HR leaders and executive coaches will provide insights that will help you take the next step in your career.
Reflection is one of the most important parts of the executive coaching process. To be able to reflect meaningfully, an executive coach must be a great listener because active listening is the basis of meaningful reflection. In the process of coaching, executives can look themselves in the mirror to see what they are like as leaders. According to researchers from the Harvard Business School, employees who spend 15 minutes at the end of the day reflecting about lessons learnt perform 23 percent better after 10 days. For leaders, reflection unleashes learning, which informs future mindsets and effective action.
CHRO SA will host a summit on the importance of reflection and coaching, which will be held at The Equinox (Absa building) on 20 November from 4pm to 7pm. The summit will feature a masterclass on coaching and reflection, which will include a panel discussion with Fergus Marupen (Group Head HR at SAPPI), Cebile Xulu (HR Director Mondelez International), Ndivhu Nepfumbada (HR Director: Africa at Transunion) and Lindiwe Sebesho (Executive: Talent, Performance Optimisation & Remuneration at Barloworld).
[chro-cta slug=mondel-z-international-s-cebile-xulu-at-hr-indaba-2020-on-14-15-october-2020]
Among other things, the panel will discuss how reflection helps to provide deeper learning by looking at situations through a different lens and by asking yourself searching questions that challenge assumptions about the world around you. Although people have a tendency to focus on the negative, an exercise in reflection or self-assessment provides a structured and safe way to think about the positive as well.
"The science behind reflection is compelling. Research shows that without the process of actively thinking our experiences, and questioning ourselves about what they mean, learning doesn’t really happen."
Reflection, as a leader, is about assessing how you communicate both verbally and non-verbally, and having a great executive coach is an effective way to master the art of reflection as they can reflect back to the executive how they are communicating, what they are communicating and what effect that communication is having. This gives executives the benefit of a clearer and more accurate self-awareness, which is key to being effective in any leadership position and with any team.
Through the process of listening and sharing, the executive coach can begin to understand the unique style and methods of communication that the executive has adopted. The coach can then reflect that back in a way that helps the executive know how they are coming across to others.
Understanding the content of our communication is also vital for the executive to be effective. How that information is assembled, packaged and communicated can have a huge impact on how it is received by others.
