The role of leadership development and coaching in challenging times
Today's business world is changing at an ever faster pace, and leaders need to adapt to global economic trends, generational differences and challenges in employee wellbeing and mental health. How can executive coaching and personalised development programmes help? The key for leaders is to build a support system that enables them to manage change and to take care of their own and their teams' mental wellbeing.
We talked about this Róbert Radóan expert in leadership development programmes, who is himself a senior executive working in the field of leadership coaching and development. As a coach, he helps companies to improve the effectiveness of their leaders. With decades of leadership experience, Róbert has helped many employees and managers to better understand their own capabilities and the needs of their teams.
Leadership challenges: what worries leaders?
Generational differences and managing change
According to Róbert Radó, the biggest challenges are the increasing generational differences and rapid technological changes. "It is often difficult to bridge the gap between the different generations working in a company and the different ways of working and values. In addition, ongoing industry changes, economic crises and other external factors also impact on the way managers perform their duties," he says. Managers need to be able to effectively navigate change while providing a supportive environment for their teams.
Mental health and well-being
Mental health and wellbeing is becoming increasingly important, especially after the pandemic. Róbert stressed that it is crucial for leaders to have good communication skills, to help them support their teams maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Effective leaders consciously build a workplace culture that is mindful of employees' mental health and understand that the performance of teams is directly linked to the support and attention they receive from employees.
Why use executive coaching?
Róbert sums up the importance of the coaching process, "Coaching not only helps managers to develop their own professional skills, but also to gain a deeper understanding of themselves." A coaching helps help leaders to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, and to find new perspectives on how to tackle problems. The aim is to enable leaders to achieve their own goals and thereby contribute to the success of their organisations.
According to Róbert, coaching can be particularly useful when managers have reached the peak of their careers but want to move on or are looking for new challenges. An external expert can help them find new directions and become more effective in their leadership role.
The other such area, which is becoming more common these days, is in the case of newly appointed young managers. They are the ones who have no previous experience in leadership, and thus in executive coaching can help them succeed at extra speed and drive their teams and their business to success. The latter is also important because they want to succeed quickly in their careers, and they will do whatever it takes to do so. If they are not supported by their company, they are even willing to change because their loyalty factor
The impact of imposter syndrome on driver performance
Róbert often meets the so-called with impostor syndrome, which affects many managers surprisingly strongly. It is the feeling of not deserving success and thinking that you don't really have the skills to achieve your goals. "A lot of people struggle with this, especially leaders in high positions who constantly question themselves," says Róbert. Imposter syndrome tends to make leaders underestimate their own achievements and successes, while being overly critical of themselves. The coaching process can help leaders to recognise and overcome these feelings and begin to truly appreciate their own work and their contribution to the success of the team and the organisation.
What is impostor syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where someone is unable to acknowledge their own success and feels that they do not deserve the results they have achieved, even though others think they are doing a great job. Those affected often believe that they have achieved their position through some kind of "scam" and fear being discovered by others as having been "deceived". Impostor syndrome often occurs in high achievers who constantly doubt their own abilities.
The role of managerial self-reflection in development
One of the most important coaching recommendations from our senior executive coach Rob is to practice regular self-reflection. It is essential for leaders to take time to reflect on how they have reacted in different situations, what decisions they have made and how they have shaped the work of their team. "Leadership requires continuous learning. The best leaders are those who are able to take an independent, critical look at their own performance and are open to improving," says Róbert. Self-reflection gives leaders the opportunity to identify their strengths, but also areas where they can improve. This kind of conscious development essential for personal and professional to move forward and help leaders to be more successful and effective in the future.
Planning personal development: how to achieve your goals?
Objectives and progressive progress
Róbert says it is essential for managers to be clear about their development goals. The effectiveness of coaching depends on a leader truly committed to his or her own development for. If the goals are well defined and personally important, progress will be more effective." He also said that it is important for leaders not to be afraid of obstacles and setbacks, as even small steps can mean progress towards long-term goals.
Key benefits of coaching
Róbert stresses that one of the biggest benefits of coaching is that it provides a supportive environment for leaders to have real, deep conversations. The coach does not give ready-made answers, but helps leaders find their own solutions. "The aim of coaching is to enable leaders to reflect on their own performance and make better decisions," he says.
In summary, the executive coaching and personalised development programmes can help managers successfully navigate a challenging business environment and achieve their personal and organisational goals. With the right support and commitment, leaders can improve not only their professional skills but also their relationships with their teams, contributing to the long-term success of their companies.
