“We have worked with many executive teams and what we often find is that companies have laudable stated values but very few specific behaviours that affirm or reinforce those stated values,” says Professor Sandra Perkins, director Orion Business Solutions (OBS).

An organization’s leadership team is ultimately responsible for shaping and enhancing the company's values - the cornerstone of its culture, which is comprised of the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that collectively define its values.

The shared values of an organization provide a common sense of direction for all of its employees and basic guidelines for their day-to-day behaviour.  The leadership must assure that there is consistency between the company's stated values and all other aspects of its vision including its strategies and operational plans.

The superior performance of a business is a direct product of the alignment of its culture with its strategic intent.  Thus, the executive team is the primary custodian of the company's culture and as such needs to be reflective of the culture in its words and actions.

“When we commence a coaching programme with an executive team we begin with an assessment of the current values in the company and we compare it with the organization's values, goals and objectives,” explains Perkins.  “We utilize feedback from management, employees on all levels, and other key stakeholders who work with the organization.  This will reveal if the culture is in alignment or in conflict with the goals of the company.  While consultation on every level is necessary to determine and consolidate a company’s values, it is the executive team that has the largest role to play as it drives the organization, sets the precedents and ultimately determines the values and the company’s culture.”

Once they have established the values and the requisite related supportive behaviours in the company, the coaches examine the concept of integrity and trust within the executive team.  “There is often too much focus on the power and status of individuals which can affect the optimal functioning of a team,” says Perkins.  “Trust is built by focusing on the character and competence of the individual members of the group.  Through an exploratory process we examine their motives and intentions to develop trust and the subsequent alignment of their motives to enable the group to function effectively as leaders of the organization.”

The commitment and intention of individuals within the team is explored, as it is leadership’s persistent and repetitive consistency that ultimately creates a fully aligned culture.  “Commitment through words alone is not enough.  Along with passion and enthusiasm the leader must show commitment by his or her actions,” says Professor Antoinette Gmeiner, CEO OBS.

Decision-making skills and the processes whereby decisions are made are also fully explored.  “It is important to define how decisions are made and how they fit in with the overall company strategy to assist the organization in moving forward.”

“We challenge how they’re aligned to the strategy and the strategic intent because we often find that executive teams tend to maintain a focus on operations and rather than strategy.  Part of the coaching process involves building a commitment to the strategic intent of the company and making sure it is executed.”

Coaches also examine conflict and conflict resolution within the executive team.  Many executives find it difficult to actually confront one another and have a proper constructive ‘fight’ in the boardroom.  It is therefore necessary to set rules, procedures and limits for boardroom behaviour so that team members are able to openly confront one another in a manner that enables them to deal with conflict constructively in order to facilitate effective decision-making.  “Dealing with conflict and confronting one another constructively is also about creating a culture of authenticity within the executive team,” adds Perkins.

Creating accountability is also an essential step in the coaching programme.  While leadership is about defining values, delegation, commitment, intention and decision-making, a leader also has to develop a high degree of accountability to  his/her fellow executive team members.

“It is necessary to create a context where members need to be fully accountable to one another -it serves no purpose to have responsibility without awareness and accountability,” says Gmeiner.  “An effective executive team is adaptable, innovative and committed to a shared vision of growth and success for a company.  Coaching unleashes the potential of high-performance leadership teams that will position organizations for long-term success.  The coaching process will enhance team cohesion, foster innovation, and spark creative energy.”

Whether you are looking for a workshop, a seminar or a retreat, OBS has the experience and the abilities necessary to customize a program or learning event for your organization's specific coaching needs.  OBS’s commitment to quality, service and value consistently sets a new benchmark in coaching.

OBS executive team coaching courses are offered by Professor Antoinette Gmeiner and Professor Sandra Perkins, who are both Master Executive Coaches, specializing in team coaching and strategic planning for EXCOs and Boards.  They have twelve years, experience in this field and are the managers of an Internal Team Coaching programme for the Orion Group.

Milpark Business School, in association with Professor Antoinette Gmeiner and Professor Sandra Perkins, is launching two new business and life coaching short courses at their Melville Campus.  Two options are available: the three-day Leader-Manager as Coach course and the seven-day Business and Life Skills Coaching course.  The seven-day course is presented at NQF level 5 and the purpose of this programme is to provide students with the knowledge base that equips them to provide business and life coaching on a line management level, and life coaching on an individual level.  The purpose of the three-day course is to empower line managers to use coaching as a performance enhancer, and to develop a conceptual framework for a coaching action plan.

For further information, please contact Professor Gmeiner/ Professor Perkins on Tel: +27 11 718 6452

http://www.oriongroup.co.za/obs/orionbusinesssolutions.html

© 2010 Lois Aitchison, FVS Marketing & PR

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Orion Business Solutions was established in 2004 as a result of the Orion Group’s rapid expansion strategy.  The Orion Group consists of five divisions - Orion Real Estate, Orion Hotels and Resorts, Orion Retail,  and Orion Business Solutions (OBS).  The Group now has a JSE listed company, Orion Real Estate Ltd.

OBS is flexible in the sense that it has at its disposal in-house professionals with a wide range of business management expertise such as: Human Capital, Labour Law, Legal, Property development, Psychological services, Retail, and Management Services.

Through extensive networking and collaboration across a wide spectrum of business activities, OBS has developed an impressive portfolio of external and private individuals who are partnering in joint ventures.  The synergy and interactive nature of this network of professional expertise is utilised as multiple task teams, headed by professional, highly qualified and experienced executives.

Orion Business Solutions

Unleashing potential for superior performance in obtaining results.

For further information, interviews or visual reference, please contact:

Orion Business Solutions - Dr S Perkins/ Prof A Gmeiner

Tel:                  011 718 6484 or

Cell:                 082 786 2995 / 083 377 3692

eMail:               sperkins@oriongroup.co.za

Website:          www.oriongroup.co.za

Issued by:       FVS Marketing and PR - Estelle van Staden

Cell:                 083 267 1669

Tel:                  (011) 791-2886

Fax:                  (011) 791-2886

eMail:               estellevs@telkomsa.net