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"Today and tomorrow, the successful leader is the one who leads the process of learning."
Sir Douglas Hague

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Leadership Notes -- Thoughts on Leading People and Making a Difference in Organizations

Word count this issue: 277

Estimated reading time:  2.00 minutes

 

 

I am working with a client in Toronto this week, teaching leadership and coaching for a large retail operation. One of the common questions that comes up is, “this coaching stuff is fine, but I need to focus on my numbers.”

 

What is most interesting in this question for me is the assumption that there appears to be a choice between coaching people and managing to numbers. It sounds to me like the old dualisms of support or direction, men’s work or women’s work, finance or HR.

 

Coaching, that is building trust with team members, building awareness about the issue, and building a future, is actually an amazing way to drive numbers, especially over a sustained period of time. I will be more likely to work over time with you to get the needed numbers if trust exists between us. I will be more likely to work over time towards needed numbers when I see you understand that issues I face, and when you hold me accountable for my part in the issue. I will be more likely to work with you. I will be more likely to work over time to a future that I have contributed to building.

 

Leading people over a sustained period to achieve goals is not something we do to people, it is something we do with people. We work most effectively with people when we build trust, build awareness about the issue and build a desired future together.

 

 

May this week bring you trust, awareness and a great future.