Leadership Coaching and Self Awareness – A Matter of Perspective

Monday, September 13th, 2010

For many of our leadership coaching clients, gaining other perspectives is a key outcome of the coaching process and adds significantly to their self-awareness.

For example, I recently met a client for the first time. “Bruce” stood up as I entered the room, walked confidently towards me, shook my hand firmly and exchanged the usual business pleasantries. It was an impressive introduction and I gained a clear impression of confidence and competence.

Later he confided in me that he felt unsure of himself and that he would like to work on his sense of self esteem. I asked him to imagine he was a fly on the wall looking down at himself when I entered the room. What could he see? He was able to see the same attributes that I could. Then I had him visualise what his clients and colleagues would see. Quite clearly the same attributes.

“But” he said, “although I have learned how to relate one-on-one in a business situation I am unsure of myself in a room full of strangers. I find meeting new people in those circumstances difficult.” Once Bruce realised that the techniques he used in business were just that – learned techniques – he was able to see how they could be applied to social situations. He is well on the way to a new sense of self-awareness and proficiency in a wider range of circumstances.

A leadership coach can also provide a perspective on a client’s issues and major decisions. Executives may not have self-awareness of the baggage, emotions, fears, risks, and consequences they bring to the decision making process. Exploring different perspectives on an issue can help find win-win solutions. Executive coaching allows our clients to float ideas, to be challenged in a non-threatening way, to have the time and space to explore options and to come to a more rounded view of the issues. The benefit to the executive coaching client is greater self-awareness, confidence and more effective leadership decisions.

Contact us to improve your self-awareness or return to the Stepshift Leadership Blog for more business advice.