Stepping into leadership

Being successful in your first leadership position
Mastering the change in your professional and personal life
Helping you to make your transition a success

Excited about your first leadership position but not sure how to find the right approach?

Taking over your first team will change your professional life completely.

Suddenly it’s you who sits in the driver’s seat and decides where to go. Your status in business and life rises – as does the diversity of your daily tasks. It doesn’t matter if it’s climbing the career ladder in a company or switching from solopreneur to boss of your own business – leading a team is an exciting and desirable step.

Still, in between all the excitement questions and maybe doubts arise. But there ist good news about this: First, question yourself – your ability to lead people, the consequences on your personal life – is already more that many do. Which is why they never reach more than being mediocre managers, spouses and parents. Second, you don’t have to figure out the answers alone!

When you first step into leadership, you might find yourself asking many questions – professionally and personally

Which kind of relationship should I have with my team?

How do I deal with my old colleagues I was always having lunch with, when the next thing I do is to evaluate their performance? Can I grab a beer with my team after work? Should I ask personal questions? How do I treat team members that are 20 years older than me?

How does my colleague have such an authentic leadership style?

He never seems to have troubles making people listen to him. They are motivated, full of praise for him, always working hand in hand. All he seems to do is to laugh with them and things keep on running smoothly while I have so many difficult people and issues.

How do I represent difficult decisions from my superiors?

Sometimes I can’t agree with the policies coming from above. Do they know what’s going on ‘down here’? I still have to represent them facing my team. How can I deliver an authentic message that makes everyone happy?

Which impact does my new position have on my personal relationship?

My partner tells me my mind is always busy with work stuff, how do I make him/her still feel appreciated? How to make enough quality time for my relationship? Suddenly I can spend much more money but my partner doesn’t have as much, how to enjoy without causing negative feelings for him/ her?

How can I balance all my responsibilities with my personal life?

I feel like I have no time for myself anymore. The last time I did sport was running to the metro when I overslept after a long evening at work. How are my friends and family anyway? And how do I tell my boss and team about this three-week vacation I promised my partner?

How do you become an authentic leader?

Team members and colleagues perceive someone as an authentic leader who lives up to his values, who leads by example, with joy and encouragement instead of pressure and commands. They will feel appreciated in their work and as persons, put their trust in him and won’t be afraid to share their ideas as well as their errors. On the other hand you as a person won’t feel the need to differentiate between a ‘work me’ and a ‘private me’. No need to hide your personality or flaws. You know when to say no and when to listen.

Being aware of your own personality as well of the ones of others is the key to being a successful authentic leader.

Coaching or Training?

Some companies offer trainings that cover topics like how to conduct performance conversations with employees, communication techniques or how to delegate efficiently. You might also find checklist or company processes that will help you to deal with typical management situations.

If you manage your own business or your company doesn’t offer such things, we can work out your personal development plan and set up your leadership toolbox in an individual coaching process.

What can coaching do for me?

Stepping into a leadership position will rise many questions and issues. However depending on ones situation, business and personality those questions are highly individual – as are their solutions. In our coaching process I support you with tools, instruments and materials but the strategies you will choose are always based on your own resources and findings.

By choosing coaching you will not only find options for your current situation but also develop skills and the mindset to solve future issues.

Questions, you might want to address during the coaching process

How do I deal with a 'difficult' team member or colleague?
You find them everywhere – the older guy who tells you ‘he already had a lot of bosses under him’. The insecure lady who keeps three other team members busy because she constantly asks for help. The boss who just gives orders to your team members without talking with you first. There is no way of ‘sitting it out’ you have to address these issues and solve them. Plus it might not only be this one person but a flaw in the system. In our coaching sessions we assess the situation and its context to find the right options for you.
How do I develop my personal leadership style?
You might have read dozens of buzzwords: transformational or authentical leadership, agile, emotional – you name it. But how to be agile in a highly hierarchical organization? How to use all these fancy digital techniques when your first concern is people not coming on time or not able to use a computer properly? Truth all this knowledge and tools are useful – but you still have to develop your own style and put them in the right use. In our coaching sessions we will assess your situation, your resources and define the approach that works best for you and your team.
How can I be 'enough' for all the roles I have to live?
You want to be a good boss –  you also want to be a good mother/ father, partner and friend. But the more you try, the more you put effort in it, the more you feel stuck or even guilty of not ‘being enough’. Taking this really important call during your kids birthday party? Going home early to spend some quality time while your team really needs some directions on the new project? Combining all the roles in your life will never be easy – especially when you want to prove yourself in your new position – but by setting your priorities and boarders, considering your own as well as other peoples needs and emotional traps, we can develop strategies on how to balance them.
How do I position myself in the management team?
You will not only be the leader of your own team but also be a part of a new team within the management. People who might be highly experienced, who know how things are working (‘we always did it that way and it worked out fine’). Finding your own voice, representing your team and making an impact with new ideas can be challenging. In our sessions we will clarify your positions and options, bring awareness to other peoples motives and develop options how you contribute in a constructive way that earns the respect in your new team.

My Approach

If there was a motto for my adult life it would be ‘living and facilitating change’.

Starting in one of Germanys biggest corporations in the HR department, my work quickly centered around change management and the effects it has on people and leadership. After becoming a senior consultant and managing teams both in person and virtually, I shifted my focus from the organizational to the individual level where I enjoy seeing the quick and deep impact coaching can have on a person and his/ her life.

My approach is influenced by my systemic and solution-focused coaching experience as well as my passion for the integral theory. For you that means I’ll never be satisfied looking at just a symptom (e.g. ‘my team never brings in own ideas’ or ‘my partner always complains about me working late’), but will always look at the context and reasons that might be a result from other dimensions of your life. I don’t believe in ‘out of the box’ solutions but work with evidentially useful tools and impulses to help you develop options which fit with your individual situation.

I believe in working virtually most of the time, as it gives everyone the independence and flexibility to profit from coaching sessions wherever they are at the moment. This is why coaching sessions will be conducted via webconference plus additional e-mail/ voicemail support. I do however offer VIP coaching days on Tenerife or offer inhouse trainings/  coachings and retreats with a minimum duration of two days.

How It Works

Schedule a Free 1:1

In a 30 minutes discovery call, we discuss your motives for coaching and your goals. You will also learn about how I work and my coaching program. Like this you can see if we are ‘a fit’ and I can evaluate (and tell you honestly) if I can help you reaching your goals.

Sometimes even a short session like this will give you a new perspective which might be enough to solve your current issue. In this case, this is my free gift for you.

There are no obligations or costs coming with that call!

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Choose a Coaching Plan

I offer 3 and 6 month coaching programs, which are described in more details below.

After our initial call you can decide which one fits best for you. If you are in doubt which one is better, don’t hesitate to ask. If you need a bit more time between different modules or have a big trip coming up, we will  work out an individual schedule.

During the booking process you can choose from different payment options. Under some circumstances there is the possibility for a monthly plan and bank transfer. In any case the first installment has to be made before a module begins. Ask your tax consultant for possibilities to deduct  business coaching from your tax report.

Reach Your Goals

I want you to be successful and able to reach your goals. This is why we evaluate in the beginning if my coaching can support you in doing so. This is also why I put a lot of thoughts, heart and efforts in creating useful tools and programs.

However don’t be mistaken, this process means work and accountability from you. In the end it is you who has to be willing to take action.

If you are ready for it, if you really want to take the step towards leadership I’m stoked to work with you.

Not sure about a program yet but want to stay in touch?

If you think you are not quite ready for a commitment or too busy right now, you can still stay in touch. You can receive curated impulses about leadership and personal development, useful exercises and reflections completely for free. But don’t worry I respect your time and won’t send more than one mail a week.

Other ways to connect

Choose your coaching package

Before booking your package set up your personal and free discovery call.

3-Month Coaching Program

In three intensive modules we will get to the basis of what stepping into leadership means for your professional and personal life, which issues and questions arise and what you want to achieve. We will develop options to achieve your goal, define the small steps that lead to them and set up supporting strategies to help you get there.

2.800€
Modules within the program
The program consists of three modules

Creating clarity – Assessing your challenges and their context, setting the goal and defining the exact areas you want to work on

Breaking down your action plan – setting long & short term goals, trying the first ‘tweaks’ towards your goals and setting up your support system for sustainable change

Getting things done – implementing new habits, overcoming obstacles and taking steps to reach your goals

What you can expect
To make sure, that you not only know exactly where you stand and what you have to do in order to make your new leadership position a success both professionally and personally, but see the first results like

  • finding the right approach to build positive relationships with your team
  • choosing the fitting leadership techniques for different situations
  • creating balance between the responsibilities of your job and your personal relationships

We will work in a program that includes

  • 2 x 60-minutes video calls per module (6 in total)
  • Weekly impulses (readings, tutorials) and exercises to create rapid results
  • E-mail and voicemail support (Mo-Fr)
  • 1 x 60-minutes follow-up video call two months after finishing the last module

6-Month Coaching Program

After doing the ground work with the first three modules – creating clarity, breaking down your action plan & getting things done – you will choose three in-depth modules to work your most challenging issues that come with your new position. In each module you will receive valuable inputs that help you in working out the right strategies to address your questions. You will choose the in-depth modules during the second module in which you define your goals.

4.900€
Modules to choose from
During the second module (breaking down your action plan) you can choose from 10 different in-depth modules which will help you address the following topics:

Building your team – how to form a performing unity out of single fire fighters

⇒ Motivate for performance – understanding motivation and techniques to bring your employees (& yourself) to the next level

⇒ Creating leadership routines – from knowing productive and agile techniques to applying them effectively

⇒ Coaching your employees – establishing solution-based acting and learning

⇒ Mind your mindset – getting from being stuck in deconstructive thoughts and feelings to emotional agility

⇒ Position yourself – from knowing your values, needs and principles to standing up for them in daily business

⇒ Valuing your relationships – appreciate loved ones while building your career

⇒ Dealing with failure – overcoming personal mistakes and negative feelings

⇒ Letting others fail – transforming errors to learnings for your team

⇒ Balance yourself – developing mindfulness in daily actions, managing your energy to prevent burn-out and conflicts

What you can expect
In the 6-month program you will create a smooth transition into your first leadership position which will offer you tailor-made success strategies for the challenges you are facing on this way We will work in a program that includes

  • 2 x 60-minutes video calls per module (12 in total) which will focus on upcoming questions and cases during the process
  • Weekly impulses (readings, tutorials) and exercises that will guide you through the process and help you to develop and monitor strategies with your specific objectives
  • E-mail and voicemail support (Mo-Fr)
  • 1 x 60-minutes follow-up video call two months after finishing the last module for making the results sustainable

Adding modules to your program

After going through the first 3-month program you can choose further in-depth modules to work on specific challenges.

Modules you can choose from
During the second module (breaking down your action plan) you can choose from 10 different in-depth modules which will help you address the following topics:

Building your team – how to form a performing unity out of single fire fighters

⇒ Motivate for performance – understanding motivation and techniques to bring your employees (& yourself) to the next level

⇒ Creating leadership routines – from knowing productive and agile techniques to applying them effectively

⇒ Coaching your employees – establishing solution-based acting and learning

⇒ Mind your mindset – getting from being stuck in deconstructive thoughts and feelings to emotional agility

⇒ Position yourself – from knowing your values, needs and principles to standing up for them in daily business

⇒ Valuing your relationships – appreciate loved ones while building your career

⇒ Dealing with failure – overcoming personal mistakes and negative feelings

⇒ Letting others fail – transforming errors to learnings for your team

⇒ Balance yourself – developing mindfulness in daily actions, managing your energy to prevent burn-out and conflicts

Do you have questions?

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