He Left His Comfort Zone...The Payoff Was, WOW!
Nine months ago, Tim came to me seeking career clarity and help to develop greater self-confidence. On his own, he had risen to the level of Senior Director but he couldn’t quite figure out how to crack into the “C” Suite.
Tim didn’t know for sure that he belonged in any company’s “C” Suite. After reviewing his unique personal Strengths and his Emotional Intelligence scores, there was no doubt in my mind that he belonged in some company’s “C” Suite.
Tim’s Resume and LinkedIn Profile needed work when we first met, but the bigger challenge was his mindset. By reviewing his Strengths report and his Emotional Intelligence scores, I instantly knew that he had what it takes to not just get to the “C” Suite but he had what it takes to perform at a high-level in the “C” Suite.
Tim possessed Strengths that many technology leaders do not possess and his Emotional Intelligence scores placed him in the realm of a benchmark I work from that represents 250 successful “C” Suite executives.
We worked together in a coaching relationship for 9 months to develop his unique Strengths and to fine-tune and polish his Emotional Intelligence. Tim’s new Resume and LinkedIn strategies generated many “C” Suite interviews with companies that didn’t know precisely what it was that they were seeking.
He interviewed with a company that had fired a previous technology leader who had poor business and people skills. Because Tim knew how to articulate his skills and accomplishments, but more importantly, he knew how to speak from a position of confidence about his unique personal Strengths and his higher than normal Emotional Intelligence, it didn’t take long for a healthy job offer to surface. The offer was significantly higher than his most recent compensation and Tim was convinced that he was being paid for bringing exceptional people skills, soft skills and business skills to the table.
What did Tim do that most people don’t do in order to achieve a result that most people don’t achieve? He stepped out of his own way, out of his comfort zone, in order to get help from someone who specializes in helping high-performing human beings to create their best performance and to excel.
He invested in himself and he took action that most people don’t take. He’s no longer a Senior Director. He’s now a well-compensated, self-confident “C” Suite executive.
Jeff Snyder Coaching for High Performers, 719.686.8810
The Limitations of an Executive Leadership Coach
Coaches who are gifted and talented to deliver the services they deliver can help their clients to take quantum leaps forward.
However, even the world’s most gifted coaches have a limitation 100% of the time. Dr. Marshall Goldsmith who wrote the book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” is one of my mentors. On more than one occasion, I have heard Dr. Goldsmith suggest that unless someone wants to change and is willing to do what is required to change, there is no coach in the world that can make that person change.
Dr. Goldsmith’s advice when a coach meets someone who isn’t willing to get out of their own way to face change is to walk away and to walk away quickly. If someone doesn’t see their need to change or they see the need but they don’t want to devote energy and efforts towards making change occur in their life, they are not coachable.
I always ask prospective new clients if they are teachable and coachable and then listen very carefully to their response. If they’re not teachable and coachable, it doesn’t matter how large my results pile is, this person will not achieve the same results as my previous clients.
A while back, I received a call from someone who found me on LinkedIn. His introductory statement was a question.
“Am I correct to believe that you do both recruiting and coaching? Please understand that I am not interested in any of the coaching services you offer that come with a fee attached.”
As I sat at my desk looking at this individual’s average resume, I had to bite my tongue and I remembered the advice from Dr. Goldsmith. I was deeply challenged to not say a word when I already knew what the caller’s new resume could look like and I knew how much more effective his new resume would be in opening interview doors if he would simply trust me to guide him.
If you ever consider the idea of working with a coach, first ask yourself if you are ready to do what it takes to achieve positive change. If you are not, there is no reason to invest your hard earned money with a coach.
If on the other hand, you're ready to move forward and you're just not sure what that means and you're ready to be teachable and coachable, the right coach can help you to take quantam leaps forward that you might not have been able to achieve on your own.
Jeff Snyder’s, Jeff Snyder Coaching Blog, 719.686.8810
She's Rare, She's Valuable, and she has Unlimited Potential!
While reading an article in the New York Times, I ran across a sentence in the article that grabbed my attention.
“In a capitalist economy, the market rewards things that are rare and valuable.” CAL NEWPORT
Last week I was privileged to have coached four women who all work in the cyber security profession. They are all exceptional in their own ways.
One of the tools I use in my coaching practice is the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment. In less than an hour, this tool shows me exactly and precisely how each of my clients are uniquely built. Every time I review a new client’s StrengthsFinder results, I get to look at traits that are both rare and valuable.
WOW!
One client in particular whom I worked with last week has more than one trait in her top 5 Traits / Strengths that are both rare and valuable. When these traits are weaved together, she is a special person.
By the way, the Clifton StrengthsFinder is made up of 34 traits. Each term that describes a trait belongs to the Gallup Organization and is Trademarked. Traits near the top of one's Clifton StrengthsFinder report have the potential of being turned into Strengths. This is what Strengths Coaching is all about.
COMMAND
Command is my client's number 1 trait. Out of 34 traits that make up the Clifton StrengthsFinder, Command is the trait that comes in at number 34 in terms of how often it is found in the top 5 on a StrengthsFinder report.
The Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment has now been taken by more than 15,000,000 people around the globe.
- For men, Command shows up in the top 5, 3% of the time.
- For women, the Command trait shows up in the top 5, 2% of the time.
To say that my client who has Command at the top of her Strengths profile is an anomaly is an understatement. The reason I say that is that our traits / strengths do not work by themselves. They work with the other traits / strengths that surround them.
SELF-ASSURANCE
Also showing up in my client's top 5 traits is Self-Assurance.
- For men, Self-Assurance shows up in the top 5 traits / strengths 6% of the time.
- For women, Self-Assurance shows up in the top 5 traits / strengths 2% of the time.
Is my client starting to look like a rare and valuable contributor to you? She is!
COMPETITION
One more trait that shows up in my client’s top 5 traits / strengths is the Competition trait.
- For men, Competition shows up in the top 5 traits / strengths 16% of the time.
- For women, Competition in the top 5 traits / strengths is much more rare showing up only 2% of the time.
What does this picture tell me as a Strengths Coach? My client’s top traits / strengths are both rare and valuable. The client described above has huge up-side potential that is virtually limitless.
The company that hires this naturally gifted leader will see multiples on their return on investment.
Jeff Snyder Coaching, Strengths Coaching, 719.686.8810