Jim was promoted to head the Research & Development area for a global consumer products company. A well-respected technical expert, Jim is now responsible for ensuring that all new products are safe to go to market and that all risk has been eliminated. During meetings with other senior managers and members of the board, Jim found that his peers and superiors often talked over him and did not listen to his opinions and concerns.

Frustrated that he was not being viewed as the innovative leader he perceived himself to be, Jim started working with me, an executive coach with expertise in effective communication and leadership.

Using a 360º Feedback Survey, I interviewed Jim’s superiors, peers, Human Resources representatives and his direct reports to find out what they perceived his communication and leadership style to be.

We discovered others perceived Jim to speak more softly and to almost become invisible when speaking with peers and superiors — especially when his opinion disagreed with theirs. His voice also trailed off as if he, himself, wasn’t interested in hearing what he had to say.

Using this feedback and Jim’s own assessment of what he needed help with, I helped Jim put together a Personal Development Plan, which included:

1. Developing an interpersonal communication style that inspired confidence in his ideas and decisions.
2. Creating a professional image that allowed Jim’s peers and superiors to view him as an innovative leader.

Each coaching session, Jim and I reviewed what happened in his most recent meetings and Jim strategized and often role-played how he would handle upcoming meetings. Through a combination of skill development and a change in his behavior and perspective, Jim created an image of himself as an effective leader and valuable member of the executive team. He also learned to communicate with confidence and actively listen to others. By the end of our six months together, many of Jim’s ideas that had previously gone unnoticed were being considered for implementation.

Clients Who Found Their Executive Styles

Each of the following “sample” clients represents a combination of several of my actual clients and the challenges they have faced. Click each to read their case study.