Sample Situations

By: Coaching Coordinator

June 21, 2008

Here are three sample scenarios, based on real life people with different names of course.

Here is Jane’s story.

Lala is not as stressed but is every bit as concerned about how to manage her team’s performance. Here is her story.

Our company has been very successful.
Largely because of working so hard to take care of our clients.
I’m proud of that.
But lately things have been falling through the cracks.
There is much more work to do.
I’m worried we are losing our “touch”.
We have a great future if we can just do the right stuff.
But – I’m all over the place.
If I’m all over the place, I’m sure they are too.
I feel out of balance and out of control.
I wish I had more confidence.
I need someone to help me get focused on the right things, so I can help them do the same.

And here is Molly.

I like being in charge.
I ask my staff members for input on many things.
But sometimes it isn’t appropriate to do that.
Like when I need to sort through priorities, resolve a staff issue, brainstorm an idea that I’m not ready to share with people “inside”…the list goes on and on.
I could ask a friend or family member – or an investor. But…
I need an objective sounding board.
It could help me push through issues more confidently.
That would give me energy and confidence.
And if I found the right person, it could be a lot of fun!

And then there is Ashley.

The economy has hit us hard.
I tried not to but ended up having to reduce staff.
I absorbed much of the extra work.
It’s hard to give the same care I gave to everyone (clients and staff) before.
I feel out of balance and out of control.
When the economy does bounce back, I’m worried we won’t have the capacity.
I worry a lot.
I wish I had a plan or something that would give me more confidence that I’m doing the right stuff.

Each of these leaders:

loves her work (or did at one time)
has an exciting vision for the future
wants to work hard and enjoy herself
wants to grow personally and professionally
wants to help her team do the same
wants to help each individual on her team make his or her goals
believes (or is at least currently intrigued by the idea) that her staff members are her most important customers
wants a positive work environment with high productivity and morale
wants to achieve more than the status quo
realizes that she needs greater balance, control and confidence as a manager in order to make this happen

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