Our Top 4 Lessons from Coaching High-Level Leaders
Welcome to the Leadership Vision Podcast, our show helping you build a positive team culture. Our consulting firm has been doing this work for the past 25 years, ensuring that leaders are mentally engaged and emotionally healthy.
In this podcast episode, we talk candidly with Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring as they reflect on their experience coaching clients. They discuss insights from working with executives and high-level professionals across diverse experiences. They share how the profound themes of mindfulness, perception, and positive change are at the heart of effective leadership development. The episode offers valuable principles, best practices, and personal learnings applicable to leaders across diverse career stages, from Fortune 100 executives to recent college graduates.
Why Coaching?
Before we discuss our top learnings about coaching, it’s crucial to understand our approach. We didn’t start a formal coaching practice until about four years ago. We wanted to be recognized for fostering leadership growth and improving team dynamics by fostering positivity, encouraging breakthroughs, and igniting a passion for people as an organization’s most valuable asset. This is why, all of our coaching clients happen in the context of the leader’s team within their organization.
Our focus is on team dynamics, and we emphasize the importance of creating a secure environment that nurtures trust, allowing clients to embark on a journey of self-awareness and growth. We are not coaching anyone outside of our deep knowledge of the organizational culture and engagement with the teams.
Cultivating Trust and Self-Awareness
One of the first thematic elements Brian and Linda shared was the significance of building trust in coaching relationships. Linda shared insights into creating a safe space for clients to engage openly and develop a sense of trust. Focusing on one-on-one interactions allowed deeper understanding, inspiring personal and professional growth. This trust-building process paves the way for individuals to embark on a journey of self-awareness, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and change. This trusting relationship often carries over into their larger team.
Shaping Perception for Positive Impact
The second element was the influential role of perception in leadership. Brian emphasized the power of individuals to influence how others perceive them. By acknowledging and addressing misperceptions, individuals can reshape their interactions and relationships, fostering greater understanding and collaboration. Aligning perception with reality is an ongoing process that requires consistent practice, but it ultimately leads to transformative changes in behavior and attitude.
Related: No One Understands You and What to Do About It
The Practice of Mindful Leadership
Our team has been learning more about mindfulness practice over the past two years. We have found it to be an invaluable contribution to leadership development. Mindful practices enable individuals to appreciate their strengths and attributes, enhancing self-awareness and confidence. By focusing on self-appreciation and recognizing their positive qualities, leaders can create a more harmonious work environment and inspire positive change within their teams.
For Reflection
After you listen to this episode, consider the following two questions for reflection:
- How do you currently approach building trust within your leadership role? Could you implement specific practices to create a safer open communication and growth space?
- Consider a recent situation where misperception may have affected your interactions with others. How might aligning perception with reality have influenced the outcome? What steps can you take to address misperceptions in the future?
As you continue your leadership journey, take a moment to reflect on the themes of trust, perception, and mindfulness discussed in this podcast episode. Embrace building trust within your team by fostering an environment of open communication and vulnerability. Challenge yourself to explore how your perception and the perception of others can impact your leadership effectiveness. Incorporate mindful practices into your daily routine to enhance self-appreciation and lead with greater self-awareness and confidence. Integrating these insights allows you to navigate the leadership path with a renewed sense of purpose and positive impact.
Incorporating trust-building, perception management, and mindful leadership practices into your approach can transform your leadership style and interactions. Take the time to explore these concepts and apply them to your unique leadership journey. Your commitment to growth and self-improvement will benefit your personal development and ripple positively through your team and organization.
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of a strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. We believe that knowing your Strengths is only the beginning. Our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions about anything you heard in this episode or if you’d like to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
If you’d like to be featured on the Leadership Vision Podcast, let us know how you are using Strengths and what impact it has made. Contact us here!
