EXECUTIVE TEAM COACHING

The Influence of Executive Teams

An Executive Team is a group of leaders at the top of an organization, each bearing ultimate responsibility for the optimal functioning of (a part of) the organization. The actions of the members of this group impact many, if not all, people (teams) within the organization and influence the organization’s overall performance and success. The more effective the team, the better the results.

Pitfalls

What often hinders the effectiveness of executive teams are the pitfalls that seem to arise time and again, such as:

1. Operating from an ivory tower helps maintain a helicopter view but also creates moral detachment.
2. Leadership teams often work under high pressure, leaving little time for reflection.
3. Integrity is usually high on the agenda but frequently comes under pressure and cannot be taken for granted.
4. The executive team often consists of strong, highly ambitious personalities who think quickly and may also judge (too) quickly.
5. There is often a strong focus on content (which is also important), but this can lead to less attention to processes and internal relationships.
6. Sometimes, the temptations of power become too great, making it harder to share authority.
7. A shared mission and vision is essential, but it is sometimes not clearly defined or receives too little attention.

The key to success

The key to the success of leadership teams lies in the level of synergy within the team. How well do team members leverage each other’s strengths, or in other words, to what extent do they complement one another? Consider asking the following questions about your own team:

1. How strong is the mutual trust within the team?
2. How much room for discussion is there?
3. How engaged are team members with one another?
4. How is personal accountability handled?
5. Do you (and your team members) prioritize individual results or the team’s overall success?

The answers to these questions will likely indicate that there is still room to enhance synergy within your team.

The impact of Executive Team Coaching

Team coaching is fundamentally different from individual coaching. In team coaching, the focus is on increasing synergy within the team to significantly enhance its overall effectiveness.

Due to the dynamics of complexity, responsibility, power, and the necessity (or not) of being in the spotlight, leadership teams often face both major and minor issues. These issues can hinder the effectiveness of the entire team. Through coaching the group as a whole, these challenges are brought to light and addressed both individually and collectively to remove obstacles to success.

At Executive Coaching Nederland, we provide tailor-made Executive Team Coaching, though most organizations opt for a comprehensive Leadership Synergy program.

The Leadership Synergy program

An 8-12 month program designed to deliver measurable and demonstrable improvements in results. The program consists of six steps.

1. One on one assessment
   The program starts with an individual assessment using the Work of Leaders profile, which approaches leadership from a one-to-many relationship rather than the one-on-one perspective that a management profile typically considers. Using the Vision, Alignment, and Execution framework, the focus is on tangible steps to guide individuals, groups, or organizations toward their Objective Key Results.
2. Executive coaching
   Individual coaching is a standard part of the Leadership Synergy program, typically consisting of an average of three sessions per team member.
3. Group Leaders & Culture meeting
   During a group session, the team collectively evaluates:
   – The current culture and associated challenges.
   – Current Leadership Strengths & Challenges within the management team.
4. One on one Anonymous Five Behaviours Assessment
   The ultimate goal of the program is to create a cohesive team. Through an anonymous assessment, the team works on:
   – Building mutual trust.
   – Developing the ability to engage in healthy conflict.
   – Increasing commitment.
   – Fostering accountability and learning to hold each other responsible.
   – Focusing on achieving agreed-upon results.
   Ultimately, team members will prioritize collective outcomes as their highest goal.
5. The Five Behaviours meetings
   Over three separate days, insights into the team’s performance across the five key culture elements—Trust, Conflict, Commitment, Accountability, and Results—are shared, followed by the development of concrete action plans.
6. Progress
   The strength of working with The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team by Lencioni lies in the measurable progress across all five areas. If, by the end of the program, any areas still score “Low” or “Medium”, an additional deep-dive session will be conducted to address them further.

An Executive Team Development Program is offered in a step-by-step format. After each phase, an evaluation takes place to determine whether to proceed further. The full program typically lasts 8-12 months.

Would your team like to work on breaking limiting patterns within the group? Book a Strategic Brainstorm Session with one of our Executive Team Coaches. The fee for a two-hour Strategic Brainstorm Session is €495 (excluding VAT and travel costs). The invoice will only be sent if you genuinely feel that the team coach has provided value.

Or would you first like to learn more about an Executive Team Coaching program?