Everyone deserves a good brilliant manager
and all managers deserve to play at the top of their game.
Coaching leaders
I was in corporate life for over 20 years and, like most of us, had my fair share of managers. I have also been in management roles myself, which gives me the ability to relate to the leader and employee relationship and challenges.
In our culture, we often promote the person who has shown excellent individual contribution, expecting them to perform well as a manager. This is not always the case. Often managers are poorly trained, lack resources and face mounting challenges. This can only fuel recent surveys which indicate that managers are among the least engaged in the workplace.
I feel passionately that all managers and leaders deserve to play at their best. I believe that given the right tools and support we can raise the standard of leadership and bring it into today’s new era of work.
That’s why I do the job that I do.
A combined approach
Coaching is a highly effective way to instigate behavioural change and empower individuals, enhancing performance and outcomes. An inspirational leader must be able to understand human behaviour. Coaching starts with self-awareness which in turn enables better understanding of others. An excellent leader is one who inspires others rather than one who simply hands out instructions. Focusing on intrinsic motivation, (an inner drive rather than being led by external motivation), coaching is the key that empowers leaders to become truly inspirational.
Coaching is a blend of science and art. My coaching draws from these elements using the latest in neuroscience, psychology and other academia, blended with my experience of leading in a fast paced, high-pressured environment and my professional coaching qualifications.
My experience
My career started in Sweden. I took the opportunity to travel to many countries working with clients and experiencing different cultures, moving to the UK in the late 90s. Working in the IT sector for international corporations was always fast paced, demanding and often quota driven. Whilst I find technology interesting it was always working with people that motivated me.
Selling and providing services to customers taught me a lot about human psychology and this would help me years later, as a senior manager leading teams to success. I am truly interested in understanding what motivates us and the barriers we face trying to achieve the successes we are looking for. This inspired me to support my team and colleagues to overcome their own challenges and reach their goals.
Of course, at the same time I was also going through my own challenges. For years I was a top performer, both as an individual and as a manager, and expectations were high. As demands and pressure increased, my perfectionism caused me to struggle. I felt overwhelmed and started to doubt myself. I was squeezed between all the demands of my team, the executives above me and my own ambitions. Being a high achiever, a perfectionist with unattainable high standards for myself and devoted to supporting my colleagues with their challenges was not a sustainable combination.
Hence I took on my biggest challenge, that of transforming myself. This required me to go out on a limb and change the beliefs and behaviours that were so ingrained, and to challenge the way I saw the world and myself. Back then I used to see mistakes as failures and complete catastrophes, today I am now wiser and able to focus on the learning and the opportunities mistakes offer. It is not always easy, but it is so worth it, and this is what I want for my high-achieving clients as well!
My work and personal life has created crossroads where I have faced major decisions on the direction I should take. This has included working in foreign locations for extended periods, relocating to live and work abroad, resigning from a successful career to start my own business. For all of which I have had to consider the pros, cons and risks each involved and make a decision in line with my values and aspirations. This has aided me in coaching others facing major crossroads in their lives, for them to make the right decision and ensure a smooth and successful transition.
Let’s talk
I’d love to connect and learn more about you.
I offer a free no-obligation 40-minute call where we establish where you are now and where you want to go. Alternatively, we could start with an informal chat.