“The way Arteta approaches leadership really inspires me”, reflected a client in a recent session. “He calls his mission a ‘beautiful challenge’ which to me shows he sees challenges as opportunities for growth – that he has courage and resilience”.
Mikel Arteta is the manager of Arsenal Football Club, who currently sit top of the English Premier League as the season enters the final stages. He is recognised for his empathetic leadership, clear communication style, and ability to build a positive team culture.
Leadership development is an area I specialise in and support my executive clients on – Arteta was the subject of our coaching conversation that day about leadership role models.
Leadership capability is such an important area for individuals and organisations to invest in. As a leader, you set the culture by the way you show up and behave, and being aware of your leadership brand and impact on others is critical. This in turn allows you to be a more genuine and credible leader.
Clients engage with me to deepen their understanding of their leadership style and capabilities. We explore what and who inspires them, the feedback they have received, their strengths and when they are at their best, and when they are out of their comfort zone. We relate this to their leadership context: What leader do you need to be, now? How might that change into the future?
Through our sessions, clients gain insights on when they are having a positive impact on those around them and when they are having a negative impact. They learn how to flex their style across different leadership contexts and build the range of leadership muscles needed to be effective. Clients leave with greater self-awareness and confidence and a clearer set of choices about their own leadership development.
I also see coaching leaders as a ‘beautiful challenge’ – it is non-linear, messy, tangential, uncomfortable, confronting, and all about being open to learning and growing through courage and commitment. That is why I am inspired by my work as an executive coach and why my clients in turn feel the impact in their lives and workplaces.
If you are an executive, senior manager, or business owner looking to achieve more impact in your organisation by building awareness of who you are as a leader, developing approaches for flexing your style and navigating different leadership contexts and challenges, and deepening your leadership brand, then I would love to discuss how I can support you.
Who are your leadership role models?
