This week I had the privilege of running a client-centred leadership programme with the top team of a billion pound business – the most senior group I’ve worked with on this programme.
Admittedly, I didn’t sleep well beforehand. I never do. Every engagement is different and pushes my comfort zone a little further. That nervous mix of excitement and responsibility often keeps me awake. But the feedback suggests we have delivered yet again.
12 leaders, 4 coaches, 3 days – and as always: no slides, no jargon, no BS.
It’s the same approach whether we work with the shop floor or the boardroom.
The temptation in leadership development is to show up with the latest model, gizmo or theory. But at its core, leadership is about the messy business of being human.
As Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, the biggest impact we can make in the world is through better relationships. That requires slowing down, being present, listening, and having real coaching conversations. Trust grows, bonds strengthen, and solutions that previously seemed elusive suddenly present themselves.
This hasn’t changed since Socrates passed down the art of coaching 2,500 years ago. In the 1950s Carl Rogers codified this essence in his ‘client-centred’ approach: people are capable if you let them. There has been little new under the sun since.
Simple – but not easy. Especially for leaders used to operating at 1,000mph.
This week we coached, supported and challenged each other. All of us brought our real selves with real issues to have real conversations. Pure learning by doing, improving in real time – with real results.
No BS required.
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With thanks to my colleagues Tony, Ash and Mark at Consulting for Real People for a fantastic week of seamless teamwork!
True Horizon Coaching 