leadership coaching
A 4-phase coaching process for leaders navigating complexity
Transform the challenge you can’t fix alone and can’t delegate either.
Can you tell the difference between a technical problem and an adaptive challenge?
Technical problems can be solved with existing knowledge and expertise. Adaptive challenges require you to transform as a leader: to search for new anchors while staying grounded and connect with your stakeholders in fundamentally different ways.
Adaptive challenges are not new, some trace back to ancient times. Consider the Greek mythological story of Eris, the Goddess of Discord, who was not invited to a wedding in Olympus because the gods wanted to avoid conflict. It’s a technical fix designed to preserve harmony. In retaliation, Eris got hold of a golden apple, wrote “To the Fairest” on it, and cast it into the celebration igniting fierce rivalry among Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. This competitive dynamic sparked the decade-long Trojan War that destroyed one of greatest cities in the ancient world .
The lesson for leaders is unmistakable: technical solutions rarely resolve the deeper tensions underlying complex challenges. True adaptive work remains one of leadership’s most demanding tasks without a blueprint. However, there’s a way through it. The following process with a 4-phase structure shows you that pathway.
Lead by Creating More Space
A PROVEN FRAMEWORK FOR ADAPTIVE CHALLENGES
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We begin by exploring the unique nature of your complex challenge, the outcome you want to see and why it requires a different approach.
We’ll systematically map your current situation across three critical dimensions:
Role Analysis: Clarifying your unique position and sphere of influence
Task Analysis: Distinguishing between what needs technical solutions versus adaptive responses
Stakeholder Analysis: Understanding the complex web of relationships and interests at play
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What is at the core that makes this problem hard to solve?
We’ll dive deep into the personal and organizational dynamics to understand what invisible forces are hiding underneath your adaptive challenge.
During this phase your coach will select an ancient story that embodies the core unconscious pattern you’re facing. You’ll be asked to read the story and reflect on it.
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This is often the hardest phase because it starts with accepting that you’re not having a clue. Simply, that’s the nature of adaptive challenges.
You may not understand what the ancient story has anything to do with you or why you’re getting emotional as we’re exploring this deeper territory.
Here the focus is on broadening your capacity to lead through complexity. We’ll do it as we dive into the symbols in the story: some of them may show you precious parts of yourself or your team that you don’t utilise, some may point to patterns that constrain you as a leader.
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Relying on the ancient wisdom in your selected story we’ll create a customized roadmap to:
Strengthen your presence as a leader
Expand your range of responses in high-pressure situations
Find your leverages in the system for greater impact
Align your leadership approach with the complexity of your challenge
Develop sophisticated stakeholder strategies
Redefine your leadership task at hand
Why is this approach effective?
Adaptive challenges require expanded leadership capacity. Rather than simply applying familiar frameworks, this process systematically broadens your capacity to navigate complexity with greater insights, strategies and confidence. You’ll not only address your current challenge but also develop the leadership capacity to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Who does this serve?
This program is designed for leaders who:
Face a complex challenge that hasn’t responded to standard approaches
Value deep, thoughtful work over quick fixes
Are open to examining their own leadership patterns as part of the solution
Want to learn to create adaptive spaces to work through complex challenges with their teams
What is the investment?
Your Presence & Energy
The depth of this work depends on the quality of your engagement. Between sessions, you'll work with carefully designed assignments that ensure continuous momentum throughout your adaptive leadership journey.
Time Commitment
Every engagement is tailored to your specific challenge and context. Experience shows that sustainable transformation requires a minimum of 6 months, typically 10 coaching sessions spaced approximately two weeks apart. This timeframe allows for the inner and outer work necessary to shift paradigms and build new leadership capacity.
Pricing
Each program is customised based on your needs and organisational context. Contact me to discuss your adaptive challenge and receive detailed pricing information.