Helping Leaders Thrive
The leader of a large public agency, though well-liked, respected and excellent at the technical components of her job, struggled to engage her team and communicate with her direct reports effectively, leading to accountability issues and flagging performance.
ApproachDuring bi-weekly one-on-one coaching sessions over the course of many years, Praxis HR coaches have used a “solution-focused” coaching approach. Solution-focused coaching is a strength-based approach grounded in the belief that leaders have the resilience, inner resources and solutions required to resolve issues and make the most of opportunities. It’s about looking forward, not dwelling on past missteps.
First, Praxis HR coaches, the leader, and the leader’s executive sponsor met to clarify the leader’s role, priorities, goals and desired future. Praxis HR coaches then determined a baseline for leadership competencies using verified assessment, and worked with the leader to create a development plan in which the leader constructed and committed to solutions — specific, meaningful mini-experiments or action steps designed to achieve preferred outcomes. The leader immediately began to practice new skills and behaviors, and during coaching sessions regularly reviewed progress toward objectives and discussed challenges, setbacks and lessons.
OutcomesThe leader has successfully developed approaches to establishing, communicating and executing the department’s strategic priorities. Teamwork and collaboration across the organization also have measurably improved, and results of an organization-wide survey show that there has been significant and lasting improvement of staff engagement over time directly linked to intentional shifts the leader has made to become a more accessible, communicative and decisive leader.