• SUCCESSES
• SERVICES
• HOW WE DO IT
• WHAT'S NEW
• CALENDAR
• ABOUT US
  • BIO
  • OUR PHILOSOPHY
  • WHY CHOOSE US
• CONTACT

Jeannette Samanen, Ph.D.

"I feel privileged to participate in a process that empowers my clients to transform their lives for the better."

SUCCESSES - Improving leadership skills to earn a promotion

A middle manager in an investment firm uses career coaching to improve his leadership skills, turn his department around – increasing productivity and employee morale – and earn a promotion.

SITUATION

Brian was in line for a promotion, however there was a significant hole in his leadership skills. In general a successful manager, Brian’s Achilles heel was his enormous reluctance to confront his staff when they were underperforming. This behavior compromised the productivity of his department and led to resentment on the part of those employees who had to do more than their share to pick up the slack. Brian's discomfort with confrontation threatened to stand in the way of his advancement.

Brian was dealing with some old patterns. Early in his life he had vowed never to be like his abusive father. This vow had served Brian in his relationships with family and friends. However, as an adult it blocked him from confronting people when necessary – especially his staff.

Brian knew he needed to become more assertive if he was going move ahead in the organization. He sought career coaching to improve his leadership skills and achieve his goals.  

LIFE COACHING APPROACH

We used Solution Focused Coaching to identify activities designed to help Brian develop assertive leadership skills. However, because of his resistance, Brian found it impossible to follow through with these actions. It was just too anxiety provoking. Interactive Imagery, ideally suited to identify and resolve blocks to optimal performance, helped Brian move beyond this obstacle.

The image of two Rams, butting their heads together came to Brian. Brian was initially put off by their behavior, declaring, "See what happens when you butt heads with someone? You get a sore head!"

The Rams paused at what they were doing and gave Brian a withering look that expressed their exasperation at his inability to get the point. They continued to go at it a few more times and then both calmly walked away, cropping at the grass around them.

Suddenly Brian understood the Rams’ message. He recognized that conflict is a normal part of life. People can butt heads and then go on to be perfectly comfortable with one another.

This awareness enabled Brian to transform the vow he had made years before. The adult was able to recognize that he could confront people without becoming abusive. Brian was empowered to follow through with activities that enabled him to develop assertive leadership skills.

This case illustrates an extremely important aspect of Interactive Imagery. Though I, as Brian’s coach, had told him the same thing he learned from the Rams, it did not impact on his long aversion to confrontation. It was only when this awareness came from within, that it had the power to transform his behavior  

RESULTS

As Brian continued to develop his leadership skills through career coaching, the situation in his department improved:

• Brian was able to eliminate underperforming staff.
• Departmental productivity and morale improved
• Brian earned his promotion to a higher level in the organization.

These improvements extended beyond the world of work and created a positive impact in Brian's personal relationships as well.

To learn more about how career coaching can help you improve leaderships skills click here...

To learn more about how career coaching can help you earn a promotion click here...