BUSINESS COACHING CASE STUDIES

A VP's Transformation

The VP of a global logistics company entered our coaching program seeking guidance on two key challenges: addressing team feedback regarding micromanagement from a 360 evaluation, impacting the team autonomy and productivity, and navigating his fundamental disagreement with the company's strategic direction and a desire to shift his mindset. 

We began by addressing each challenge individually. Through exploring his leadership style, underlying beliefs, and communication patterns, we identified strategies for effective delegation and trust-building. Simultaneously, we worked on reframing his perspective on the company's direction, exploring potential opportunities and his role in shaping its future. As the VP gained more confidence in delegating and felt more aligned with the company's vision, he became more receptive to exploring personal well-being, motivation, and further leadership development. Our sessions then expanded to topics such as self-care, enhancing motivation and contribution, and advancing his leadership capabilities. Throughout these sessions, we investigated his inherent strengths and areas for growth, focusing on sustainable strategies for rapid and lasting change.

After 9 sessions, the tangible results included:

• Empowered Leadership: By shifting from a micromanagement style to empowering his team, the VP fostered an environment where new leaders could emerge. This is evidenced by his team becoming a company leader in internal promotions, with an impressive ~20% of team members being promoted within the company.

• Strategic Innovation: After two decades with the company, the coaching process unlocked new perspectives, enabling him to generate innovative ideas that are proving invaluable in navigating the current global market turbulence.

• Holistic Well-being: Beyond his professional growth, he embraced new hobbies, prioritised self-care, and reported a significant increase in both his professional drive and personal fulfillment.

Inner Transformation

A middle-aged, married client with a PhD from a world-leading institution struggled to adjust to the new working environment after moving from academia to a private sector.

The three-month coaching program that included 6 sessions aimed to address three key areas:

1. Managing expectations: How do I deal with people who have lower standards than me?

2. Emotional regulation: How do I maintain composure in challenging work situations?

3. Self-acceptance: How can I be happy with myself?

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The first four sessions focused on the first two topics, completely resolving them. In session five, we went into self-acceptance. The client, with her scientific mindset, created and analyzed a comprehensive list of happiness triggers. This exercise revealed a crucial insight: all her sources of joy were rooted in her personal life, not her professional role.

This realization profoundly shifted her perspective, rendering her impervious to workplace stressors. Remarkably, this transformation occurred without any external changes in their work environment.

Imposter Syndrome

Our client, a senior manager at a supranational institution, recently stepped into a more demanding leadership position.

Coaching program was initially set to 6 months and was prolonged for additional 3. At first, focus was on operational efficiency: How do I perform in my new role while at the same time covering the old one until a new person is recruited?

However, during one of the sessions we uncovered a deeper challenge: self-doubt. Despite his proven abilities and rigorous selection process, our client harbored doubts about their suitability for the new role and he wasn't aware of it.

Through targeted coaching interventions, we empowered our client to confront his insecurities and build a strong foundation of self-belief. The key in this case was for the client to prove to themselves that they are a good choice for the role. By the end of the program, they had not only overcome their imposter beliefs but also developed a more strategic and impactful leadership style.

Shared Values, Shared Success

We were approached by a manager who struggled with the atmosphere in the team: There was an internal tension due to a clashing dynamic between one team member and the restby the rest of the team and this caused friction on a daily basis.

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By facilitating just a single session with the team, we were able to lead them through a discovery of their individual values and team members realized that they are more similar than they knew. It showed them sides of each team member that they haven't seen before and this bonded them. As a result, they were able to move to  the new level of efficiency and the friction was gone.

Coaching for Growth and Succession

We working with a client on a 6-month coaching program. Initially, our focus centered on enhancing her work-life balance through time management techniques and prioritization strategies, improving her communication effectiveness with her manager by implementing active listening and feedback frameworks, and optimizing the management of relevant subsidiaries.

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A significant development occurred mid-program when she was promoted, gaining responsibility for an additional team. This shifted our focus to selecting her successor for her previous role. While several highly qualified candidates existed, the choice presented a unique challenge. Through analysis and values alignment assessments, we explored the options. The pivotal breakthrough came during a reflective session where the client recognized her subconscious apprehension regarding the announcement and its potential impact on team dynamics.

We then collaboratively developed a comprehensive communication and transition plan, which resulted in a seamless and effortless handover. This successful succession not only ensured continuity but also empowered both teams for continued growth and success.

Navigating Career Disruption

Towards the culmination of a year-long coaching engagement, our client faced an unexpected and significant career shift. A company restructuring led to the loss of his senior position, a shock compounded by over a decade of dedicated service and a strong sense of identity tied to the organization.

In the subsequent weeks, our sessions focused on navigating this transition on multiple levels. We explored immediate next steps and went into a deeper examination of his core values and their alignment with his professional identity. Together, we envisioned what his ideal next role would would like.

Through these focused conversations and reflective exercises, he emerged fully equipped with renewed self-confidence and a clear vision for his future career path, ready to embark on a proactive job search.

Running To The Top

Client is in his mid-thirties, working in financial industry. Main topic during their 3-month coaching program was how to advance his career and ultimately get a position on a C-suit level. 

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During the coaching program, we worked on essentials like presentation skills, conflict management and emotional regulation. However, the main topic was confidence: How can I believe enough in myself along the way?​

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After exploring different ways that could help him, it turned out that morning runs are the key. By integrating this routine into his daily life, he boosted his mood, reduced the stress level, cleared his mind and enabled him to confidently pursue the C-suit level ambition.