As any good pilot will tell you, to arrive at your destination you have to first know where you want to go and how to get there. Reaching your leadership goals is no different.

My coaching process is divided into four phases—Data Collection, Feedback and Planning, Taking Action, and Evaluating Progress.

Data Collection is just what it sounds like. Before I can help you bring about change, we must first identify what needs changing, both from your perspective as well as from key stakeholders in your organization. To do this, I use proven techniques to pinpoint your strengths, strengths overused and areas that need improvement. We will begin by discussing your life and career history, your current job responsibilities and your goals for the future. We also may include co-worker interviews, a 360-degree survey, personality tests, and/or my shadowing you at work. We'll decide together which methods would make the most sense given your situation.

Okay, so now that we've collected this data, what do we do with it? The second stage of my process is Feedback and Planning.

First, we review this info and help you identify the key messages and themes. This process increases self-awareness about what you're doing well and highlights which areas need some attention.

We take these insights and translate them into tangible goals. We'll then work closely to create a personalized development plan that provides a step-by-step guide to help you reach these objectives and to measure progress along the way.

At this stage in the journey, we'll also involve the stakeholders who can provide input on your goals and support your development efforts.

Once we've agreed on a blueprint for changes you want to make as a leader, we'll figure out specific ways for you to put this plan into action. My job is to teach, challenge, and support—in the right measure and at the right time to help you become the leader you intend to be. In the case of what you do too little of, the challenge is to learn a new skill or behavior and apply it appropriately. If you find you do something too much, we'll refine how, how much, or how often you employ that skill. In addition, we'll likely look at how to improve your mental game as a way to expand your repertoire for bringing about lasting change. Much as a pilot monitors altitude and turbulence during a flight, I will assist you in tracking progress and making any necessary course corrections along the way.

At the end of our journey together, we'll quantify the degree of change for each goal you set. Since the challenges you face are constantly changing, your leadership must continually evolve. Therefore, we'll also talk about how to maintain momentum as you prepare for the next step in your on-going journey of leadership development.