Coaching for a Technical Leader
James was an experienced and highly trusted technical leader, working for a large financial services company. His boss recognised his potential to make a bigger contribution and move to a more senior leadership role, but first James needed to develop his confidence and impact, especially in projects involving assertive and senior stakeholders.
What we did
We worked with James over 6 months through a series of 1-2-1 coaching sessions, with his line manager giving feedback at the first and last sessions. The coaching built his awareness of his strengths, his ability to articulate them, and helped him intercept and change his habit of self-deprecation. His coach helped him prepare better for important meetings, and build his ability to negotiate, manage conflict, and where necessary say ‘no’ and to redefine priorities and timelines.
The impact
James reported greater confidence, and is leading authentically, in a way that is true to his personality, and recognising his own worth. Senior leaders recognised that James was now operating in a very different way, with more incisive questioning, better delegation and clearer prioritisation. He was seen not just as a technical leader, but as a trusted commercial leader and was promoted soon after the coaching concluded.
“Coaching helped me understand myself so that I could play to my strengths and stop putting myself down. I wasn’t sure at first but I came to look forward to each session because I knew I’d have something useful to take away.”
James
