Managers who coach and lead – Mo

by | Jan 18, 2021 | Questions |

coaching

This week I’m trying something different. There will be a series of guest blogposts every other day from a good friend doing amazing work. I met Mo through Seth Godin’s Akimbo workshops – two aid workers in marketing workshops. Odd, but also instant connection. We’ve never met in person, but every time we talk I’m left pondering for over a week. Today is Mo.

Managers in the social impact sector are overworked, under high degrees of stress and pressure to achieve results, and have to keep thinking about how to make sure projects show evidence of change and value for money.

This isn’t easy, as often we are expected to do more, and to reach more people, with less funding.

It may lead, perhaps, to a more evaluative form of management and feedback, and probably to an aversion to risking trying new ideas. It’s hard.

But what if in 2021 we focused more on people than results?

What if we focused on coaching our teams in the true form of coaching? Not career coaching, but coaching to help them take the lead and facilitate the teams’ ideas – truly listening to what they have to say.

It may take longer – at first – to give them this time and support – but the rewards and possibilities will be worth it.

  • What went well?
  • What was a challenge for you?
  • What else? (My favourite question)
  • What does success look like? (Future focused)
  • What does support look like? (Future focused)

Mo is one of the hosts of The Innovation, which helps people grow their mindset to make change happen. He also facilitates two workshops called Unleashing your inner leader and Anti-racism essentials.

Photo by Drew Beamer

2 Comments

  1. Steve g

    So, prove a development approach by practicing it with staff??

    Reply
  2. Orsdia

    Great article. Thank you for taking your time and sharing!

    Reply

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