Leading growth
"I matured as a leader during the time that I worked with my coach, John Drysdale.. Colleagues commented they experienced me as a lot more measured in my approach to planning and strategy as well as in my relationships with my team without losing any of the decisiveness critical to success in this environment."
SVP, EMEA, PE backed, Software Company
The Challenge
Our client had recently joined a PE-backed global software company as SVP for EMEA. His previous role had been Sales Director and he now had general management responsibility within a matrix for the full range of business functions. Revenue growth was already in excess of 50% per annum and targets were accelerating as the company prepared for IPO. The challenge was to lead a business that was growing in scale and complexity whilst sustaining high standards of customer satisfaction and employee engagement.
Our Focus
A programme of leadership coaching. We surveyed colleagues and used the Hogan Suite of Assessments to raise awareness of his strengths, motivators and potential derailers. Our client was highly driven and we focused on developing a more flexible approach to effectively lead a more diverse team within a matrix. Having identified how he needed to lead differently, the challenge was to sustain the right approach whilst under pressure to deliver high performance. Mindfulness techniques helped him raise his awareness of how specific challenges were impacting him and how best to respond. Our client’s manager was engaged in the programme and as it was a very fast moving environment, we did three-way reviews every three months.
Outcomes
A leader who became more aware of his impact and whose inner confidence grew as he recognised how he created the conditions for others to succeed.
Grew the EMEA organisation from 25 people to 300. Sustained YOY revenue growth in excess of 60%. contributing to the foundations for a highly successful IPO with valuations that greatly exceeded expectations.
He developed leadership capability to build a culture that attracted and retained the talent to expand the business across the region, whilst delivering exceptional customer service.
When we took 360 feedback on completion of the assignment, employees commented favourably on increased involvement in decision making, career development and feeling able to challenge upwards.