Leading digital transformation
"Working with my coach, John Drysdale, was a powerful turning point in my development as a leader. He raised my own awareness of my strengths, weaknesses, values, preferences and the impact I have on others. He then helped me develop the skills to create an environment that enabled people to be at their best and meet the challenges we faced as a business."
CEO, Global Digital Publication
The Challenge
Our client was the CEO of the digital version of a highly prestigious specialist global publication. He personally held editorial and P&L responsibility for the digital version of the publication. Digital subscriptions and print circulation were falling whilst on line readership of rival publications was growing. The CEO needed to build commitment across the organisation to his vision for a successful digital publication. This required winning hearts and minds in an organisation with a proud heritage and global reputation.
Our focus
A programme of Leadership Coaching. The priority was on engaging and aligning team members to deliver the changes in technology, people and processes to bring the digital vision to fruition. Major shifts in culture were required. Our client’s approach had been creating high levels of tension and encountering resistance from colleagues. We coached him to develop strategic influencing skills and put less emphasis on winning the intellectual argument. He learned to accept the need to take time to engage colleagues rather than pushing ahead in frustration and generating more resistance.
Outcomes
Following our programme the performance of the Digital business was turned around. In the following two years digital subscriptions had passed print, achieving rapid above-market growth. The leadership provided by our client facilitated greater collaboration across departments and created the conditions for integrating the print and digital businesses. This in turn led to increased reader satisfaction and profitability.