NOVEMBER 20248 IN MY V EWWHY SHOULD COMPANIES EMBRACE COACHING CULTURE IN THE WORKPLACE?For more than two decades now working in the supply chain industry, I have seen the two sides of the leadership coin. On one side, the leadership style is directive, oftentimes top-down in the mandate. I have seen this work best when immediate results are needed especially when faced with a crisis. The other one is non- directive, dialogue-oriented, and more open to creative possibilities. The latter in my experience is much more relationship invested, will require patience (vs. quick results) but, has the most impact in driving employee motivation & satisfaction. As a people leader, I have noticed myself assume both styles. I use my situational judgment when to be directive and when to be otherwise. However, with the boom of millennial talents, the current workforce is craving for their voices to be heard, to be empowered to get things done, to be more experimental and if any, disrupt status quo. This has put to test old leadership models and has challenged legacy leadership styles.Having managed different teams now and having observed different people leaders, I believe what has worked well is quite different from the early role models I have experienced. To drive sustainable highperformance, leadership focus needs to start with people first, enabling their transformation which eventually leads to business growth. I believe that any people leader should have the ability to inspire the future, encourage discovery (their inner selves and their external environment), embrace the diversity of thinking, and empower people to find their ways and means to solve a problem. In essence, the role of a leader is nothing more than a coach.What is Coaching?The world's leading institution on coaching, ICF, has defined coaching as partnering with clients in a thought- provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. This means a coach is a facilitator of change. The coach BY EMILY ORCULLO, DIRECTOR APAC & CHINA CUSTOMER LOGISTICS, THE LEGO GROUP
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