INSIGHTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP PLANET
by Eve and Eli

We have been asked to many times “do you think I should take a coach”… any time someone asks this question, without needing further explanation, the answer is YES, not because we will do more business it is just because if you’re asking the question, you are deeply and sometimes not consciously needing help.
We’ve decided to list all the powerful reasons why you should take a coach… Maybe you find one (or more!) which sounds a (big) bell:
 

1. Combat Executive Isolation: As you climb the corporate ladder, feelings of isolation and loneliness can increase due to the unique stress and responsibility. An executive coach not only addresses specific issues but also helps mitigate these feelings by connecting you with others who share similar experiences.
2. Build Thought Leadership: An executive coach can guide you in shaping your personal brand. They help you decide how to present yourself on platforms like LinkedIn, identify conferences to speak at and develop strategies to enhance your online presence.
3. Refine Executive Presence: Improve your communication skills and influencing abilities. Coaches assist with presentations, one-on-one meetings, and team interactions, allowing you to elevate your executive presence1.
4. Operate in Your Zone of Genius: Contrary to the misconception that coaches only focus on weaknesses, they also help you identify and leverage your strengths. By emphasizing your fabulousness, you can excel in your leadership role.
5. Holistic Development: An executive coach takes a comprehensive approach to your growth. They focus not only on professional skills but also on personal development. By addressing both, you become a more well-rounded leader.
6. Strategic Thinking: Coaches encourage strategic thinking. They help you step back, analyze situations, and make informed decisions. This skill is crucial for navigating complex business landscapes.
7. Emotional Intelligence: Effective leadership requires emotional intelligence. Coaches guide you in understanding your emotions, managing stress, and building strong relationships with your team.
8.  Accountability and Goal Setting: Coaches hold you accountable for your goals. They help you set clear objectives, track progress, and adjust strategies as needed.
9. Conflict Resolution: Leaders often face conflicts. Coaches equip you with conflict resolution techniques, ensuring a harmonious work environment.
10. Adaptability: In today’s dynamic world, adaptability is key. Coaches help you embrace change, learn from failures, and stay agile.

Remember, investing in an executive coach isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional leadership!
Here a question to you - When do you start???
 
More to come from INSIGHTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP PLANET by Eve and Eli
 

INSIGHTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP PLANET by Eve and Eli

When companies need to streamline operations and cut costs, one solution might be to flatten the organization and reduce middle manager positions. This is something that companies are also doing to a greater extent today and it is an emerging trend called "unbossing". Certainly there are advantages with flatter organizations, increased self-leadership, enabling shorter decision-making paths etc. There is though a risk that we underestimate middle managers’ contribution. Contrary to the perception that middle managers are expendable in today’s workplace, these individuals can play a critical role in fostering mentorship, providing support to junior employees and ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly.

However, many managers end up in their roles without any leadership training, guidance or resources to succeed. This lack of preparation can lead to ineffective leadership, including micromanagement and difficulties to lead team members in an effective way.

By ensuring that middle managers improve their soft skills such as communication and listening skills, middle managers can strengthen relationships with their team members and thereby foster a culture of trust, cooperation and mutual respect. Through coaching and improved emotional intelligence, managers can better understand the individual needs and concerns of their various team members. This enables them to provide their team members with tailored support and guidance to support them to greater performance. So by better preparing managers and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, companies can ensure that middle managers are equipped to successfully navigate the complexities of the modern workplace.

The trend to reduce middle manager positions, unbossing, might be a short-term solution and provide some benefits, but there is a potential risk that the invaluable contribution of these individuals are overlooked. By investing in their development and providing ongoing support and training, companies can empower middle managers to become effective leaders who drive positive results and foster a culture of success in their companies.

More to come from INSIGHTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP PLANET by Eve and Eli

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

We work hard and our brains rest, process and re-charge as we sleep. When we though have been in a longer period of stress and hard work a night’s sleep might not be enough to fully re-charge our brains.

So therefore, when summer vacation is on it’s way, make sure to give your brain vacation as well. How we do this is ofcourse very individual but I heard a professor involved in brain reseach providing a few tips

1. Prepare closing down before your vacation (you might even plan for when you will return) so that you can leave in peace.
2. Use the impact being out in nature (forest, lakes etc) – it has a positive effect on you brain, can calm you down, can make you sleep better etc. A lot of reseach is down on how phytoncides from trees has positive affect on us human beings.
3. Make sure to plan for pauses and even to become a bit bored during your vacation – it is a great way to wind down
4. Make sure to be a bit selfish – what do YOU need to do to re-charge your brain

So let us give our brains some vacation to make sure to boost memory capacity, efficiency and creativity

We wish you (and your brain) a great vacation.

More to come from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli
 

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

We can use a lot of metaphors to reflect on ourselves. They are nice shortcuts to understand feelings that move us towards action. We have gathered the most important ways of representation for trust.

Which kind of image would you chose to represent the type of Trust you would like to inspire in others?

1.  "A Lion”: strength and tenacity, like a lion in its environment, asserting ideas, defending objectives and leading the discussion.
2. "A Rock": stability and solidity, like an unshakeable rock, reassuring anchor for those around.
3. "A Ship Sailing Serenely in Turbulent Waters": remaining calm and in control, even in difficult or uncertain situations.
4. "A Tree with Deep Roots": experimented and resilient, well-anchored and able to withstand challenges.
5. "A Shining Star: standing out in a crowd, captivating the audience and leaving a lasting impression.
6. "A Blazing Torch": source of light and guidance for self and others.
7. "A Diamond in the Rough": with modest appearance but with something precious and special that may not be immediately visible to others.
8. "A mountain peak": reaching a top goal thanks to tenacity and effort.
9. "A soaring Eagle": overcoming challenges and soaring to new heights, pursuing dreams.
10. "A Flower Blossoming in the Sun": empowerment and growth

Once you have your image, keep it in mind and do your best to align your vocabulary, actions and behaviors with it. Are you able to find out your team members’ metaphor?

Next time read our piece on Giving your brain vacation from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

Change is a part of our working life. It might be small changes involving only a few or larger changes affecting many parts of the organization in order to adapt to changed market conditions, to gain access to a market or a market segment, make delivery, production, ways of working more efficient. When doing changes, we are convinced that the investment made will lead to synergistic effects - i.e. one will earn back one's investment. If you have done your homework correctly (i.e. not been too optimistic or skipped your due diligence), the synergies are also usually realistic - at least on paper.
In the event of a change, in general we talk about three different aspects you need to take into consideration – the strategic, structural and cultural aspects of change

Strategic changes/decisions i.e. when we define the objectives, expected results and the reasons that drive the changes. It will answer the questions

•  WHY are we doing it/what are the reasons for it?
•  WHY are we doing it now?
• WHAT should it lead to/what should we achieve?

In changes this aspect is nearly always completed and people involved can agree upon or at least accept the reasons and benefits. You understand why it is good and why you should do it and why you should do it now, etc. 

Structural changes/decisions are more about WHAT needs to be done to support the strategies, i.e. the structural changes that must be made in the organization, support systems, budget, processes and skills needed etc. This is also usually included in the plan - sometimes you may not realize everything that will be affected, but in general it is part of the plan.

Finally, there is a cultural change/decision aspect to change, i.e. to make sure that this change will pay off, you need to know HOW things potentially need to be done differently and what behaviors are necessary to adapt. It applies to various aspects of behavior. There might be need for differences in how you set goals and follow up, how you set up incentive programs, how you work with meeting structure, working methods and cooperation between teams and individuals. It will affect leadership as well as sometimes the norms and values.

This last piece of the puzzle many find more difficult to work with - either you underestimate this part, you are unaware of these aspects, or it is simply difficult to work with these "softer parts of change" so you just hope for the best. In order to get the full effect of a change, you need to understand you current ways of working and behavior and how things will have to change or adapt.

Change often means doing something differently - doing more or less of something, stop or start doing something. People don't do things based on intention; they do things based on consequences – to understand what will be gained by the change or the pain of not doing it. A changed behavior is about understanding, learning and proper training as well as those affected feeling involved and part of the dialogue. Leadership is really important in all type of changes – leaders need to understand all aspects of change, to drive the change as well as coach and support the people affected by the change.
Change is a given in today’s world of works. Plans for change are great but it is still people who make these changes happen. To be successful in change you need to have focus on all three aspects – strategic, structural and cultural. So, what do you need to prepare to make sure you make you change will be successful?

Read about TRUST, next from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli

Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli
 
As we were searching some information on Patience, we found two interesting videos on Millenials. Not the less interesting thinkers, by the way: Jordan Pederson and Simon Sinek!
 
Pederson gives a very clear idea of why we have the sensation our kids have different skills than ours. Basically, we seem to be overprotective parents. We want to ensure the full safety of our kids, we tell them they are unique and they can have anything in life. And in fact, in some areas of our life, it can be right: if they want a black t-shirt with red stars NOW to get out tonight, they can get it! But with feelings and all non-tangible things, it is another story, life is much more complicated. That’s why we create future adults less patient with low resistance to frustration.   
 
Sinek completes the nurturing parenting origin with other reasons. Technology creates a lot of damages: the dopamine that comes from social networks is really addictive and it interferes in the teenagers’ development. When there is an excess of it, it creates a gap between what the virtual world tells them (“fantastic happy lives”, “successful stories without efforts”, “excellent good looking”…) and what reality is. Added to that, social networks are invading their home. They are where they are, connected to their hand, with a constant stream, giving no time for a break, to reconnect to reality or deal with stress if there is. In fact, social networks which aim could have been to facilitate connections are creating more connections in numbers but more superficial ones. It leads to a sense of loneliness and to less deep meaningful relationship, exactly the opposite of its original objective. 
 
Long term relationships, Stress management and Patience are probably the key skills to develop for Millenials.
 
So how to support them then? rewarding effort, not giving them what they want instantly, opening dialogue and pushing them to do activities with other people where technology is not needed … but most important: lead by example!

What are you doing to lead by example?
  
Read about change, next from Insights from the leadership planet by Eve and Eli