Coaching for promotion

I have been coaching David for a few months now. David wanted coaching on leadership skills. He realised that his line manager will be retiring in the next 2-3 years. He would like to apply for that position and be promoted. His line manager was very good at his job and David wanted to be as successful as his boss was. However, he was anxious and fearful of the day his line manager would be leaving because how was he going to step into such big shoes? Additionally, he would also need to lead a team as successfully. How was he going to do this? How can he go about securing that promotion? It seemed almost impossible to him that he was capable to get the job as David also realised he needed to be good in that job and this terrified him.

What David did not realise that this way of thinking was keeping him stuck. He was unable to think clearly about how he could move forward. The fear and anxiety was stopping him getting the experience or knowledge to be a contender for the role.

Through coaching, what he came to realise is that he is NOT his line manager. He is not analytical or focussed on detail. David likes to look at “the bigger picture” and was not happy with hierarchy in the department. He had to be a “detail” person and lead “from the front”. These thoughts were making him sad AND anxious.

David had a realisation

We discussed the concept of Authentic Leadership – Leadership Training from MindTools.com. This blew his mind! He suddenly realised there was a different way to lead. His way of leading! David’s style of leadership is valuable as in some ways, his style is better than the great work his current line manager was doing already. With his eyes opened, he began to think about what HIS strengths were. With his mind opened he began to think about what he wanted to achieve. With his heart opened he considered how he was going to lead his team. For the first time he was excited about his style of leadership and the future ahead.

Once he had this realisation, all his fears melted away and he became confident and more laser focussed on what the next steps would be for him. David began to look at courses and CPD that aligned with the leader he wanted to become. He wanted to learn more about himself, his values and his leadership style. It became very clear what he needed to do to secure that promotion and he is now resolute that when his line manager retires he will be in a strong position.

If he does not get the promotion..

David’s thinking has now gone further and say he does not get that job? He is now confident enough to believe that he can always look for another position. Securing the promotion he desperately wants is very much in his control as he is looking to the future with confidence and a calm he did not have before.

Do you feel stuck and anxious like David and are unsure of next steps? Do you feel stuck and not sure how you are going to secure your next promotion? Come and have a chat with me and let me show you how I can help you at The Professionals Coach