Self as Coach, Self as Leader

Chapter 11 Self as Leader

Great leaders ponder the question of what they would like to leave behind as a legacy in life. How do we want to be remembered? I believe true leaders take the kinds of actions that will benefit the next generation.

—Manfred Kets de Vries

Self-Aware Leaders

“This work has changed how I am as a leader. For so long I thought I don’t have time for the ‘soft stuff,’ and now I realize this is actually the most important stuff that makes all of the hard stuff work.”

I will long remember these words from a senior physician leader in a large health-care system. These words were communicated following an intensive coach training program our organization led where we focused on coaching, going deeper, and examining the internal landscape of the leader. His eyes moistened as he shared the impact the training had for him. I had observed how present and engaged he was throughout the five-month learning journey, so I asked him if we could sit and talk a bit so I could learn more about how his leadership had changed. Like so many other leaders, he has a tough role in a large and ever-changing industry and the manner in which he leads, shows up, and manages himself impacts hundreds of people within his unit.

Much like the remarks of this dedicated physician leader, the leaders we work with, whether in a coaching engagement or a coach training experience, are seeking ways to be at their best as they navigate the daily challenges in their roles. In the end, the ...