The power of coaching during disruptive change
The ripple effect of leadership coaching
Our New normal
Disruption is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot. Every startup wants to be the next Uber and established businesses are scrambling to ensure they don’t get replaced by a disruptive challenger. There is no denying we are in an era of disruption and are experiencing exponential change on many levels. Many of you will know of the trendy management acronym, ‘VUCA’, that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. And if it’s not a challenger brand that is messing with our business model, it may be a natural world phenomena - enter Covid 19. Over recent years, our highly VUCA got more VUCA.
Even pre-Covid, both businesses and individual were experiencing rapid change. With business models disrupted at high velocity by technology, hyper-competition, shifts in customer preferences and trends such as working from anywhere. Covid’s acceleration of dramatic change is widely published and understood. Amongst the turbulence, both consumers and employees across the globe re-evaluated what is important and voted with their feet. As people faced new pressures and choices, we saw greater introspection and often, very different decisions.
What does this mean for leadership?
In volatile and ambiguous times, it is more critical than ever that we lead strongly and chart our course through sometimes unprecedented territory. This is applicable whether you are leading a business, a team or whether you are faced with your own individual decisions as to what is best for you.
For leaders, this can be particularly overwhelming. Leaders are often charged with making tough decisions with far-reaching impacts. While they are setting business direction and motivating teams, they may be at the same time, facing their own personal challenges and decisions. Leaders typically have few trusted sounding boards and the pressures they face are likely to be unique and confidential. That, coupled with the day-to-day demands, meant that the need to confidential support is even greater. But it is these times of disruption, that inspiring leaders are needed more than ever.
We also know that Covid accelerated the level of burnout for people across industries and levels. Burnout is defined as ‘a state of emotional, mental and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged and repeated stress’. A research study by Harvard in 2020, showed that during 2020, 85% of participants experienced a decline in their wellbeing and 62% were struggling to manage their workloads, experiencing burnout ‘often’ or ‘extremely often’.
I’m not telling you anything new here, but I do want to reassure you that our human ability to adapt is remarkable. Over recent years, we are seeing a laser focus on what’s important. People are yearning for reflection, insight, meaning and hope and are looking for new ways to navigate in this changed world.
“Most of the time, there is not ‘right’ choice and the burden of deciding may feel like a heavy weight. As a result, distressing feelings emerge: anxiety, worry, fear, sadness, anger, skepticism and stress. Not only can executive coaches serve as receptacles for leaders’ anxiety, but can also help leaders better prioritize their own emotional well-being, thereby increasing their effectiveness. ”
When life get’s blurry, adjust your focus.
the power of coaching during disruption
A coach provides leaders a safe space to test ideas, manage or regain focus and consider options and important decisions. Through coaching conversations, people can generate insights and fresh perspectives, sharpen their sense of clarity and purpose and ultimately, be able to meet their strategic objectives during change. The beauty of coaching is that is zooms in on someone’s very unique circumstances that are meaningful only to themselves.
Coaching leverages key techniques of: listening for facts, emotions and values and asking powerful questions that both challenge and support people to work out clear next steps and actions. The proof is in the research. Again, during 2020, research by the Centre for Creative Leadership, found that 89% of coaching participants reported increased clarity on their next step. 98% reported that their coach helped them to identify specific behaviors and actions that would help them to achieve their goals and 95% believed that coaching we well worth the effort.
At Clarity Coaching Lab, we provide a confidential space for you and your leaders at any level, to explore options and strategies during times of change. To hear more about how we can help, book a time for an introductory coffee chat.