How to Coach Yourself and Others Influencing, Inter Personal and Leadership Skills | Page 130

11. Success Strategies
1. Building a Shared Vision
Effective leaders create a shared vision of great performance - a clear picture of the
future of the organization, based on tomorrow’s needs. The vision makes the goal and
the journey clear: where we are going, how we will know when we get there, and how
we’ll know that we’re making progress. Effective leaders see the total system,
understand it, and help others to understand it. And they help to build the power within
the organization to achieve the vision.
Effective leaders encourage employees at all levels to expand, deepen, and personalize
the organizational vision by identifying how, in their own roles, they can make a
significant contribution to achieving the organizational vision.
2. Empowerment
An effective leader empowers employees by developing a shared vision, removing
obstacles to great performance, developing ownership of the vision among the
employees, and stimulating self-directed actions. The leader must be sure that the
performers are responsible and accountable for great performance. People who are given
a real voice are much more likely to “buy in” to the vision and the organizational goals
and to make it their mission to help achieve those goals.
3. Coaching
A leader who manages through coaching convinces people of their own ability to do the
job. They have faith that, with the proper training and support, people will excel.
Coaching involves providing training, support, and constructive feedback as an employee
carries out responsibilities. The leader gives ongoing encouragement and praise for
successes and helps the person build confidence in his or her own abilities.
An effective format for coaching includes these steps:
 Set the stage. Give full attention, be clear, assume a “shared learning” mindset,
encourage dialogue, listen actively, and foster mutual respect.
 Define the problem, goal, or issue. Be specific and be clear about your assumptions.
 Foster a growth atmosphere by reinforcing positive behavior, making clear that you
are there to help, and encouraging the open exchange of ideas.
 Provide opportunities for collaboration and problem solving on alternatives. Apply the
principles of balanced inquiry and advocacy, constructive disagreement, and ideabuilding in exploring alternatives. Give constructive feedback to improve
performance.
 Agree on an action plan and set a follow-up date, then keep the door open.