Why the Best Leaders Ask For Help In A Crisis

Even in the best of times, executives and senior managers sometimes need help with the pressures of leadership. In times of crisis, they face much greater challenges. How do you set a direction when the future is unclear? How can you ask for more from people who are already stretched thin, or ask people to bring their best when their job security isn’t even certain?

Throughout a crisis, I work closely with my clients around the world to help keep them grounded. My role as a coach is to help leaders be more effective so they and their teams can be more successful. Here are some of the reasons why even great leaders turn to coaches at time like this:

A coach helps you assess your state of mind. It’s important that leaders stay aware of their  physical, mental, emotional, and social state. They need to stay in top form as much as possible so they can make the tough decisions and model the behavior people expect of them. A coach helps leaders prioritize their own well-being and increase their effectiveness.

A coach brings clarity and perspective. Coaches are skilled at helping leaders manage their energy and focus. They also give leaders the benefit of an outside perspective and provide a confidential space to test new ideas so they can navigate tough decisions with clarity.

A coach is supportive and protective. Part of a leader’s charge is to be there for others, but they rarely have someone supporting and protecting them. Working with a coach gives them a trusted presence who can listen—not necessarily to provide a solution but to help them uncover their assumptions, ask smarter questions, and find solutions in unexpected places. Every leader needs an unbiased source of support.

A coach builds value and helps to drive results. Especially in tough times, working with a coach helps leaders make the most of their limited time and resources so they can focus on obtaining results. Strong leaders always want to get ahead of changing circumstances, and outside counsel can help them not only navigate the crisis but understand the important lessons that come with it.

A coach helps leaders engage for impact. In times of crisis, no job is more important than taking care of your people. At the same time, those who lead within organizations have to take into account the bigger picture. It’s easy to be distracted and unfocused when you’re facing shifting circumstances and unclear priorities. A coach can guide leaders in finding ways to keep people engaged and motivated—and, as much as possible, protected.

Hiring a coach is helpful in good times, but it becomes essential in times of difficulty when leaders really need to be at their best.

Lead from within: Leaders with a great coaching relationship are better able to navigate hardship and tap into the powerful learning opportunities they bring.

 


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The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness


After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.

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