Executive Presence: Coaching in a VUCA World - International Coaching Federation
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Executive Presence: Coaching in a VUCA World

Posted by Valerie Sokolosky, PCC | September 19, 2018 | Comments (1)

Disruption is pushing us ever faster toward an incredibly smart and creative future—one that demands dynamic leadership skills as:

  • Computers double their capabilities every 12 to 18 months
  • Intelligence explodes at a pace both incomprehensible and overwhelming
  • Customers’ expectations become even more demanding and immense

How can we up our game as we coach leaders who work in this Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) global environment? Use these coaching elements.

Know Your Client Intimately

Intimately means deeply enough to have more meaningful conversations!

My company’s philosophy is “Relationships are built on trust and respect—cemented with shared experiences.” Get engaged with your client and stay engaged. Be sincerely interested in their business, know what’s important to them, learn what drives them and what they enjoy outside of work. That’s not prying—that’s caring.

In his classic best-selling book, Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, Harvey Mackay lists things to learn about your client so you can better understand how to build trust and intimacy.

Become a Knowledge Ninja

As executive coaches, it’s important for us to be well informed about a lot of things—and with the vast amount of information at our fingertips, knowledge of our clients’ business trends is readily available.

Be especially attuned to your clients’ industry developments. Feel what they feel if you walked in their shoes. Visualize your client’s typical daily routine—if there is such a thing! When your coaching practice includes shadowing your client, pay attention to their behaviors throughout the day as they make decisions, handle people, attend events, does tasks, and manage interruptions. Try to think like they think.

In a VUCA environment, ask yourself, “Does my client view me as a valued partner? Do they sense that I appreciate them right where they are? Do they believe that I am totally non-judgmental? Finally, would I want to be coached by me? Why?”

Know your client, know their world, and know that your coaching consistently brings value to their development.

Listen at the 4th Level: Intuitive Listening

Did you ever notice that the word listen carries the same letters as the world silent? Being an exceptional executive coach requires listening at the deepest level, called Intuitive Listening.

In a VUCA world, situations are not always black and white; there are plenty of grays. It’s your responsibility to acknowledge those gray areas. Pay attention to your intuition or a sensation that is telling you there is more to understand than what is being shared. Listen to not only what is being said, but how the client is saying it or even what the client is not saying. Ask yourself, “Is the client skirting an issue? Is their tone of voice changing with different degrees of inflection? What am I sensing that is being left out? Where are the gray areas?”

Realize that when your client is talking, they expect you to hear their ideas along with the facts. By honing your probing, open-ended questions, you will allow your client the spaciousness to share openly, to discover and to reveal their personal thoughts. You might say something like, “I can sense there may be more to share on this….” Then sit back and listen!

Now, show up with executive presence knowing you are competent and confident to coach leaders in this speeding world of Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous global disruption.

 

 

©Valerie Sokolosky, PCC

valerie sokolosky headshot

Valerie Sokolosky, PCC

Valerie Sokolosky, PCC, author of eight leadership books, was featured in The Wall Street Journal as having one of the first executive coaching practices in the nation. As an ICF-Credentialed coach, she inspires leaders to create a strong leadership presence that differentiates them in the marketplace and creates greater success for themselves, their teams and their organizations. Valerie’s clients include a blue-chip list of Fortune 500 companies and firms worldwide including all four Top Financial Services Firms, American Airlines, Nextera, Shell Oil, McKesson, Dignity Health Systems and Verizon. She has received national recognition in publications including Success Magazine, Women’s Enterprise, Glamour, Dallas Morning News and Washington Post among others. Connect with Valerie on LinkedIn.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.

Additionally, for the purpose of full disclosure and as a disclaimer of liability, this content was possibly generated using the assistance of an AI program. Its contents, either in whole or in part, have been reviewed and revised by a human. Nevertheless, the reader/user is responsible for verifying the information presented and should not rely upon this article or post as providing any specific professional advice or counsel. Its contents are provided “as is,” and ICF makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law specifically disclaims any and all liability for any damages or injuries resulting from use of or reliance thereupon.

Comments (1)

  1. cheryljclose@gmail.com says:

    Valerie,

    I love to read your wisdom in print! You always add to my understanding. All my best, Cheryl

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