Making the Transition from "Manager" to Leader"

Moving up the corporate ladder is rarely a smooth process. There are often points in our careers when we know we want to make a larger contribution and the invitation to do so comes in the form of a promotion, or as a response to our internal drive to make a bigger impact. We know we’re about to make a leap that takes us out of our comfort zone and requires that we shift our thinking and our priorities. These times can be both exciting and overwhelming. And our ability to successfully navigate uncharted waters will be the ultimate test of our readiness to play at a higher level.

Take the example of a client who wanted to transition from an operations role to a general management role. He knew how to manage production processes and understood the technical aspects of the business like the back of his hand. But he was anxious about wearing a more strategic hat and was particularly concerned about his ability to connect with and successfully lead those in the organization who were outside of the operations area. How would he set the tone with sales and marketing? And how would he create a fully collaborative atmosphere where all functional areas in the enterprise were working in total alignment?

This client used coaching as a tool to gain a fuller perspective and understanding of the business. Coaching allowed him to develop strategies to connect with key players in the business and establish himself as a coach, mentor and leader to each of them as individual contributors and to all of them as a team.

As a result of his coaching partnership, he more fully understood his own strengths and capabilities and discovered new ways to apply those strengths in the business. He expanded his perspective and developed a high level of confidence. He now leads from a position of strength and applies a blend of operational savvy, strategic thinking and leadership as he guides the business into the future.

The business is on a solid growth trajectory and is now planning for a major expansion that will equip them for continued growth and position them as a larger player in their industry.