The first Action Learning Summit was held on Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Marriott in Nashville, TN. and was a huge success! If you missed this one, don’t worry, our second Summit is coming up!
What is the Action Learning Summit? Imagine 11 strategic business leaders sharing their expertise to a select group of progressive business leaders. Add excellent food and drink and we have a recipe for success.
Here is some of what you missed, plus some video testimonials..
Assumption: I have no doubt that a select group of smart people (like us) can change the world.
1.You stated that your day would be remarkable if you:
Increased your network
Heard some incredible stories from business leaders
Learn how to delegate; learn to ask for help
Learn some new information that I can apply immediately
Use the Action Learning Process with my team
Solve specific problems; learn how to scale my business
2. At the end of the day several takeaways included:
Hearing stories from remarkable business leaders
Selecting accountability steps for me to achieve my goals
Appreciation for asking questions rather than telling
Use of the Action learning process to solve a real problem
Creating new connections with great people
Thinking about how to apply PsyCap to my business
Thinking about how to assess social capital
Hold the date: join us on Friday, November 18, 2016.
The short answer is, “Corporate coaching works inconsistently.”
Corporate coaching is commonly an internal form of talent development. Think of three pillars in talent development: (1) acquiring people, (2) developing people and (3) retaining desired people. Corporate coaching can be used to develop and retain desired employees. Not everyone is a desired employee.
Like all organizational responses, the success of any initiative designed to provide corporate coaching depends upon the organizational culture. Culture can be described at three levels: (1) artifacts (observable structures or processes, often hard to decipher), (2) stated beliefs and values (goals, values, not always aligned with artifacts), and (3) basic underlying assumptions (unstated or unconscious patterns that often define outcomes. See Schein, 2010.) Get the point? Corporate coaching may or may not work consistently. Consequently most organizations require external consultants to design and deliver results.
Now it is 2016. The trend toward packages that “Assess-Debrief-Design” for Individual Development Plans (IDPs) is now a large market led by KornFerry and DDI and others. Sadly, they are limiting themselves by selling those services as “corporate coaching packages.” Too often they are assessment requirements, often driven by HR or legal compliance needs. By analogy, after a physician diagnoses a concern they recommend but cannot require treatment. So it is with too much corporate coaching. Another provider that delivers corporate coaching globally is CoachSource. (Disclosure: I am one of 28 engagement managers, we provide unparalleled corporate coaching services.)
On a related note, corporate coaching is not a commodity. There is a trend away from resource-based views of talent as a fixed commodity (like a manufacturing unit) to a dynamic resource with unlimited potential and higher engagement. (But that is for another post or direct discussion!)
Should you have any questions it may be better to chat directly by calling Doug Gray, PCC, at 615.905.1892 or by contacting me here.
What are you waiting for?
Download this list of services and investment levels now:
When 5” of powder blessed Breckenridge, CO, yesterday, I took this stunning video and wrote these thoughts. Here are three short perspectives on skiing above treeline, and strategic leadership.
Flow is designed. Flow can be defined as that timeless psychological state when challenge and skill are in balance. Most people cannot imagine skiing double-black diamond runs down 1,500’. Most people should never try extreme skiing. Skiing above treeline, like any hobby, is an opportunity to experience ekstasis, that state of being literally outside of time and space. Flow occurs when we take one turn at a time. We live in the moment. We proceed to a new place. Yes, you can design flow into your life. There are seven contributing variables for designing flow. Contact me for details or read this book or this book.
2. Leaders are creators. Leaders build products or services. Doubt me? Then read any biography. Only those extraordinary leaders with an obsessive focus make the history books. Average leaders do not warrant attention in the history books or the biographies. How about you? By definition, leaders create value for their followers. And all significant leaders create great teams. If you were to say “yes” to that idea, or create something new, or delight a client, today, then you would see for yourself. One example of a significant leadership event in Nashville, TN is here.
3. Technology follows goals. Many years ago I climbed this mountain using backcountry ski mountaineering gear. It took all day. My goal was to experience grandeur. The adventure was exhausting but wonderful. Two years ago new lift lines made it possible to ascend to the same elevation without sweating. The technology followed my goals. Ironically, those ski trails are now called “Wonderland”, “Bliss” and “Euphoria.” Get the point? There is plenty of grandeur to be found when we ski above treeline.
March is a great season for strategic thinking.
March is the season of heavy snowfalls, springtime flowers, new birth, opportunity, and clear intentions.
You may never ski above treeline. But you can certainly make smarter decisions about your professional and personal goals.
Some coaching questions include: (1) How can you design flow in your life or business? (2) What can you create today? (3) What goals will inspire grandeur?
For 10+ years I led wilderness expeditions and teaching groups and providing individual leadership coaching for Outward Bound Schools in 3 countries. Each expedition was a microcosm of values and behavior. The photo above represents an extension of those skills.
In 2006, I raced on a 10-day expeditionary adventure race, called Primal Quest. Our team of four traveled continuously together, over 600 miles, mountain biking, trail running, climbing, rappelling, canyoneering, kayaking, and river swimming through the wilderness near Moab, Utah. We finished and were featured on CBS Sports. Hence, the image reminds me of a good team experience.
Our primary team goal was to cross the finish line, and our secondary goal was to remain good friends. We accomplished each goal.
Now let me pose a leadership coaching question: How do you measure excellence for your team?
Team Action-Learning.com included Doug Gray (captain), Bill Jordan (hoss), Jennifer Rinderle (sparkplug) and Steve Deis (lead navigator).
In 2004 we finished Primal Quest Washington.
In 2008 we finished Primal Quest Montana. Then we rested. Because we were tired.
What are you waiting for?
We all need coaching at times. Call Doug Gray, PCC, at 615.905.1892 today.
Download this list of services and investment levels now:
Recently 4 people have asked me that question. There may be something in the air, like ignorance or fear. Here is a quick model for you to determine if you are a good fit for your organization.
The Competing Values Framework (CVF)
Models provide cognitive maps or useful images for self-assessment and consulting. For instance, the competing values framework defines four boxes from two continua: flexibility or control, and internal or external focus (Cameron, 2008). The result is a simple diagnostic model that can be used to assess your organizational culture (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: The Competing Values Framework (Campbell, 2008)
As you read the following descriptions ask yourself these 3 questions:
What quadrant best describes my organization’s values?
What quadrant best describes my individual values?
How can I re-design my life to work in an organization that supports my values?
Organizations with high flexibility/discretion and high external focus and differentiation are adhocracy oriented. These organizations are dynamic, entrepreneurial, people take risks, and they value innovation and experimentation. Leaders in an adhocracy are visionary, risk-tolerant, and innovative. The adhocracy organizations value experimentation, readiness to change, growth, acquisitions, and new products and services. Examples include technology-based disruptors such as Uber, Airbnb, Virgin. The key word is “create.”
Organizations with high stability/control and high external focus and differentiation are hierarchically oriented. These organizations favor structure, coordination, efficiency, and stability. Leaders in a hierarchically-oriented organization are good coordinators, organizers, and efficiency experts. The hierarchical organizations value stability, predictability, efficiency, rules, and policies. Examples include Bank of America, Community Health Systems(CHS), and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). The key word is “control.”
Organizations with high internal focus/integration and high stability and control are market-oriented. These organizations are results-oriented, value competition, achievement, and performance. Leaders in a market-oriented organization are hard-driving producers, directors, and competitive. They value winning, increased market share, achieving goals and targets, and rewards. Examples include Merrill Lynch, insurance salespeople, and car salespeople. The key word is “compete.”
Organizations with high internal focus/integration and high flexibility/discretion are very personal places, like an extended family, where participation, mentoring and nurturing are encouraged. The leaders in clan-oriented organizations are coaches, mentors, or parent figures. These organizations value loyalty, tradition, collaboration and teamwork. Examples include the United Way, most churches, most nonprofits. The key word is “collaborate.”
So where is your organization? Where are your individual values? These opposite and competing assumptions are useful descriptors of dominant orientations and value sets. But they do not determine behavior. You determine behavior, when you make your choices. Your individual values do not change.
The key executive coaching question is: How can you re-design your life to work in an organization that supports your values?
Frankly, that is why people hire an external consultant as an executive coach. Once we know an organizational culture, then we can predict your individual effectiveness, success of a merger or acquisition, and your individual quality of life.
Then get in touch with me, your Nashville-based leadership and executive coach, at 615.905.1892 or schedule a complimentary leadership coaching session to discuss how you learn best. As your leadership coach, I strive to provide you with the tools to create an impact, rally optimistic coworkers and comrades, as well as maximize group and individual productivity and creation.
What are you waiting for?
Download this list of services and investment levels now:
Cameron, K, (2008). A process for changing organization culture. In T. Cummings (Ed.), Handbook of organization development (Ch 5). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
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