Now that is an “executive” that could use some coaching…

I got my first opportunity to lead a company of 80 employees at the ripe old age of 32.  The founders of the business told me that the promotion wasn’t only about my results as the sales manager, but also about how I embodied the company’s values in the way I treated people.  I didn’t understand it at the time, but the founders based their decision on culture.

I learned quickly that your single largest responsibility as an executive is to build your culture through the way you lead your people.  Your competitors can buy the same buildings and equipment.  They can offer the same benefits to attract quality employees.  Over time they can duplicate your products, services, strategies and certifications.  Ultimately it’s your culture that will determine whether you succeed or fail as an executive and whether you win or lose as an organization.

The main goal of the Threads Executive Coaching Series is to help you build a best-in-class culture.  Every couple weeks we are going to take a few minutes to step away from the daily tactical issues that keep us busy and make us comfortable.

Threads executive coaching is going to focus on how to overcome the most uncomfortable challenges we face when leading people and building culture – difficult conversations, promotions, holding people accountable, developing your core values, changing negative behaviors and motivating your people.

Next week we are starting with the story about how one of my supervisors forced me to discover what culture was really all about.

Image Credit: Korean Central News Agency via Korean News Service