VIM Executive Coaching works with executive leaders on a customized, one-to-one basis. To that end, we don’t trot out a set of rules, guidelines and advisories identical for anyone and everyone and under all situations. We can’t imagine coaching the executive vice president of a successful hockey franchise the same way we might work with the owner of a seven-unit natural juice operation.
The Discovery is Yours
The VIM business coaching approach is an approach that leads to a path of self-discovery and greater authenticity. While “no one can do you, better than you,” we can certainly help every executive to become more responsive, less reactive and more mindful.
It leads us to a brief discussion of rough patches. We’ve yet to see an organization that has never had one. What does a rough patch have to you with authenticity? Virtually everything.
It should be a given that none of us enjoys going through a rough time. Using the examples above, the hockey franchise may suddenly run into major funding issues of a new arena or in the case of the juice bars, the price of oranges and pineapples might experience an unforeseen spike in pricing or the workers may elect to unionize.
Whatever the rough patch germane to an organization, the executive leader has a clear choice: to practice avoidance or to approach the issues with thought, response and mindfulness. How the executive leader conveys and then deals with hard times, says volumes more about them than when the arrows for success are pointing skyward.
Self-discovery cannot be faked. Furthermore, an insincere and disingenuous executive leader can be spotted in the midst of the most well attended trade show or industry meeting. Therefore, when it is time for an executive to pull the organization, department or co-workers together and he or she comes across as officious, reactive or closed-off, it will show.
On the other hand, the authenticity that comes from being mindful, being one who wants to be responsive to the situation at hand or who is invested on a personal level, is seen as someone who inspires others.
“Folks, I Have Bad News”
It is important to note that during a period of challenge, our old friend Pollyanna is not perceived as a friend at all. Nor is favoritism a friend, nor angry reactions to questioning or strife. To approach the issues with thought, response and mindfulness requires compassion. It is also important to state that the executive leader must understand that responsiveness and compassion are not harbingers of weakness or indecisiveness.
The executive leader can be strong; she can be decisive and purposeful at the same time she is grounded in purpose and truth. He can be compassionate and forceful in doing what is needed. It is a matter of being exactly who you are in all situations and to everyone within the organization.
What to convey during a rough patch? Yourself. Completely. It is an honest and open process where in seeing where the executive leader stands, they too know where they need to stand and need to go.
Going full circle, finding that self and expressing that self during a rough patch is not the same for every person. We arrive at a place of mindfulness through self-knowledge and self-awareness. It is a celebration.
Not everyone is happy during a rough patch. How could they be? But even when the news is bad, for others to see and hear the mindfulness and sincerity in the executive leader’s voice and actions, go a long way to helping the rough patches to get solved.