{"id":28991,"date":"2020-06-26T20:49:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-27T00:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/learning-to-lead-leaders-tias-coaching-story\/"},"modified":"2020-06-26T20:49:31","modified_gmt":"2020-06-27T00:49:31","slug":"learning-to-lead-leaders-tias-coaching-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/learning-to-lead-leaders-tias-coaching-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to Lead Leaders: Tia\u2019s Coaching Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Tia Dwyer took on the newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer at Think Together, she knew she would face challenges.\u00a0Think Together<\/a>, a nonprofit that supports education reform and support systems in California experienced growth of nearly 40 percent since Tia has been in the COO role. Tia manages 400 sites and 3,000 staff members.<\/h2>\n

As the COO, Tia works daily with the organization\u2019s founder and CEO. In addition to her other operational responsibilities, the COO role required her to take on the human resources function in addition to other chief\/deputy positions who now report to her. Tia\u2019s focus when she accepted the position was to build strong relationships with her colleagues on the executive team. To help maximize these new opportunities, Tia requested an external coach as part of her promotion agreement.<\/p>\n

Working with ICF-credentialed coach\u00a0Cathy Lieberman, ACC<\/a>, of Chicago, Illinois, United States, Tia was able to significantly evolve her leadership style. Feeling more empowered to make decisions and understand their impact, she has a positive outlook for the future and a plan for moving her team forward.<\/p>\n

What led you to partner with a coach?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted someone who could help me develop as a leader\u2026 I could not think of another approach other than an executive coach.\u201d<\/h3>\n

The biggest thing was a promotion into a new position that had never existed within my organization, and it was being created under the CEO\/founder. That combination of things was a lot to navigate, which is why I requested a coach.<\/p>\n

I was trying to create a support net in case I stumbled, but I also wanted to advance my career and my work for this nonprofit that I truly believe in.<\/p>\n

I wanted someone who could help me develop as a leader, and I knew that it had to come through an external guide, someone with experience who could help me navigate this new role. I could not think of another approach other than an executive coach.<\/p>\n

Tell us about your coaching engagement with Cathy.
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

From the first time I met Cathy, I felt so comfortable with her, and throughout the year and a half I worked with her, our relationship continued to evolve and deepen. Cathy brought to our conversations a willingness to meet me where I was and build me up at a time when I was stretching and learning my new role.<\/p>\n

I had to feel comfortable. I was investing a lot of my time, and my organization was investing money, which is a valuable resource for a nonprofit. For my coaching engagement to succeed, I had to commit to being vulnerable and doing the work. I didn\u2019t want to waste my time, or my organization\u2019s time and resources.<\/p>\n

Did you have any specific goals you wanted to achieve with your coach?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I needed help finding ways to draw out of my boss those things he knew intuitively from running the organization over the past 20 years, which would guide me in this new role.<\/p>\n

And there were also internal politics with some C-suite members who had been in their positions longer and were accustomed to partnering with the CEO, but now, in addition, had to partner with me in a new way. It was a big shift for everyone.<\/p>\n

Were there any specific exercises or questions that you found to be particularly useful?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cathy would always begin a session by asking, \u201cWhat do you want to get out of today?\u201d and at the end she\u2019d say, \u201cOkay, did you get what you needed out of today or do you need more?\u201d And that\u2019s where she would follow up with a resource or tool for me to use throughout the time between our sessions.<\/p>\n

I like to have knowledge or access to it. Cathy picked up on that and was always giving me resources. She even encouraged me to take an article and read it together with my boss and talk about it. When I would describe that conversation to Cathy, she\u2019d challenge some of my own biases and insecurities that got in the way or colored my perspective about the feedback I was receiving.<\/p>\n

What has changed in your life because of coaching?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCathy gave me a lot of useful tools on how to navigate within these situations, without compromising my leadership.\u201d<\/h3>\n

Some of the most helpful coaching conversations came when I was struggling with team members. \u00a0In this new position, I am not only a chief, but also managing chiefs who are sometimes older than I am. Cathy\u2019s coaching really helped me manage at a new level.<\/p>\n

Cathy gave me a lot of useful tools on how to navigate within these situations, without compromising my leadership. This also translated into my personal life at home. My partner and I often have different approaches to solving problems when they come up.\u00a0 Cathy\u2019s guidance and strategies to meet people where they are were useful in my personal relationship, which led me to relate to him in a different way, helping us to solve challenges together.<\/p>\n

Have other people noticed a change?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDoing my coaching work, long-term, has helped to create space for other people, which allows them to respond to me differently. My relationships in the workplace have shifted.\u201d<\/h3>\n

There are definitely people that I work with that I\u2019m closer to now, we are more vulnerable with each other and willing to give honest face-to-face feedback. They will often comment, \u201cI really noticed you working on this\u201d or \u201cI appreciate your intentionality around that.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s more difficult relationships where we were at odds, and now we\u2019re working collaboratively. Now they will say, \u201cYou know what, let me talk to Tia. We\u2019re going to work that out.\u201d I was grateful others were willing to meet me where I was in my journey and development during this time.<\/p>\n

I think that doing my coaching work, long-term, has helped to create space for other people, which allows them to respond to me differently. My relationships in the workplace have shifted.<\/p>\n

What would you say to someone who\u2019s considering working with a coach?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

You should know going in that there\u2019s a lot of work involved. Are you willing to make the investment not only with your time, but also with your vulnerability? A coach is not a magic wand. They\u2019re not going to be like, \u201cTa da, you\u2019re successful.\u201d If you\u2019re going to be successful, that\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

Instead, they\u2019re more like a guide that has gone down this path before and can let you know, \u201cHey, you know what? There is light at the end of this tunnel. I know how to get there, and I\u2019m going to help you. But you\u2019ve got to walk alongside. I\u2019m not going to carry you up the hill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Want to learn more about coaching?\u00a0Sign up now<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ready to #ExperienceCoaching for yourself?\u00a0Find a qualified ICF Coach.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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