The Role of Coaching in Leadership Development

1 CoachingUPdate ISSUE. 27. SUMMMER. 2008. the issue: Article by: Do the Leadership Development Richard C. opportunities provided by most Huseman, organizations actually make leaders more effective? Richard Huseman is a con- sultant, executive coach and professional speaker. He The Role of Coaching In Leadership Development builds upon his years of For the last 30 years, much of my profes- techniques to transform you into a better university experience in sional life has been focused on Leadership leader when you return to your job. business schools (having Development .)

2 Early in my career, I developed When you complete the program, you are served as a professor, and directed a two-week Leadership program usually given a chance to offer your feedback department head and dean). for 15 years. As dean of a business school, on the program. The questions focus on how we crafted an Executive MBA program with a effective the speakers were, whether you major emphasis on Leadership . Also, Dick has authored 13 books liked the facility, and what you thought of the throughout the 30-year period, I served as a food. In fact, most of these program and written more than 100 faculty speaker at a number of Leadership evaluation forms are more focused on articles and professional Development programs at major universities evaluating the coordination of the program papers for journals and for throughout the United States and in several rather than whether you, as a leader, learned foreign countries.

3 National and international anything that might improve your skills once professional meetings. In My thinking evolved. All of this exposure to you are back on the job. Leadership Development has caused my addition, Dick draws on his What does this mean? Well, in my opinion, thinking about Leadership Development to years of experience as an it means that the speakers have an evolve. I now question whether the focus of opportunity to receive feedback on how they independent board director many of those programs was and continues can improve likewise, the program where he has served on audit to be appropriate.

4 It is now my belief that coordinators and even the cooks improve, if much of what passes for Leadership committees and chaired com- they take the feedback to heart. But, the Development today is a waste of time, or at pensation and human capital leader is still left without any real way to least, not the best use of a leader's time and evaluate whether or not the program helped committees. an organization's money. them grow in their roles. With traditional Let me explain. You are a leader (be it a Leadership training programs, you, as a Dick was the founding editor new supervisor, a mid-level manager or a leader, don't have the opportunity to get of the Corporate Knowledge senior-level executive).

5 You are tapped by feedback about whether the program actually your organization to attend a Leadership made you a better leader. While many Center at the University of Development training program. It could be a participating leaders may give lip service to Southern California and served how much they learned during a program, half-day, full-day, weekend or perhaps a two as Global Manager for Execu- week-long event. During the program, you there is never any real proof that this is true. tive Knowledge and Leadership are subjected to a parade of speakers (like me) who offer advice, guidance and Development for Mobil Oil.

6 What do leaders say is Coaching at Alegent Health most important to their Development ? I am a believer in Coaching for leader- ship Development . Prior to becoming Stretch assignments and anonymous CFO at Alegent, I worked with an executive coach (Dick Huseman). The direct feedback contribute far more to the Scott Wooten organization I was with prior to Alegent Chief Financial Officer growth and Development of leaders than Alegent Health Systems offered me an opportunity to work with Omaha, Nebraska most traditional Development methods. Dick as a coach and I accepted right away.

7 I wanted to play at the top of my game and figured if Tiger Woods and other world-class athletes use coaches, I. should, too. I don't know about you, but, to me, this doesn't seem to be a very effective approach to Leadership Development . After years of observing Leadership As part of my employment contract at Alegent, I negotiated to Development programs and talking to hundreds of successful leaders about what contributed to the Development of their Leadership skills, my thinking has continue my Coaching work with Dick as I took on the chal- evolved to this leaders grow and develop primarily through two major lenges of my new role as CFO.

8 After I had settled into the job sources: for a time, I came to realize that there were several other Stretch assignments, and leaders on my finance team who could really benefit from Coaching as part of their Leadership Development . Working By receiving honest, anonymous feedback on together, we came up with an agreement that would have Dick their Leadership from those they work with. and his team coach 30 of my finance team leaders over a six- month period. The Coaching sessions would help with each HOW LEADERS REALLY DEVELOP individual leader's Development and also grow the team across the board.

9 Stretch Assignments: A few years ago, I served as Global Manager for Executive Knowledge for Mobil Oil. In that role, I conducted a Leadership Development audit where I interviewed the top 30 leaders at Mobil. One of my My team's Development needs were so varied that traditional questions to them during the audit was, As you look back on your career, what Leadership Development programs wouldn't do the job. With contributed most to your Development as a leader? There were many Dick's Coaching , I knew that each leader was going to get what answers: he or she needed to be a stronger and more effective member My first assignment at world headquarters.

10 Of our Alegent Finance Team. The online survey and feedback that Dick and his team provided was invaluable, especially to a My first international assignment.. group of finance people who are really driven by data. The Heading up a major project to help turn-around a troubled division. Coaching wasn't just talk: it was a very focused approach to Almost all of the answers pointed to some type of stretch assignment. Stretch making all of us more effective at what we do as leaders with assignments are those challenging assignments a leader is offered that push our individual teams and with one another.