Recently, I had a coaching call with a client, an internal audit leader of a Fortune 500 Company. (We’ll call him George.) George’s performance was solid but his 360 results indicated a need for more strategic thinking and less time operating “in the weeds.”
George’s previous roles and background supported his habit and comfort with the details. However, as he took on additional leadership responsibilities, he knew he needed to shift his focus to a more big picture and strategic mindset.
George genuinely wanted to learn new skills, to grow in his role and to move up in the company, but he was struggling to make the shift.
Once we uncovered George’s beliefs (many of them false) about what kept him in the details, I asked George for a visual that would describe what it would feel like if he remained there.
“Like I’m lost in a jungle,” he said. “I want to get out. I need to get out. It would be great to get out. And the longer I stay here, the more it will negatively impact my career.” (Just let your mind wander about the long term dangers of being lost in a jungle.)
The Jungle. For George, it was a powerful visual.
So how could he get out? During our call, we worked to identify strategies or “tools” he could use to exit the jungle. A helicopter (his direct reports) and a machete (increased self-awareness to know when he was getting pulled in) were just two of the tools he identified.
Once his limiting beliefs were identified and strategies for action were developed, coaching then focused on building new habits and behaviors to keep him out of “the jungle.”
Fast forward to today. The visual of the jungle and the personal and professional dangers it held for George were strong enough to lead him out. With his awareness raised and his team solidly behind him, George is now more effective at operating at the strategic level that his role requires.
What about you? How often to you get stuck in The Jungle? Is there a good visual that describes a shift you need to make to take your performance to the next level?
To your success,
Mary
Great way to visualize the problem of getting lost in the details!...and getting out.
Posted by: Brannon Poe | May 02, 2012 at 08:27 AM