An introduction to QuestUniquE’s True North template for Executive Coaching by Joseph D’Souza
20-Dec-2011The following is an extract of my contribution to a LinkedIn discussion group -The Executive Connection Leadership Community which posed the question:How do you align your team to deliver a truly "Joined-Up Strategy"?
These few thoughts are consciously in the context of Executive Coaching. I include in this category, Individual Corporate Professionals (self-funded or Corporate sponsored), Business Owners, and especially all People Managers. I also include all participants in my High Performing Teams programs.
An important declaration. I myself have been a corporate executive, and have successfully run three small businesses. This experience together with my passion for ‘working with the individual’ is key to commanding respect with my professional corporate clients.
As I say in my LinkedIn profile: I contend that there is no such thing as 'Business' or 'Organization' or 'Corporation'! There are only PEOPLE having meaningful CONVERSATIONS with each other. Whether it is manager to employee, professional to client, business to business - nothing eventuates without a conversation. Good conversations become better when relationships are respected and nurtured. Therefore tapping the individual's potential first, paves the way for valuing enhanced human being contribution.
It is for this reason, that after over ten years of coaching, I strongly note the benefits of commencing with what I now call QuestUniquE’s five key anchors for providing objective reference points:
1. Individual's VALUES (I tend to do this in person as part of a session)
2. Individual's STRENGTHS (I only use the Gallop Strength’s Finder)
3. Personality Preferences (Myers Briggs Step II) (I only use Step II)
4. Emotional Intelligence - Self and 360 (EQ360 is a must for all people managers)
5. Holistic context using The ROQUE Model as conversation starter. If you are interested, please try the ROQUE Model for yourself at www.questunique.com.au .
You may also wish to look at ROQUE for the professional user. http://www.questunique.com.au/roquefortheprofessionaluser.htm
Your Unique True North is the template which I offered to share and which I herewith attach. This is referenced at every coaching session to reflect how proposed actions or decisions fit or do not with the coachee. I also attach a real example of a completed True North template. You will note that the individual’s name is never displayed. This is because quite a few clients print and laminate the completed document and variously carry it around or have it on their desks or both! And ofcourse a copy of this is in every client file of mine for easy reference before, during and after coaching sessions.
And ofcourse there is a wealth of coaching tools available from multiple sources.
You will notice there is also a section for Passions in the True North template. This is because quite often (more than 80%!!!!!!!!!), what coachees bring up for discussions are re-actions to circumstance or external demand. The exercise with Passions digs deeper and we begin to discuss Dreams! Yes, even in the corporate world!
You may well have intuited that I am particular about definitions. So I also have another document about the definitions I use in the Executive Coaching environment. Feel free to email coach@questunique.com.au to request a copy.
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