Managing
and leading any organisation or team is a challenge. The pressure to produce
real outcomes is significant and you must add value to both corporate
direction and to "bottom line" results. Accordingly, finding
the "space" for reflection and integration is not easy. You
rarely have time to devote to your own development. Nor can you afford
to be away from the office for more than a couple of days at a time.
You
may value an opportunity to reflect on your experience, explore developmental
options and develop your repertoire as a leader/manager. You may benefit
from being able to talk about what is happening in your life with
an experienced and attentive coach in a one-to-one setting.
The
executive coach provides you with a context for open dialogue. The coach
facilitates a structured but informal conversation and plays a non-judgmental
role much like a trusted mentor. Good coaches support and listen. But
they are not passive listeners. The coach also actively questions and
opens a "window" onto different views of your current situation. The coach helps you find and move towards your preferred future.
THE
CHALLENGE
In
any case, what you want to learn is often not found in a classroom.
Your needs are often too general (or at times too specific) to be properly
addressed in such a forum. Moreover, your developmental needs may not be
met by simply acquiring more knowledge and skills.
THE
OPPORTUNITY
The
coach has no pre-set agenda: you set the agenda. The coach employs no
"off-the-shelf" solutions. The coach does not foster a dependent
relationship: you decide if and how the relationship is to continue.
The coach does suggest alternative ways of behaving, provides you with
feedback and strives for outcomes that best meet your own learning needs.
The
coaching relationship can be intense and rewarding.
THE
APPROACH
|
The
coach will help you understand your current context, analyse the implications and
suggest steps you can take to resolve and improve as a leader/manager.
This
approach
is summarised in Figure 1 The Coaching Cycle
: |
|
|
The
coaching session is not just an aimless chat. It is a structured
dialogue, or conversation. Using active listening, open-ended
questions and convergent interviewing, the coach supports and
challenges you. |
Figure 2: Two Spheres of Relational
Learning
|
As
a ‘critical friend’, the coach helps you to engage with your own learning
(the ‘inner dialogue’) within your specific context (the ‘outer dialogue’).
Reflective practices such as journaling and personal learning contracts
foster self-awareness (the ‘inner dialogue’), while action-learning projects
and networks foster improved behaviour (the ‘outer dialogue’).
THE
COACH
Greg
Latemore
is
Director of Latemore & Associates Pty. Ltd Organisation and Management
Consultants. Greg began his professional career as a Catholic Priest
and has since occupied senior consulting positions with the Australian
Institute of Management, Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse.
His current client base is throughout Australia and in New Zealand,
and at all levels within the public and private sector. He holds a
Bachelor of Arts and an inaugural Masters of Management both from the
the University of Queensland. Greg believes in the capacity of each
manager to be the architect of their own learning and in the need for quality
leaders to transform Australian organisations for international competitiveness.
THE
CONTACT
We
are keen to meet with you in a relaxed
and confidential environment - your office, our office or a neutral
venue.
Time
frames and costs will be negotiated during the initial meeting. Some
coaching relationships last a few hours, others up to many years, most
over some months.
Please make Contact with
Greg
Latemore, Director,
Latemore & Associates Pty.
Ltd. by
email.
THE
Outcomes For You
The
coaching relationship will provide you with:
|
Support and challenge |
|
A personally tailored program of development |
|
A flexible response to your timetable |
|
Proven ways of examining your situation, your style and your options |
|
An experienced mentor/guide |
|
A confidential focus upon your needs |
|
A relaxed but structured context for conversation |
|
Strategies to solve problems and make effective decisions |
"When
you see worthy persons
endeavour to emulate them.
When you see unworthy persons
then examine
your inner self."
Confucius
(551-479 B.C)
