Power of Coaching – A Personal Reflective Journey
I would like to share my personal reflective journey to date, from the beginning. I was invited to attend the MOR Advanced Leadership Program by my CIO at the beginning of the summer. As one of the newest members of the OIT management/leadership team I immediately had two scenarios go through my mind.
- I haven’t been doing a good job and should accept this opportunity to better my leadership skills.
- I am actually being considered as part of the future Rutgers IT leadership team.
Either way, I immediately responded with my grateful intention to participate in the program. I spent the next few weeks very nervous as group 4 began to plan for their project. Should I reach out to the group first, what should I expect, how am I going to accomplish these expectations and continue to balance my duties at work.? We got off to a good start and everything seemed to progress as expected. These individuals seemed to be very inviting and easy to converse with, maybe this won’t be as bad as I had anticipated. We held a weekly conference call discussing our presentation culminating with the final reading of our Steve Jobs script and said that we would see everyone Monday in St. Louis.
We arrive in St. Louis and gather before dinner, one last read through and the first face-to-face meeting. We get together, introductions go well, the reading goes well, everything is going well. Brian gathers us into a circle and I am standing next to Mike Sullivan, Brian introduces the program and himself, Gary does the same and then Mike. It is apparent to me at this time that I am either up first or last, that’s all I can think about. What were the odds that this was going to happen? I can’t believe this, I proceed to stumble over my introduction and the leadership program begins.
Tuesday morning, what do I wear? Does it really matter? I guess it does as I changed before proceeding down to the lobby, did I make the right choice? Why do I worry so much about what other people are thinking as if they can see into my head and are aware of the uncertainty that I am experiencing.
First Impressions: I profess that I don’t know what I expect to get out of the program, my intention is to jump in the deep end and then I explain what I expected to get out of the program. Off to the table to discuss the first impressions exercise. Who is sitting at my table? Yes, you guessed it, Brian McDonald who immediately calls me out about my half assed introduction. That is when Edie expressed that she felt I was approachable, and was interested in what I had to say but why don’t I smile. So Bill and smiling become one for the next three days.
Over the course of the next few days it felt like every topic introduced I was doing the opposite. Yes I check email constantly, I was proud of the fact that I was very responsive. I felt that was part of what enhanced my customer service skills. Wrong, Brian would like to kill the person who invented email. In fact here is a book that was published on the subject. Leading, managing and doing. You don’t even have to ask, I was doing, doing and more doing. New topic same result. I did learn to listen, I learned so much from listening to cohort responses throughout our exercises and I am very grateful for meeting everyone associated with this program.
Back to New Jersey and now it is time to implement what you have learned. It started off pretty well and then seemed to be very difficult to stay on track I share this with the group in case anyone else has experienced applying this program as somewhat of a struggle. It wasn’t until my executive coaching session with Mike that he pointed out that things are not as bad as they might seem. Sounds like your actually doing quite well. The power of coaching!
I did discuss my 360 with my direct reports, which brought about some dynamic discussions. I have received unsolicited feedback following meetings that I should continue to be myself and pursue my strategic visions. I am very cognizant of the tools that have been provided and utilize them while in meetings and coaching staff. My favorite tool is what can I live with I use this over and over. It really helps me move forward in a positive non-confrontational way. I am coaching a direct report whose responsibilities have changed since I joined the organization which was one of my least favorite parts of the job. Using the coaching methods taught in St. Louis it has been going surprisingly well and is quite enjoyable. I questioned that I seem to spend a great deal of time with lower level staff and asked Mike if this was normal. Shouldn’t I be meeting with my peers and planning the future of IT at Rutgers. Mike reiterated that it is necessary to not only lead up but also to lead down. It is our job as leaders to understand the needs of the organization and fulfill those needs.
Bill Lansbury
Rutgers University
- December 2024 (1)
- November 2024 (4)
- October 2024 (5)
- September 2024 (4)
- August 2024 (4)
- July 2024 (5)
- June 2024 (4)
- May 2024 (4)
- April 2024 (5)
- March 2024 (4)
- February 2024 (4)
- January 2024 (5)
- December 2023 (3)
- November 2023 (4)
- October 2023 (5)
- September 2023 (4)
- August 2023 (4)
- July 2023 (4)
- June 2023 (4)
- May 2023 (5)
- April 2023 (4)
- March 2023 (1)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (3)
- November 2022 (5)
- October 2022 (4)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (5)
- July 2022 (4)
- June 2022 (4)
- May 2022 (5)
- April 2022 (4)
- March 2022 (5)
- February 2022 (4)
- January 2022 (4)
- December 2021 (3)
- November 2021 (4)
- October 2021 (3)
- September 2021 (4)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (4)
- June 2021 (5)
- May 2021 (4)
- April 2021 (4)
- March 2021 (5)
- February 2021 (4)
- January 2021 (4)
- December 2020 (4)
- November 2020 (4)
- October 2020 (6)
- September 2020 (5)
- August 2020 (4)
- July 2020 (7)
- June 2020 (7)
- May 2020 (5)
- April 2020 (4)
- March 2020 (5)
- February 2020 (4)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (2)
- November 2019 (4)
- October 2019 (4)
- September 2019 (3)
- August 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (2)
- June 2019 (4)
- May 2019 (3)
- April 2019 (5)
- March 2019 (4)
- February 2019 (3)
- January 2019 (5)
- December 2018 (2)
- November 2018 (4)
- October 2018 (5)
- September 2018 (3)
- August 2018 (3)
- July 2018 (4)
- June 2018 (4)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (4)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (5)
- January 2018 (3)
- December 2017 (3)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (5)
- September 2017 (3)
- August 2017 (5)
- July 2017 (3)
- June 2017 (8)
- May 2017 (5)
- April 2017 (4)
- March 2017 (4)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (4)
- December 2016 (2)
- November 2016 (7)
- October 2016 (5)
- September 2016 (8)
- August 2016 (5)
- July 2016 (4)
- June 2016 (12)
- May 2016 (5)
- April 2016 (4)
- March 2016 (7)
- February 2016 (4)
- January 2016 (10)
- December 2015 (4)
- November 2015 (6)
- October 2015 (4)
- September 2015 (7)
- August 2015 (5)
- July 2015 (6)
- June 2015 (12)
- May 2015 (4)
- April 2015 (6)
- March 2015 (10)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (4)
- December 2014 (3)
- November 2014 (5)
- October 2014 (4)
- September 2014 (6)
- August 2014 (4)
- July 2014 (4)
- June 2014 (4)
- May 2014 (5)
- April 2014 (5)
- March 2014 (5)
- February 2014 (4)
- January 2014 (5)
- December 2013 (5)
- November 2013 (5)
- October 2013 (10)
- September 2013 (4)
- August 2013 (5)
- July 2013 (8)
- June 2013 (6)
- May 2013 (4)
- April 2013 (5)
- March 2013 (4)
- February 2013 (4)
- January 2013 (5)
- December 2012 (3)
- November 2012 (4)
- October 2012 (5)
- September 2012 (4)
- August 2012 (4)
- July 2012 (5)
- June 2012 (4)
- May 2012 (5)
- April 2012 (4)
- March 2012 (4)
- February 2012 (4)
- January 2012 (4)
- December 2011 (3)
- November 2011 (5)
- October 2011 (4)
- September 2011 (4)
- August 2011 (4)
- July 2011 (4)
- June 2011 (5)
- May 2011 (5)
- April 2011 (3)
- March 2011 (4)
- February 2011 (4)
- January 2011 (4)
- December 2010 (3)
- November 2010 (4)
- October 2010 (4)
- September 2010 (3)
- August 2010 (5)
- July 2010 (4)
- June 2010 (5)
- May 2010 (4)
- April 2010 (3)
- March 2010 (2)
- February 2010 (4)
- January 2010 (4)
- December 2009 (4)
- November 2009 (4)
- October 2009 (4)
- September 2009 (4)
- August 2009 (3)
- July 2009 (3)
- June 2009 (3)
- May 2009 (4)
- April 2009 (4)
- March 2009 (2)
- February 2009 (3)
- January 2009 (3)
- December 2008 (3)
- November 2008 (3)
- October 2008 (3)
- August 2008 (3)
- July 2008 (4)
- May 2008 (2)
- April 2008 (2)
- March 2008 (2)
- February 2008 (1)
- January 2008 (1)
- December 2007 (3)
- November 2007 (3)
- October 2007 (3)
- September 2007 (1)
- August 2007 (2)
- July 2007 (4)
- June 2007 (2)
- May 2007 (3)
- April 2007 (1)
- March 2007 (2)
- February 2007 (2)
- January 2007 (3)
- December 2006 (1)
- November 2006 (1)
- October 2006 (1)
- September 2006 (3)
- August 2006 (1)
- June 2006 (2)
- April 2006 (1)
- March 2006 (1)
- February 2006 (1)
- January 2006 (1)
- December 2005 (1)
- November 2005 (2)
- October 2005 (1)
- August 2005 (1)
- July 2005 (1)
- April 2005 (2)
- March 2005 (4)
- February 2005 (2)
- December 2004 (1)