I was at an event the other day and was struck how obvious it is when someone is unclear on what they stand for as a leader.
If I have coached you, you may have heard me talk about your leadership standard and why it is important to have explored what you stand for as a leader.
And by leadership I mean leading in the work context, as a business owner, as a parent, in communities and of course we all lead ourselves.
Your standard of leadership is the foundation upon which our behaviour and our responses to issues and situations depend. This understandably can impact both felt and expressed emotions too. Not being able to articulate what your leadership standards are, does not mean that you don’t have them. It is usually easy to dig them out with a short conversation. It is however, difficult to rely on them, model them and teach them if this is the case.
If you have not fully explored the criteria that underpin your leadership, it may be that you don’t always respond in a consistent way. You may lack certainty or confidence. You could end up agreeing to things that in fact don’t sit well with you and may feel incongruent about the choices and decisions that you sometimes make.
So what is in the box that contains your leadership standard or criteria? Really, everything that is important to you about leadership and the way you lead. It can include values such as honesty, fairness, ethical practice and integrity. Behaviours like delegation, staff acknowledgement or enabling people to find their own solutions could be in the box as well, as could commitment to things like code of ethics, policy and codes of conduct. And there could be things in there that I haven’t thought of!
I would love it if you shared your thoughts on this.
Also to let you know my website is currently being updated and it’s going to look great – I’m very excited! It will look very different – i.e. created by someone who knows what they are doing! And I am adding an online learning function which focuses on delivering inexpensive, fun leadership development programs for time poor people across three areas leadership – short overview below and website due to be launched in Nov. So as they say – watch this space!
Online Programs coming in February 2016
Lead yourself to wellbeing
Drawing on positive psychology and focusing on wellbeing, this is a learning and group coaching experience for those of you who want to feel connected to self. You will explore where you are going in life and why and work out how to get there.
Strengthening and Sustaining Family Harmony
This is a 6 week online learning and group coaching program for Mum’s out there like me, who are imperfect and always trying to improve! Mum’s who want fantastic communication at home (most of the time – let’s be realistic) and to consistently feel a sense of harmony and connection with your children as they enter adolescence and beyond.
Leading and Influencing in the World of Work
I have developed a Masterclass leadership development program for you, that gives you both information that has practical relevance as well as tools and strategies you can use to implement what you learn. This is supported by a 3 live webinars combined with live coaching over a six week period. There is between 5 and 10 hours of learning per week – the amount you do depends on you, on what you need and what you can manage.
Strengths Finder Assessment and Feedback
Doing Strengths Finder coaching has enabled me to see how I can make the most of my natural abilities. The test itself outlined 5 particular strengths but it was the coaching that meant I now know how to actually utilise this information. It is going to help me a great deal when it comes to my academic life and in particular how I can study in the most effective way. The coaching helps access the key to knowing your strengths and Deb has helped me devise a plan of how I can move forward with these skills. Her work with me has been vital to the Strengths Finder process and I would absolutely recommend the coaching as vital to finding your strengths.
Lotte, Sydney
Family Harmony Workshop for Parents
The course gave a great framework to build a more harmonious family - I find it difficult to explain to my teens why I don't like their behaviour but with this toolkit I am able to articulate this easily and less emotionally, resulting in better communication and a less charged atmosphere. Thanks Deb for the lifeline
Sue, Sydney
Team Building Facilitation and Coaching
As a new Manager to a newly formed team of eight staff, I engaged Deb to facilitate our first team planning day. The objective of the day was to identify a shared vision and to start a process of strategic planning for the next three years. The day was a great success and set the team up with greater clarity of purpose and a framework for future planning.
Deb demonstrated a great understanding of the team, its context and challenges. This was due to her careful and thorough planning and reflections prior to the day. Deb managed the varying levels of engagement among the team exceptionally well; she did this with the establishment of clear ground rules and a sense of trust and respect. Deb listened actively and regularly questioned for greater clarity before reflecting on the team’s contributions.
We ended the day with a clear vision that was shared and in which all members felt they had an investment. Deb followed up regularly after the session to check in on progress and to provide advice about next steps. We were extremely lucky to have been able to work with Deb at this important stage of the team’s development and I would not hesitate for a moment in engaging Deb again.
Angela Hehir, (Manager)
Business Leadership Coaching
Debra's help in getting me to focus on the strategic direction of my business and my work-life priorities has proven invaluable. She has the ability to ask simple questions to create greater clarity and focus in both work and personal goals. Debra is a great listener, follows up on her clients and creates a great support base for her clients through recommending network groups, courses and reading material. For those who want a leadership coach that goes that extra mile,
I highly recommend her.Yvette Audet, Sport & Recreation Management Services
360 degree feedback and Mentoring
Debra provided feedback on my 360 leader/manger profile. I have taken this style of development tool on two prior occasions and found the feedback underwhelming. This time I found that Debra has an empathetic and approachable feedback style. Previously I have felt very much that I was being placed in a stereotypical box.
I liked Debra,s approach and understood more that the outcomes of the survey reflect a favored management leadership style and this could be flexible. Debra is able to draw out your thoughts on how you feel others perceive you rather than preaching which was a great attribute.
We talked about the outcomes and the way forward and I was left with a comfortable feeling that I could achieve my higher aims. Debra provided positive feedback and kept in contact after the initial interview. Her trouble in organizing some key topic papers and net links was commendable. I hope very much to take Debra up on some future mentoring and would highly recommend Debra’s leadership skill set to you.
Professor Tim Lyons, Newcastle
Concrete personal career goals
I have appreciated my coaching sessions this year more than I can say. Deb has challenged me at every turn which I have loved, making me work hard to find my own solutions during an extremely professionally challenging year. This has been extremely satisfying.
I also now have concrete personal career goals and a plan on how to get there – non existent when I started coaching and really not something I consciously thought I needed. As a consequence I feel more focused and motivated for the next year and beyond.
Finally I would have to say my coaching session with Deb have been an absolute lifeline for me this year, keeping me on track, helping me to grow and learn and ultimately make a monumental shift in my approach and style as a leader. I am very grateful for her time, patience, humor and professionalism – I am certainly am better leader thanks to coaching with Deb.
Bernadette Hollis, Sydney
