Why I do not coach groups!

In a recent coaching session, a client asked ‘Nick, why don’t you take your work and coach large groups, I get so much from your coaching?’

A wonderful complement and whilst it was very kind of her to say such a thing it took me a by surprise! 

For context I had been coaching her one-on-one for around 10 months and we are coming to the end of our 12 month CEO engagement – she has asked how we can carry on our coaching work together when the engagement comes to an end. Her business is a mid-size Australian business, she has around 75 staff and since we started has grown her market share and above all her leadership approch. Acquisition is on the table for her and her leadership team and she will be blending into her culture a couple of similar sized companies over the next 18 months. 

This lady is going global and I am thrilled to be sitting alongside her. As I said to her I think I’ve learnt more from her than she has from me 🙂

A bit of a back story.

In 2016 I sold my shares in a business that I owned to establish Roud Career Coaching. 5 years on I am so proud to do what I do, ‘coach exceptional leaders be better’. We are into our 30 year plan and my mission is to leave a positive dent on our planet. 

Who knew then that as we opened Roud Career Coaching on 1st September 2016 that today 2nd Aug 2021 less than 5 years from opening our global office aka “the 20ft shipping container’ that we would have personally coached over 783 professionals in their leadership and careers, and without seeking been awarded a number of global awards. To top off our first 5 years we will release our first book later this year…….here we go!! 

 

At a young age my dad said to me –  life is not a dress rehearsal make the most of it.

Dad I am 🙂

 

I am hugely grateful and personally honoured to be ‘in-trusted’ by those who seek an external coach. There are so many options out there, free online tools, videos, courses, programs but you chose to work with me thank you.

Over 90% of our business comes from word of mouth – this is huge and when someone recommends me the enormous pressure takes on new levels. I hate to let people down. 100% of clients who engage with me for 6 months or more improve as a leader.

Discovering Me!

In 2016 I needed and wanted to understand me……….this is still a work in progress. What are my values, what is my purpose, what am I good at, what should I be aware of, how might I be perceived by others?

One of the leadership assessments that I now use in my coaching work with CEO’s, Senior Executives and future leaders involves working out what leadership traits you are mature in and not so mature in. One of my core leadership traits is that of a ‘helper’ in fact the results point to a very mature!

If you are not familiar these are the global award winning leadership assessments I use in our coaching work. Once completed and debriefed a lot of things started to make sense for me. A plan could then be created!!

In our 2nd year of coaching I was approached by a large listed global business to visit them and talk to 12 General Managers on Leadership! After a lengthy conversation with the Global VP of HR my decision to say No was possible one of the very real ‘lightbulb’ moments for me as an executive coach. Here were some of the things I wrote in my journal book……..

• It is not my strength

• It is not who I am

• It is not how I enjoy coaching

• It doesn’t work for me

Here’s a bit more context,

• I’m a proud introverted dyslexic human, blessed with the ability to see things differently, that’s right I see things differently.

• I love the rhythm of one-on-one coaching, there is no hiding place

• Our conversation flow two ways (we will sometimes agree to disagree)

• I am at my best in a one-one-one environment.

• I am at my worst in a group environment,

  • I seek no limelight other than you my client to be the absolute very best that you must be.

  • I want nothing more than to stand in your shadows and hold the light for you to see. This is my happy place!

What do clients feel about one-on-one coaching with me (there words)?

 

●      Intermit 

●      Be myself not my title

●      Get time to develop myself 

●      No pressure to carry my position into coaching sessions

●      Genuine 

●      Adapt to my needs (in the moment)

●      Partnership

●      Empowering

●      Understand who I am

●      Non-Judgement personal advice

●      Passion for me to succeed 

●      A rock / gets results

●      Courage to be me

●      Promote self-reflection that is not allowed to be hidden

●      Growth 

Whilst some might disagree with me that you can get this from group coaching it’s not how I chose to coach. We each have our ‘superpowers’.

No two individuals are the same, we live in a local ‘global’ village. We all have different views, styles and thoughts. There is no right or wrong way to coach. Just like there is no right or wrong way to hold a pen.

Coaching with me get results for you in a language, style and approach that is relatable to you.

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About Nick Roud

• Awarded Most Outstanding Executive Coaching Consultancy – New Zealand at the 2021 Global Business Awards

• Awarded Best Executive Coaching Consultancy – New Zealand at the 2020 Asia Pacific Business Awards

above all a proud dad to Louie & Willow, husband and partner to Nicola and very comfortable being me xx