Coaching Leaders leading change LO11095

Virginia I. Shafer (vshafer@azstarnet.com)
Thu, 21 Nov 1996 14:21:22 -0700 (MST)

Replying to LO11074 --

Martin,

Your latest post has hit squarely on my line of work. I'm a personal
development coach, having shifted my focus from "consulting" to coaching.
Let me begin to answer a few of your questions, then I hope you'll have
more.

>What is the 'subject matter' of the coaching/relationship? By which
>I mean the need for us to understand the leaders role in whole
>system change.

A distinction must be made up front so we can talk about the coaching
relationship. A consultant brings their expertise to the company, or the
leader. If the leader is prepared with the right kinds of questions, the
consultant can be beneficial by adding new knowledge to the leader.
However, in the coaching relationship, the LEADER holds the expertise and
the coach is trained to guide them to discover their potential.
Therefore, the leader will indicate what power or influence they have over
the people in the organization and the trained coach can help the leader
find the leverage point to shift systemic gears.

>What is involved for the leader personally in this sort of change?
>What does he or she need to learn/do/change? What are their
>feelings/problems/incentives in making the personal journey towards
>a new place?

Just as you allude to, the leader must be willing to face themselves,
first and foremost. For it is impossible for the leader to change her
surrounding if she doesn't first change. So the process can surface
fears, apprehensions, and mostly opportunities to move forward, to
progress. For we know all progress occurs outside, or at the fringe, of
the rules.

>What is the consultant role? Is coaching - in the sense of teaching,
>possible in this situation? Or is the consultant's role more that of
>catalyst or facilitator? Or is there no role for a consultant?

I believe the same person can function as a coach and as a consultant, but
not simultaneously. The person can be coaching the leader and consulting
with the organization. That's possible. The former is a one-on-one,
personal relationship, the latter you understand well.

I hope this begins to help, Martin. As you know, you've been very helpful
to me, so I hope it's now my turn to return the kindness. There's much
more I can share if you need specifics.

Warmly,

-- 

Ginger Shafer The Leadership Dimension "Bringing Leadership to Life" vshafer@azstarnet.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>