I’ve written another article here on the site about how solid leadership support is a critical success factor in any change effort. Given my focus on collaboration, large scale change here is Coaching leaders is one way to help build this support in which my clients and I have benefited from partnering with others.
Bob and Bev Benwick are great partners since they have a business specifically focused on coaching.I have known Bob Benwick for 15 years. We first worked together on a Real Time Strategic Change effort at a bank where he was the senior HR executive. Now he and his wife Bev have a coaching practice based in Vancouver. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Bob and Bev to talk about synergies between their coaching practice and my large scale change work. Bob, Bev and I share the same goal: people and organizations achieving their full potential. The difference is in how we do it. Bob and Bev (and other coaches) focus on individual leaders’ development. I (and other large scale change consultants) focus on the overall organization’s development. When we partner, our clients get the best of both worlds.
Bob explains, “I had exposure to the RTSC approach many years ago. It helps businesses that need to turn on a dime like the bank I worked at. It is absolutely crystal clear to me how much coaching and large scale change complement each other.” Bev continues, “A goal of our coaching is for leaders to bring greater depth to their relationships. Organizations that use us a lot want to make big changes and make them fast. We often get asked to help leaders work together across departments.” It’s tough to tell whether
Bev is talking about her coaching practice or my large scale change work. Bob adds, “We contract with leaders for a minimum of six months. There has to be serious commitment or it won’t work. Leaders (and all of us) have taken years to develop our current habits. It will take time to change them. But the more people change, the easier and faster it is for the system they work in to change.”
My take on Bob’s comment: the more the system changes, the easier and faster it is for the people in it to change. Putting leadership coaching and large scale change together is a “win-win-win.” Leaders make big changes happen faster – and sustain them over time. We do a better job for them than either of us could alone. Send me an email if you’re interested in exploring how this synergy could add value for you. What are your stories about coaching leaders in large scale change efforts?