Leading digital transformation
"Working with my coach, John Drysdale, was a powerful turning point in my development, as a leader. He raised my awareness of my strengths, weaknesses and my impact on others. He then helped me develop skills to create an environment for people to be at their best and meet the challenges we faced."
CEO, Global Digital Publication
The Challenge
My client was the CEO of the digital version of a highly prestigious business publication. He personally held editorial and P&L responsibility for the digital version. Print circulation was 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. The meant winning hearts and minds in an organisation with a proud heritage and global reputation.
Our Focus
A programme of leadership coaching. The priority was engaging and aligning team members to deliver changes in technology, people and processes to bring the digital vision to fruition. Major shifts in culture were needed. My client’s approach had been creating high levels of tension and resistance. I 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 surpassed print, achieving rapid market beating growth. The way my client led the business through this change, facilitated greater collaboration across departments and created the conditions for integrating the print and digital businesses. This in turn led to greater reader satisfaction and profitability.