Radical thinking needed for coaches to tackle leadership crisis
By Martin Kornacki (23-04-2009)
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Humanity has reached a crisis of meaning that has seen public respect for leadership dwindle to an all-time low, according to a leading advocate of business coaching.
Sir John Whitmore argues coaching now has the monumental task of helping leaders achieve the maturity and psychological health they need to regain their credibility and become catalysts for fundamental change.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) HRD conference in London on Wednesday, Sir John said: “Coaching is a natural system of learning that should be respected and utilised.
“Traditional leadership is in disarray and we need new leaders with new qualities of emotional intelligence that put wisdom before knowledge.”
He went on to say that as a society we needed to develop past the stage of psychological independence, at which most people were stuck through fear - to a framework of interdependence and trust.
Only then, he argued, could society move away from the unsustainable position it found itself in, where financial salvation was being sought from the very people who had created economic catastrophe.
“Emotional qualities are as important as intelligence and coaching is all about awareness and responsibility,” Sir John said.
“Self awareness is key in understanding others and many leaders lack these baseline skills to lead effectively, many have neglected the wisdom they require to use the knowledge they have and coaching can help them refocus.”
Sir John, a former 1960s Le Mans driver, remains convinced that despite the current chaos society finds itself in, it will emerge as more evolved in time.
Sir John Whitmore argues coaching now has the monumental task of helping leaders achieve the maturity and psychological health they need to regain their credibility and become catalysts for fundamental change.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) HRD conference in London on Wednesday, Sir John said: “Coaching is a natural system of learning that should be respected and utilised.
“Traditional leadership is in disarray and we need new leaders with new qualities of emotional intelligence that put wisdom before knowledge.”
He went on to say that as a society we needed to develop past the stage of psychological independence, at which most people were stuck through fear - to a framework of interdependence and trust.
Only then, he argued, could society move away from the unsustainable position it found itself in, where financial salvation was being sought from the very people who had created economic catastrophe.
“Emotional qualities are as important as intelligence and coaching is all about awareness and responsibility,” Sir John said.
“Self awareness is key in understanding others and many leaders lack these baseline skills to lead effectively, many have neglected the wisdom they require to use the knowledge they have and coaching can help them refocus.”
Sir John, a former 1960s Le Mans driver, remains convinced that despite the current chaos society finds itself in, it will emerge as more evolved in time.
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