as coach” training. I’ve seen firsthand that it can and does make a significant difference in the lives of leaders and executives, their companies, their staff members, and even their families.
