Subsequently, all of those registered for NECS were provided with an opportunity to meet via Zoom for a discussion of the early research findings from this survey regarding leadership development. Sixteen of the registered participants gathered by zoom to discuss these findings. Dr. Bill Bergquist highlighted the survey results and encouraged participants to explore implications for the field of executive coaching. Following is a summary of the findings from this zoom meeting:
Theme: Executive coaching and leadership development
Main question: Do we need to change our approach to leadership–its development and the ways in which we coach leaders (current and potential) as a result of shifts in the nature and challenges of the 21stCentury workplace around the world?
Several themes that emerged from the conversation that followed presentation of power point slides:
Leadership development in the early mid-21st Century should address the fundamental issue of leading in the midst of diversity and globalization.
This issue clearly requires the guidance, support and encouragement of executive coaching.
All other issues regarding leadership development need to be engaged from the perspective of diversity (including inclusion and understanding of divergent perspectives and practices)
An appreciative perspective is of value in helping leaders identify moments when they have effectively supported diversity in their own work and identify the positive outcomes associated with this effective support. “Catch them when they’re doing it right.”
Organizational Change Findings
A new survey was prepared that focused on the second of the important themes identified in the initial survey. These theme concerns the many changes that have recently taken place in mid-21st Century organizations (in part as a result of COVID-19). This survey was sent out to the 120 summit invitees in February of 2022. In this instance, Results from the 36 respondents to this survey were analyzed. As in the case of the first survey, a summary report was prepared as a power point presentation and was sent to all 120 invitees. Following are the findings from this second survey:
General findings
• There were several impressive general messages being delivered by the respondents
• General Finding One: mid-21st Century leaders and their teams are confronting major organizational changes and must adjust their own pattern and style of individual and team leadership to these changes.
• General Finding Two: there is a definite impact of organizational changes on the perspectives and practices of executive coaching
• General Finding Three: the major organizational changes that were identified in this survey seem to be closely tied together. Each change impacts all the other changes. The challenges are “complex” and not just “complicated.”
• General Finding Four: executive coaches must themselves change their own perspectives and practices given the challenges facing their leadership and team clients.
