Wickland Westcott

Supporting Behavioural Change

An extremely bright and highly experienced Head of a public sector department wanted to work on raising his own profile and that of his team. His goal was to ensure that his department's perspective was taken into consideration at a strategic level across the whole organisation. This meant getting his peers to involve him in their plans at an earlier stage. He had also recently received feedback from his boss that his work style was hindering his efforts at building alliances in the organisation.

Using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ®) his Wickland Westcott coach helped him understand his own style preferences, including both the strengths and pitfalls associated with his approach. This also gave him a framework and a vocabulary through which he could pinpoint specific behaviours. An analytical, innovative, strategic, versatile and entrepreneurial individual, he enjoyed logically analysing the theoretical aspects of his own behaviour. His coach helped him to avoid becoming lost in the theory, however, by encouraging him to turn his ideas into specific actions.

He committed to trying out new ways of operating within set timescales and focused on two specifics aspects of his style: learning to appreciate the views and opinions of others, and getting organised so that he could stay 'on top' of his teams' projects. He was at first disconcerted when changes in his own behaviour prompted suspicion from others who wondered if he had a hidden agenda. With support from his coach, he persevered and as new behaviours become a more natural part of his interpersonal and work styles, others began to respond more warmly. By the end of the coaching assignment, he was routinely included in two other departments' planning meetings and had successfully met his CEO's challenging expectations concerning a high profile project. (This is a true story, although the names and context have been changed).