Like every other book I read recently, I ordered COACHING – The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership by Ruchira Chaudhary because Ruchira has been a part of my team at Lintas, Delhi, in the early ’90s. After that, I had lost contact, other than a few bits of news and her articles in Mint. So the book landed with me sometime in February 2021, but I found time to read it only now.
‘Men are developed the same way that gold is mined. When gold is mined, several toms of dust must be moved to get an ounce of gold, but one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt’. – Andrew Carnegie
The book is about Coaching and more so about leaders being the coach. If taken seriously and systematically, the process can lead to more remarkable performance, creativity, innovation and motivated employees.
The new leadership format needs them to act as coaches, for which most may not be ready. Ruchira des reflect upon and presents key ingredients of impactful leadership, Coaching tips and incisive insights of other brilliant leaders on becoming effective leader coach.
COACHING – The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership
The book is a serious read in case you are a leader wanting to be a coach or a coach.
The book is divided into three parts: (A) What is coaching, and why must leaders transform into coaches? (B) The how of Coaching: A practical guide (C) Applying the fundamentals of coaching to leadership skills in specific situations. And then, in the end, there is a synopsis or summary for your ease of breading. In fact, like the current tradition of business books- there is a page of learning summary’ Learning Code’ after each chapter. These two summaries add many pages to the book- but some readers may appreciate them.
WHO SHOULD READ
The book starts with high impact in Part I, which is the best part of the book. Part II and III give so many references to other books (most already read) that somewhere as a reader, I started losing interest. Though there are references and inferences that Ruchira draws upon from her understanding, examples, and anecdote, they are not biting enough for the above reason. And to me, a trained, certified coach, the book does not meet the requirement.
Having said so, many new readers will find the book a handy introduction and guide to Coaching. And if you are a leader believing in coaching or wanting to explore it, it is a book for you to read. And in that reference, Nandan Nilekani’s statement, “A timely read for anyone wishing to transition from being a manager to a leader or from being a good leader to a great one”, makes sense. The book will help senior and aspiring managers to become better leaders by becoming better coaches and enablers. Today, the managers and organisers need to do the right things for the people in addition to achieving financial targets. The book focuses on you- the leader as a coach- because you alone can help your people and your teams be the best they can be.
COACHING BELIEF ENDORSED
This is part of the business that Intradia World also believes in. The client and their teams are best aware and in the know-how of their problem and possible solutions. As an independent consultant, my role is to help enhance their capabilities and confidence and help them think through and develop a cocreated solution with agreed milestones and a monitoring system. In a way, I primarily coach the teams and maximise the performance and potential of clients’ teams through non-directive and self-enabling conversation.
I agree with Ruchira when she says that people are critical to leadership success and failure. Many leaders know their business, domain, and customers. Still, softer aspects of leadership, the human capital facets, often prove to be the most challenging part of their leadership journey.
REMINDER
A critical element of the book is hidden among many words, and something that needs to be understood is to break the deep conviction in the belief that one’s success depends upon the failure of others. One of my clients put it aptly- for me to be good- the competitor need not to be bad.
COACHING STYLES
Ruchira does present her 4C coaching template. Capability- helps you to be the best you can be. Consciousness – helps you become more aware of who you are. Confidence- gives you self-belief to go ahead, and clarity- gives you direction.
The book focuses on the leader as a coach- and defines that it can make leadership effective and be the difference between an average and an excellent leader.
The book also details many other styles and formats- templates for coaching and pushes you to experiment before realising what works best for you. It also places the key coaching principles for better results. Coaching shows the result when done consistently. Coaching Needs to be a habit. Coaching is a continuum and a cycle. Coaching needs to be customised. And Coaching is about feedback- knowing what to say and how.
Coaching: The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership by Ruchira Chaudhary. Excerpted with permission from Penguin Random House India. Price: Rs 599.
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