The reasons executives buy in - with Executive Coach Fiona vanGraan
- Nina Fountain
- Mar 11, 2022
- 1 min read
Workplace redesigns are nothing if not complex. Property, ICT, People and Culture and Change workstreams all work together on the unique problem of how to design a fit-for-purpose workplace. Added to that complexity, executive teams don't always recognise the challenges or support needed to fully implement a workplace model that will achieve their goals.
I spoke with Fiona van Graan recently about how workplace program managers can achieve executive buy-in. Fiona is a highly experienced and sought after Executive Coach working with C-suite executives in the finance industry.
Key moments
0:54 - Fiona shares why the famous Leadership Trust in the UK, where she was Program Director, was started by two SAS officers.
4:24 - Fiona shares how C-suite leaders changed over the course of the leadership program and the biggest areas of change for participants.
5:26 - C-suite leaders' goals and motivations and how one can better understand them.
10:30 - Fiona notes a common misconception with leadership coaching - the expectation of a 'quick fix'.
15:07 - Ways to increase influence and trust.
18:25 - The power of an apology.
21.25 - Psychological safety is often viewed as pink and fluffy but it really creates an avenue for innovation.
26:32 - How COVID has affected the culture of workplaces.
30:32 - How program managers can manage their language to help them achieve success.
Resources mentioned
Harvard Business Review - IDEO's culture of helping (https://hbr.org/2014/01/ideos-culture-of-helping)
Fiona's Choc Chili Tart recipe - not hers exactly, but very close - https://thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/recipes/choc-chilli-tarts/
