There was a critical situation on my team that impacted the overall harmony and performance of the team. We had never worked with an executive coach before and I thought it would be a great opportunity for all of us to have professional guidance on how to navigate the situation.
John went above and beyond my expectations- it's clear he really cares about his clients, striking a balance between always having time to listen whilst being results driven with a clear objective each time you meet with him. John is a trusted strategic counselor who was very good at quickly assessing underlying issues by asking the right questions at the right time. He quickly gained the confidence of the team and maintained it as he was always very discreet.
Initially John spent time with us individually and then as a team, taking time to listen and quickly learn the department's work context and team dynamics. He then created a tailored program with a combination of group and personal projects based on the team and each designer's needs. At times he took us all out of our comfort zone, knowing how to challenge and push towards action.
What impressed me most is that even though John was hired in respect to a specific situation, he right away was able to create an opportunity to create broader results - as a team we all grew and gained something positive. We have learnt more about each other’s communication styles and needs and are more respectful as to what helps us all continue to nurture each other’s creativity and support each other to collectively produce the best results. As a team we now are all better equipped to address any challenges immediately and communicate more clearly with each other. John was a great source of relevant and applicable information for personal and professional growth for each designer. For example, he provided guidance on verbal presentation skills or how to effectively manage interns. On a personal level, John provided assistance on how best to approach challenging conversations both with my team and those I report into. I also learnt how to delegate responsibilities more and in the most effective way. Ultimately by the end of the process I had restructured the team so I had fewer direct reports and others became managers. Eighteen months on, the team has continued to blossom - everyone is still on the team and we've successfully added new team members too.