From Career Transition to CEO: How Coaching Transformed Leadership Potential

Unlocking Transformational Leadership

I was working with a client recently and realized that we hadn’t done the financial ROI on her investment with my coaching program. We began our journey when she was considering changing careers, yet she’s the CEO for her organization now. Let’s use the practices for you to  make wise decisions wherever you are, I said. The context matters, but the practices will become your North Star.

I’d also been inconsistent in asking her about all the changes she’s made since we began. There were huge differences with how she handles stressful situations not only in her company, but in her personal life. There’s no separation. No matter where you go, you bring your wise body with you. 

I get that some of us don’t like to quantify how our relationships are better with our kids or our BFF because it feels transactional. And yet, if you’re going to invest in programs that are going to create real change, you should know the math. I love doing the math because if you can save thousands of dollars and oodles of time, this program becomes a no-brainer!

Addressing Complaints in the Workplace

For example, one calculation I did of how much it costs her organization for one team member who’s an active complainer. Yes, we calculate the costs on what seems like a common and very human behavior. Because she should know how much it costs the company (as well as to  determine if it’s part of the culture).

Without addressing the core issue effectively (he’s been known as a complainer for years), it’s like treating a surface wound and leaving the infection beneath to fester. And, whatever conversations or training over the years, they’ve not been effective long-term.

But this time, she can address the wound (the team member) and review the conditions that allow this to happen.

What I know about complaining is that this is a request in disguise. There may be particulars, nuances to suss out, yet this is where learning how to lead with your senses is incredibly effective. Now, the work we do is how to use their complaint as an opportunity to take effective action. As I said earlier, it's also a good opportunity to see if this is an anomaly or a systemic issue because there would be even more leaking costs to the organization.

Back to the math…

Using conservative numbers, we calculated that one employee was costing the company thousands of dollars annually. Not only with time spent complaining, but we calculated the supervisors and others that were involved in helping to resolve this issue, including the CEO! We estimated what it costs to divert their attention from projects, or from gaining new business, and it’s tens of thousands of dollars!  And although it may be part of the supervisor’s job description to handle employee complaints, imagine having a process for staff to resolve issues immediately and effectively. Managers would spend much less time on ‘fixing’ it for others. This would allow them to support staff in better ways, or bring in more business so the company can grow, serve more clients, expand employee benefits, including raises, time off, etc. 

I keep notes on the progress of each of my clients to document the changes because if not regularly noted, clients have amnesia about how much change they’ve made! 

Yet part of the work is for the client to notice how the skills have transformed life’s difficulties. What begins to happen over time is what they’re practicing becomes ‘second nature’. This is what we want, but like fish to water, you want to have some level of awareness that you’re choosing how you show up every.single.day.

If you’ve been tolerating a culture issue within your organization, there is a cost to you and your organization - financial, social, relational and with your health. I take a radical approach given my Chinese medical training. By radical, I mean its etymological meaning, which is root. We'll get to the root of the issue. No more slapping a band-aid or leaving it to someone else (HR). It’s costing you too much and if you’re truly up to making a difference with your business, you need clarity and effective action.

Be the leader that says your mission is too important to be sidelined by unnecessary distractions that take away from doing great things. I want to work with you.

Drop me a note to let me know what corner of the world you’re transforming and let’s see if I can help.