How we used our Assess. Act. Achieve. coaching methodology to design our program.
What We Already Knew:
Sr/Directors are the life-blood of any size organization, often responsible for:
● Driving organizational vision & goals to generate or support significant revenue targets
● Developing key outcomes & strategies requiring cross-functional buy-in & execution
● Managing budgets, teams and stakeholders
● Developing their own leaders and teams
Yet the challenges they frequently face include:
● Not enough personal or staff capacity to keep up with the amount of work
● Everything feels like a priority yet there is little delegation for fear of putting the load on others
● Spending too much time “in the weeds” – managing rather than leading
● Not understanding why others get promoted or receive larger leadership scopes
● Difficulties with certain colleagues or DRs
● Work days that drive roller-coaster emotions, like feeling both:
- Stressful AND Joyful
- Competitive AND Collaborative
- Infuriating AND Satisfying
- Other days feel just plain unbalanced & unsustainable
What We Learned in 2023...
HR Guru Josh Bersin declared that “online coaching has become a white-hot market and is totally disrupting leadership development.”
Why? Among the growing adoption of online platforms with strong business models, HR and leadership teams are finding online coaching to be a proven and high-value investment. He touts success stories from companies like Braverly, Chevron, and Zendesk.The entire leadership development market itself (a $16 Billion market with lots of old-fashioned training programs) is ripe for disruption, and coaching is fueling the fire. Although skeptical about this market in the early days, he now sees this as an essential part of corporate training. And so do I. Why?
“Leadership development is a personal journey, not just a lot of business school topics. We are all leaders in some way, and sometimes we need someone to talk to about our own personal challenges at work." This is what coaching is all about, says Bersin. It enriches the leadership journey and creates a new level of self-discovery to the process.
Through BetterUp’s Coaching Circles offering (i.e. group coaching) the average manager has made five new professional connections.
A March 2023 podcast from The Conference Board entitled “How Can CEO’s Assess Leadership in a Hybrid Work Environment?” detailed research indicating the new ‘best approach’ to developing different generations of talented leaders in today’s world of work is by combiningonline training/skills d evelopment, with peer group coaching, and stretch assignments that allow real-time application of the leadership training.
This led us to create the Assess. Act. Achieve. Your Way Into that Next Promotion blended- learning Executive and Peer Coaching Program.
❍ We used our methodology starting with what we already knew about these leaders (adding in what I knew about my own array of coaching skills and the ‘solutions’ that have benefited a multitude of clients over two decades) and combined that with what we learned about the future of leadership development. (Assess)
❍ We then pulled all the learning together via an easy to navigate online training platform, creating a 3-month blended learning program that offers 1:1 AND Peer Group Coaching, PLUS self- and stakeholder-feedback opportunities; partner and community connections; and trainings on creating IDPs, walking back stress triggers, managing time and capacity, engaging in difficult conversation and giving and receiving feedback. (Act)
❍ We even took time to test the new program with six talented leaders from a publicly-held, global B-to-C SAS company who graciously engaged during their busiest quarter of the year and provided us with valuable and actionable feedback to make the blended learning program even better! (Achieve)
The A.A.A. 3-Month Blended-Learning Program Offers:
Three Leadership Modules:
1.) How I Perceive Myself
2.) How Others Perceive Me
3.) How to Be the Best Leader I Can Be
❍ Three 55-minute live virtual 1:1 coaching sessions with an Executive Coach;
❍ Four 2-hour live virtual peer group sessions over 3-months, each featuring a skill-building leadership presentation, as well as a safe space to share learnings, practice vulnerability, and give and receive peer coaching;
❍ Two digitally administered leadership surveys for collecting real-time self- and 360-degree feedback and assessment;
❍ A customized Individual Development Plan designed to leverage and refine how to lead, show-up and operate as a leader;
❍ Specially curated content including videos, reflection worksheets, articles and useful “tools” for enhancing leadership;
❍ A trusted Accountability Partner to provide support during and after the program;
❍ Social community interactions between trusted peer participants and Executive Coach
❍ Pre- and post-measurement to demonstrate improvement
❍ AAA Program Badge and Certification of Completion
❍ Optional 3-Months of 1:1 Executive Coaching at a reduced price following the program close.
What High-Performing Leaders Will Achieve by Experiencing the 3-Month Assess. Act. Achieve. Executive and Peer Group Coaching Program...
✓ A deeper self-awareness of what personally drives and motivates them, as well as how to better engage their natural strengths and talents
✓ An informed understanding of their stress triggers and overextended behaviors that can impact themselves and those they lead
✓ Knowledge of how to increase their influence & better connect with their “opposites”
✓ More confidence in their overall leadership abilities and new ways to build and manage relationships
✓ Clear recognition of the importance and benefits of developing oneself and others
✓ The ability to lead authentically, through change, ambiguity and uncertainty
✓ Access to a community of like-minded and ambitious peers who can remain as trusted advisors long after completion of the program
"Thank you for all of your leadership & guidance. I greatly appreciated this experience!"
Recent Cohort Graduate
"Just a huge thank you for me. It's been so great. I appreciate all the personal attention you give to everyone. And I think you really care for us when we're in your program."
Recent Cohort Graduate
