Whether I’m working with a single executive or a leadership team, I tend to play two distinct roles as a coach: thinking partner and capacity builder.
CAPACITY-BUILDER
As a capacity-builder, I can help clients achieve significant, definable, and sustainable change in an area that really matters. I am among a small number of executive coaches in the US who are Integral Master Coaches™ certified through Integral Coaching Canada. More rigorous than most, this developmental approach to coaching:
- emerges from leading-edge research on human development
- provides a comprehensive understanding of the client and a precise, tailored approach to his/her/their development
- delivers tangible results through a structured and repeatable process
- weaves in all aspects of the client’s life for greater integration
Rather than the emergent nature of a series of conversations, capacity-building is more of a project-based approach to development. It is intentional, focused and structured. At the same time, we are in true partnership: clients’ aspirations form the goals and their lived experiences are the grist for learning. This powerful approach allows most of my long-term clients to make significant change that reaches beyond the workplace and “sticks” long past the coaching engagement.
The typical process consists of:
- in-depth client and stakeholder interviews, to surface strengths and areas for development
- a coaching “blueprint” that frames out the purpose, milestones and process for the coaching
- a focused and collaborative learning process that combines bi-weekly coaching sessions and between-session “practices”
THINKING PARTNER
When I am in the role of a thinking partner, the client tees up whatever situation or issue is top of mind on the day of our session. I help the client to surface his/her/their existing wisdom, explore other perspectives, tools, and responses, and identify a path forward.
The benefits of this role are its flexibility and the relatively low level of investment required from the coach, client and sponsor. It is most appropriate for clients who are looking for techniques to “tune up” their leadership. For clients looking for more significant and sustainable change, Capacity Building is the modality of choice.
LESLIE’S CLIENTS SAY . . .
“Leslie Williams is an exceptional coach. She combines her extensive expertise in Integral Coaching®, keen insight and deep intuition to consistently help leaders reach their goals and expand their capacity. As a leader and a coach, I have found her research on Grit and Grace to be personally transformative.”
“Leslie is an extraordinary coach and I highly recommend her. As a coach myself, I have seen a lot of coaching. And Leslie is at the top of my list! Thank you Leslie for contributing to my life and making a difference”