Tag Archive for: executive coaching

Pamela Codo-Lotti“Throughout my life, I’d often find myself in situations that were unfamiliar, but having the will to take the harder path typically leads to greater rewards,” says Pamela Codo-Lotti. “When I left Côte d’Ivoire for France, and later France for the U.S., my parents would ask, ‘Why do you always choose the most difficult route?’ But I’d remind them—that’s the example they set.”

Resilient and driven, Codo-Lotti is continually inspired by the values her parents instilled in her from a young age. As a newly minted partner at Goldman Sachs, she has embraced challenges with relentless determination, a strong intellectual curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to her clients and colleagues. From her early love of numbers and education to her passion for mentorship and financial independence for all, Codo-Lotti shares how persistence and purpose are central to her journey.

From Associate to Partner

Fueled by an early interest in numbers and giving advice, Codo-Lotti found a career in finance to be the perfect fit.  After moving to the U.S. from France to earn her MBA at the Wharton School of Business, Codo-Lotti joined Goldman Sachs as an Associate.  Over the next two decades, she rose through the ranks up to her recent promotion to partner.

“It was a great moment because it’s a recognition by your peers and by your clients, of all your hard work,” she reflects. “I look forward to continuing to focus on building a stronger business, giving advice to more clients, and mentoring more people.”

For Codo-Lotti, the partner title is not just an accolade but a platform to amplify her impact.  “As a senior leader, I have a deep understanding of the firm, allowing me to offer practical guidance and support to others in achieving success.”

Codo-Lotti credits her natural curiosity as an important element in her career evolution.  “Finance is an expansive and ever-evolving field, and there’s always more to learn. Curiosity drives me—I’m constantly reading, exploring, and deepening my understanding of different areas, even in my current role.”

A Foundation of Education and Determination

Codo-Lotti notes how her insatiable curiosity and determination are rooted in her childhood and the inspiration of her parents, whom she considers trailblazers.

“They came from a small African country, Benin, and were sent to study in France on merit-based scholarships. They always told us, ‘Your brain is the most important thing. Nurture it.’ They went out of their way to get us to the best schools, no matter what.”

Her parents’ determination to give her a solid educational foundation was equally matched by Codo-Lotti’s internal drive. She highlights this quality as an important element to her success.

“There is a little white dog in a famous French cartoon named Idefix (“Idee Fixe”), which literally means ‘fixed idea.’ My dad nicknamed me that because even from a young age, when I want something, I go after it. Persistence and staying focused on the end goal really helped me in my career and got me through difficult and challenging moments.”

An Empathetic Approach

“People often tell me that I’m very empathetic,” she says. “It has been a tremendous asset because my clients know that I genuinely care. When someone has a problem, I really want to find a way to help. I think it has played a significant role in my career.”

Empathy also shapes Codo-Lotti’s leadership style. She explains, “In a team there will inevitably be a lot of opinions, so it is important to understand where people are coming from and what they’re looking to achieve.”

In addition, she tries to be  intentional about being accessible to her team, recognizing that as she becomes more senior, the perception of her availability and approachability may change.  “It’s important for me to spend time with my team at work, but also making sure we connect informally, whether for a quick coffee catch-up or dinner.”

Mentorship Advice

Beyond the inspiration of her parents, Codo-Lotti points to the guidance of mentors as integral to her career development. Now as a mentor to others, she advises, “the most important thing is to trust yourself and not shut down your own voice. While advice from mentors is important, they succeeded based on who they are. What works for them may not work for you.”

She continues, “what I tell people is that I will give you advice and tell you what I think is best, but at the end of the day you have your own instincts, and you have to see if that fits with who you are and what you want to do.”

When it comes to fostering mentoring relationships, Codo-Lotti encourages taking initiative. “Sometimes you have to take chances. Whenever I worked with someone who impressed me, I put time on their calendar and introduced myself. Sometimes you click, sometimes you don’t, but when you do, you invest in that relationship.”

Finding Strength in Uniqueness Through Executive Coaching

Executive coaching has played a pivotal role in Codo-Lotti’s growth, particularly in embracing her uniqueness while leveling up her communication skills. “I’m a French native speaker; English is my second language. When I came to the U.S., it took me a while to view my accent not as a disadvantage, but as something that made me unique.”

Coaching helped her refine her communication. “I focused on how I could be more structured, more powerful, more impactful—so that the accent became a strength. The firm provided me with a coach who helped me work on my communication and presentation style, which really made a difference. I also found having an external perspective, someone who listens and helps you understand how others hear you, to be invaluable.”

Committed to Education and Financial Independence for Women

Looking ahead, Codo-Lotti is passionate about uplifting the next generation.  As a senior leader at Goldman Sachs, she emphasizes, “I hope to help a lot of talented and diverse junior bankers succeed.”

Codo-Lotti looks to extend that impact beyond Goldman Sachs through her work with the Jeremiah Program, which helps single mothers return to college.  As a member of the board, Codo-Lotti is thrilled to be a part of the program’s mission.

“By supporting single mothers in pursuing their education, there is an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty across two generations—empowering both mother and child, so she doesn’t have to choose between her education, financial stability, and caring for her family.”

As a mother of a young family, Codo-Lotti finds joy in watching their intellectual curiosity take shape. “It’s fascinating to watch my children grow into their own as human beings.  My husband and I love seeing their minds expand, even when it means that they start beating us at board games. It’s a reminder of how quickly they’re learning and evolving.”

Just as she was encouraged to nurture her mind and embrace learning, Codo-Lotti is committed to passing that mindset forward—both at home and in her broader mission to empower others.

By Jessica Robaire

living intentionallyOver the coming months, theglasshammer.com will be writing a series of practical and insightful articles to help you thrive at work on your continued professional journey, however you define it. Living intentionally, avoiding burnout, reducing stress and achieving clarity around your professional and personal goals from an executive coaching perspective is our focus. Additionally, we will provide links to resources to really help you take meaningful steps on the journey to what you want to do and be.

We are living in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times regardless of who you are and what you believe. Finding Zen can be elusive as we try not have jitters around markets, layoffs, job hunting, inflation and future client revenue pipelines. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of tasks, deadlines, and constant decision-making. For many executives, and perhaps working mothers (and fathers) most of all, the demands of their roles leave little time for reflection or intentional action. Yet, living intentionally—aligning daily choices with long-term values and goals—is one of the most powerful ways to achieve personal fulfillment, effective leadership, and career success.

But how does one begin to live intentionally in the midst of a demanding and often chaotic life? The answer lies in self-awareness, strategic planning, and conscious decision-making. An executive coach can play a pivotal role in guiding leaders through this process, helping them not only survive the daily grind but thrive with purpose and direction.

What Does It Mean to Live Intentionally?

Living intentionally is about making conscious choices that align with your values, long-term vision, and goals. It involves setting clear priorities, staying focused on what matters most, and avoiding distractions that do not contribute to your overall purpose. Instead of letting life happen to you, living intentionally means actively creating the life you want, one decision at a time. Work with our coaches [book here] to help you with the following:

  1. Setting Clear Goals: Identifying both short- and long-term objectives that are meaningful and fulfilling, rather than reacting to external pressures or obligations.
  2. Aligning Actions with Values: Making choices that reflect personal and professional values, ensuring that your actions support what you truly care about.
  3. Prioritizing Time and Energy: Understanding that your time and energy are finite, and choosing to allocate them toward high-impact activities that move you toward your vision.
  4. Self-Reflection and Growth: Regularly assessing your progress, learning from experiences, and adapting your strategies for continued improvement.

Living intentionally is not just about career success—it’s about creating a life that feels aligned and authentic. For executives, this might mean fostering healthier relationships, improving work-life balance, and contributing meaningfully to the larger organization or community.

How an Executive Coach Can Help You Live Intentionally

An executive coach is a trained professional who works one-on-one with leaders to help them achieve their personal and professional goals. Through a combination of coaching techniques, feedback, and structured exercises, an executive coach can help you clarify your vision, set strategic goals, and create actionable plans for achieving those goals. Here’s how an executive coach can specifically help you live more intentionally:

1. Clarifying Your Values and Vision

One of the first steps in living intentionally is having a clear understanding of your values and vision. Many executives are so focused on day-to-day operations that they haven’t taken the time to articulate what truly matters to them, both personally and professionally. An executive coach can guide you through exercises that help you clarify what you value most, whether that’s innovation, integrity, family, or something else.

Once your values are clear, your coach will help you create a vision for the future that aligns with these values. This vision becomes your compass for making decisions and setting goals, ensuring that every action you take moves you closer to your desired outcome.

2. Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals

Setting goals is essential for living intentionally, but it’s equally important to ensure that these goals are meaningful and aligned with your long-term vision. An executive coach can help you set both big-picture and smaller, actionable goals. By breaking down large goals into manageable steps, your coach ensures that you stay on track and focused on what truly matters.

Additionally, your coach will help you avoid the trap of setting goals based on external pressures or fleeting desires. Instead, your goals will be rooted in your values and long-term vision, making them more likely to lead to fulfillment and lasting success.

3. Developing Strong Decision-Making Skills

Intentional living requires making decisions that reflect your values and move you closer to your goals. However, executives often face numerous decisions daily, and the sheer volume can lead to decision fatigue or reactive decision-making. An executive coach helps you develop the skills necessary to make decisions that are thoughtful, deliberate, and aligned with your larger objectives.

Your coach will help you create frameworks for evaluating decisions, ensuring that you prioritize what matters most. This process helps you avoid being swept along by external pressures and stay true to your vision.

4. Enhancing Time and Energy Management

For many executives, time is their most precious resource, and managing it effectively is crucial to living intentionally. An executive coach will work with you to assess how you currently spend your time and identify areas for improvement. They can help you establish priorities, delegate tasks more effectively, and create strategies for eliminating distractions and minimizing time-wasting activities.

By optimizing how you manage your time and energy, you free up resources to focus on the activities that truly drive your success and align with your purpose.

5. Improving Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness is at the heart of intentional living. Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, emotional triggers, and behavioral patterns allows you to make more informed decisions and respond thoughtfully to challenges. An executive coach helps you increase your self-awareness by offering feedback, encouraging reflection, and guiding you through tools like emotional intelligence assessments.

By improving your emotional intelligence, you become better equipped to handle high-pressure situations, build stronger relationships, and lead with authenticity. This, in turn, contributes to a more intentional approach to leadership and life.

6. Creating Accountability and Sustainable Change

Living intentionally requires ongoing effort and commitment. An executive coach provides you with the accountability needed to stay on course, ensuring that you continue to make progress toward your goals. Your coach helps you set milestones, track your progress, and celebrate successes along the way.

Furthermore, a coach encourages you to reflect on your challenges and setbacks, learning from them and adjusting your approach as necessary. This continuous cycle of reflection and adaptation ensures that living intentionally becomes a sustainable practice, not just a one-time goal.

The Power of Intentional Leadership

Living intentionally is a transformative way of approaching both life and leadership. For executives, the demands of leadership can often push intentionality to the backburner, but making deliberate choices aligned with your values and long-term vision is the key to sustaining success, happiness, and personal fulfillment.

An executive coach can be an invaluable partner in this journey, offering clarity, guidance, and support to help you create a life that reflects your highest aspirations. Whether you’re looking to refine your decision-making, manage your time more effectively, or develop deeper self-awareness, working with a coach can provide the tools and accountability you need to live and lead with intention.

By investing in intentional living, executives can build more balanced, impactful careers while enjoying greater satisfaction and well-being in both their professional and personal lives.

By Nicki Gilmour, executive and leadership coach, founder and CEO of theglasshammer.com

executive coachIn today’s high-pressure, fast-paced corporate world, executive leadership requires a unique combination of strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and personal resilience. As companies continue to face rapid change, complex challenges, and high expectations, the role of any professional has never been more demanding. For many leaders, the path to success can feel overwhelming, and even the most experienced professionals can benefit from guidance and support to navigate these obstacles. Executive coaching is a powerful resource for leaders who want to sharpen their skills, boost their performance, and develop a more balanced, sustainable approach to work, even if it really is the corporate Olympics.

Unlike traditional mentorship, which typically involves guidance from a senior leader in the same field, executive coaching is a structured, one-on-one process that is specifically designed to address the unique needs and goals of the individual executive.

By working with an executive coach, leaders gain a valuable partner in navigating the complexities of their roles and achieving both personal and professional growth. Every month in 2025 theglasshammer.com will publish career articles focusing on key areas that matter most, drawing from our expertise as coaches and learning professionals. If you’re interested in hiring us as your coach, please refer to the details at the end of the article.

The focus of executive coaching can vary depending on the client’s needs, but generally includes areas such as:

  • Leadership development
  • Decision-making and strategic thinking
  • Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
  • Conflict resolution and team dynamics
  • Wellness, balance and stress management
  • Communication and influence, including gravitas
Enhancing Leadership Skills

Many people are unsure of what a coach does, and the answer often depends on the coach’s experience, skills, and focus. A leadership coach, in particular, specializes in helping you gain a deeper understanding of your leadership style while partnering with you in finding strategies to enhance your effectiveness. For instance, you might work on:

  • Vision and Strategy: Executive coaches can help you refine your long-term vision and ensure your strategic decisions align with both short-term goals and broader organizational objectives.
  • Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Leadership today requires a high level of emotional intelligence. An executive coach helps you become more attuned to your emotions and the emotions of others, leading to better team dynamics, decision-making, and communication.
  • Conflict Resolution: Navigating conflict is an essential skill for any leader. Coaches provide tools to address and resolve conflicts in a way that strengthens relationships and keeps teams moving forward.

By enhancing these and other leadership skills, an executive coach ensures you’re well-equipped to guide your team, make sound decisions, and manage complex challenges.

Developing Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is a cornerstone of effective leadership. To be truly impactful, leaders must understand their strengths, weaknesses, values, and behaviors. This is where an executive coach plays a pivotal role. Through deep, reflective conversations and assessments, coaches help you gain greater clarity on how you show up as a leader. They guide you in identifying:

  • Strengths and Blind Spots: Often, we are unaware of how our behaviors or leadership styles are perceived by others. A coach can help you recognize areas where you excel and areas where you may be limiting your effectiveness.
  • Personal Values and Leadership Alignment: Understanding your core values is critical for authentic leadership. A coach helps you align your actions and decisions with your values, which fosters trust, integrity, and authenticity within your team.
  • Behavioral Patterns: Coaching helps you identify recurring patterns of behavior, whether positive or negative, and understand how these affect your leadership effectiveness and relationships with others.

By becoming more self-aware, you can make more informed decisions, improve relationships, and enhance your impact as a leader.

Improving Communication and Influence

One of the most crucial skills for any executive is the ability to communicate effectively. Whether you’re addressing your team, managing stakeholders, or negotiating with clients, the way you communicate can significantly impact your success. An executive coach can help you:

  • Enhance Listening Skills: Effective communication isn’t just about speaking clearly; it’s also about listening deeply. Coaches work with you to become an active listener, which allows you to understand others’ perspectives, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships.
  • Refine Messaging: Whether you’re delivering a speech, writing a report, or making a pitch, your ability to convey your message clearly and persuasively is critical. A coach can help you tailor your communication style to different audiences and increase your influence.
  • Build Rapport: Trust is the foundation of any leadership relationship. An executive coach can teach you how to build rapport quickly, foster meaningful connections, and create a sense of camaraderie within your team.

Improved communication can help you inspire action, align teams, and influence key stakeholders, leading to better outcomes for both you and your organization.

Navigating Complex Decisions

Executives often face difficult, high-stakes decisions that impact not only their careers but also the direction of their organizations. The pressure to make the “right” decision can be overwhelming, especially when choices are complex and outcomes are uncertain.  An executive coach helps you navigate these decisions by:

  • Providing a Thoughtful, External Perspective: Coaches offer an objective, non-judgmental viewpoint that helps you step back and view problems from different angles. This external perspective can provide new insights that lead to better decision-making.
  • Clarifying Goals and Priorities: In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals. A coach can help you clarify your objectives and evaluate options based on how well they align with your long-term vision and values.
  • Helping Manage Risk: Executive decisions often involve balancing risk and reward. A coach helps you assess risks and make decisions that maximize benefits while minimizing potential downsides.

By helping you make more informed, strategic decisions, an executive coach ensures that you can confidently lead your organization through challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

Work-Life Balance and Stress Management

The demands of executive leadership can lead to burnout if not properly managed. Long hours, constant pressure, and high expectations can leave little time for personal care and relaxation. However, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for sustainable success. An executive coach helps you:

  • Prioritize Well-Being: Coaches work with you to identify areas where you can reduce stress and improve your work-life balance. They might suggest techniques for setting boundaries, managing time effectively, or delegating tasks.
  • Develop Resilience: Leading under pressure requires resilience. A coach can help you build mental and emotional resilience through mindfulness, stress-reduction techniques, and strategies for maintaining focus and clarity under stress.
  • Create Personal Routines: Routines that promote physical health, mental well-being, and personal satisfaction are key for balancing a demanding career. Coaches help you establish daily habits that support your overall health and performance.

By prioritizing well-being and stress management, you can sustain your leadership effectiveness while enjoying a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Accountability and Motivation

One of the most valuable aspects of executive coaching is the accountability it provides. Setting goals and making positive changes can be challenging, especially when juggling the demands of leadership. A coach acts as an accountability partner, keeping you on track and motivated.

  • Setting Clear Goals: Coaches help you set measurable, achievable goals that align with your personal and professional vision. Whether it’s improving leadership skills, navigating a career transition, or expanding your influence, having clear goals is essential for progress.
  • Tracking Progress: Regular check-ins with your coach allow you to track your progress, celebrate wins, and adjust strategies if needed. This accountability helps you stay focused on your long-term objectives.
  • Staying Motivated: An executive coach helps you stay motivated by reminding you of your goals and pushing you to reach higher levels of performance, even when challenges arise.
The Power of Executive Coaching

An executive coach provides invaluable support for professionals looking to enhance their leadership abilities, navigate complex decisions, improve communication, and achieve a better work-life balance. With personalized guidance, actionable strategies, and ongoing accountability, an executive coach helps you unlock your full potential and achieve sustainable success. Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, or a early or mid-level professional, coaching can elevate your performance and transform your career. We will support you and challenge you in equal measure- for all the right reasons.

Investing in an executive coach is an investment in your future, helping you become the leader you aspire to be while thriving both professionally and personally.

We have a cadre of coaches that specialize in different areas. Book Here for an exploratory call. Packages start at $2,500.

By Nicki Gilmour, founder and CEO of theglasshammer.com and executive leadership coach

Heather Garland“It’s important to embrace change and demonstrate adaptability as you grow in your career,” says Heather Garland. “This helped me develop a well-rounded, transferable skill set.”

Garland shares how a growth mindset, being flexible, and viewing challenges as stepping stones can help build the skills and experience for a successful career. Her passion for nurturing her team’s development mirrors her dedication to driving business success, believing that both are not mutually exclusive.

Pursuing opportunities for growth

Garland’s career has been one of continuous growth and reinvention. In college, Garland majored in psychology and wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to pursue. While finishing her degree at night, she took a sales assistant role at AXA and was eventually recruited to join PGIM, where she has now spent more than 25 years building a successful career. Though she didn’t know much about financial services at the time, Garland saw her first role at PGIM as an intriguing challenge.

Dedicated to advancing her career and learning the industry, Garland seized every opportunity through lateral moves, stretch assignments, and professional designations, like the FINRA Series 7 and CIMA certifications.

“There were times I pursued growth opportunities, and other times I was tapped on the shoulder to lead different areas as part of a strategy shift,” she says.

One of those pivotal moments came twelve years ago when Garland transitioned into Marketing, leading marketing communications, product marketing and more recently, client marketing. These experiences became the foundation that launched her into her newly appointed role as Global Chief Marketing Officer, where she leads a team that is shaping the future of PGIM Investments’ marketing strategy.

“There are a number of initiatives and pilot programs underway that ultimately will help drive business growth and enable us to deliver better experiences for our clients,” she says.

Fostering the development of others

For Garland, few things are more rewarding than guiding others as they advance in their careers.  She explains, “One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is helping high performers grow and pursue their goals. I’ve had a number of team members who have moved on to other roles within PGIM or externally. I feel like a proud parent when I see someone take that next step in their career.”

Not only does Garland invest in the growth of her team members, but she is committed to supporting up-and-coming women across PGIM, as she recognizes what a difference it made for her own career.

“I was part of the first pilot program in PGIM Investments, in which I was paired with a mentor outside of my direct team. That experience opened doors for me, eventually leading to my current role.”

Taking leadership to the next level with an executive coach

Beyond the support of mentors and managers in her organization, Garland credits working with a leadership coach as instrumental in shaping her career development. She points to the accountability of meeting with a coach on a regular basis and working on specific goals as beneficial.

“With my coach, I developed a roadmap to focus on building strategic, one-on-one relationships with senior decision-makers in the organization – people I often needed to gain support from or collaborate with. One of the most valuable relationships I’ve built through that process is with our head of sales – a connection who was open and happy to meet with me as part of the growth plan I initiated.”

Another aspect of the coaching experience that Garland finds impactful is receiving input from her peers and leaders as part of a 360-feedback report, giving her the opportunity to reflect on her strengths and potential areas of growth from a multitude of perspectives. This feedback enabled her to create a plan around what to start – and stop doing – to focus on what matters most in her role.

She reflects, “I was also able to look at my functional area differently and recommend a new organizational structure that better aligned with where our business was headed.”

Lessons learned

After 25 years at PGIM, Garland understands that becoming an effective leader requires both time and experience to develop the necessary skills and confidence. She highlights the importance of focusing on progress rather than striving for perfection.

Another key element for career success that Garland emphasizes is self-advocacy. “Whether it’s being considered for a stretch project, a promotion, or a raise – don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. The worst response you’re going to get is ‘No,’ and even that gives you the opportunity to start a dialogue.”

“I used to have the mindset that if I kept my head down and worked hard, I’d be recognized for that and promoted in time. But, in reality, it doesn’t always work out that way. It wasn’t until I started becoming more intentional and vocal about my career goals that those opportunities finally started to come.”

Leaving time for adventure

Outside of work, Garland enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new places with her husband and two kids, both near and far – they took a recent trip to Nicaragua. She also finds joy experimenting in her kitchen – when she has time – and reading, preferably on a beach.

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as work-life balance. I view it more like a seesaw,” Garland says. “There are times where you may need to focus more on work, and times where you need to focus more on your personal life. As leaders, it’s important to understand that for our team members as well.”

By Jessica Robaire

leadership coaching womenLeadership is less about the position you hold and more about the evolution of your influence, especially for professional women who are navigating pivotal transitions in their careers. In encountering this critical juncture where the skills, networks, and mindsets cultivated early on are tested, leadership coaching can play a decisive role in determining whether one’s career plateaus or accelerates forward.

Transitioning from Execution to Strategy

Advancing in leadership often requires moving beyond the direct execution of tasks and projects, demanding more strategic thinking, influence, and team leadership. The challenge becomes less about proving one’s ability to do the work and more about driving the broader vision forward. It’s about expanding influence rather than just increasing output.

Leadership coaching plays a crucial role in helping women navigate this transition with confidence. It focuses on developing a broader perspective, understanding the bigger picture, and aligning individual and team efforts with organizational goals. Coaching provides the tools to shift from a mindset of “getting things done” to one of “driving impact,” enabling women to step into roles where they can influence the direction of their teams and organizations. By working with a coach to identify and leverage their unique strengths, women can transition from being doers to visionary leaders who empower others and drive systemic change.

Navigating Organizational Politics and Power Dynamics

As women ascend the corporate ladder, they encounter a more complex landscape where power dynamics, unspoken rules, and organizational politics become increasingly significant. Research indicates that women, particularly in male-dominated environments, face unique challenges that can hinder their advancement. This includes navigating gender biases, stereotypes, and the intricacies of organizational politics, which are often critical to career progression but are not always transparent. Successfully navigating this environment requires a nuanced understanding of these elements.

A leadership coach can help explore these intricacies of organizational life, supporting women in developing the political acumen needed to lead with influence, build supportive coalitions, and advance their objectives. By honing these skills, women can more effectively navigate the informal and politically charged decision-making processes within their organizations, thus enhancing their ability to lead and drive change.

Strengthening Executive Presence

Executive presence—an amalgamation of confidence, poise, and the ability to command a room—becomes a critical skill for women mid-career. Developing this presence isn’t about imitating others; it’s about discovering and amplifying one’s authentic voice.

Leadership coaching helps women refine their communication style, master the art of influence, and project confidence and authority in every interaction. This skill set is essential for those aspiring to higher leadership roles, as it distinguishes those who are heard and respected from those who have yet to find the power of their voice.

Enhancing Emotional Intelligence for Leadership Excellence

As responsibilities grow, so does the need for emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as those of others. Effective leadership is about more than just decision-making; it’s about inspiring confidence, managing high-stakes relationships, and leading teams with empathy and understanding.

Working with a leadership coach can provide the space to develop and enhance emotional intelligence, equipping women with the skills to handle difficult conversations, manage stress, and lead with empathy and understanding. Emotional intelligence is not just a “nice-to-have” skill; it’s a strategic advantage that can make all the difference in a leader’s ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and drive high performance.

Addressing Work-Life Integration

Balancing career advancement with personal life challenges becomes increasingly important as women progress in their careers. It’s not just about finding balance, but about integrating work and life in a way that makes both fulfilling.

A leadership coach can address work-life integration, helping women develop strategies for managing their time, energy, and priorities. By setting boundaries, delegating effectively, and making intentional choices aligned with their values, women can sustain their success over the long term without sacrificing their well-being.

Mentoring and Sponsorship: Paying It Forward

As women advance in their careers, many begin to mentor and sponsor others, supporting the next generation of talent. Many organizations offer formal mentorship programs, which can create more equitable opportunities than informal mentorship, particularly if mentors are trained on how to create those connections. Building the necessary skills to be effective as a mentor or sponsor is a valuable part of leadership development for women who want to pay it forward.

Leadership coaching emphasizes the importance of mentoring and sponsorship, equipping women with the skills and mindset to be effective in these roles. This not only helps create a more inclusive and supportive organizational culture but also strengthens the leadership capabilities of those who mentor. By investing in others, women leaders can multiply their impact and leave a lasting legacy.

Take that Next Step

Leadership coaching is about more than just advancing—it’s about elevating women’s leadership potential and expanding their impact. By helping them navigate the intricate dynamics of organizational life and harness their influence, coaching empowers women to make the leap from execution to strategic leadership. It builds executive presence, refines emotional intelligence, and provides the framework to lead with both confidence and empathy. Additionally, coaching aids in harmonizing professional ambitions with personal values, fostering a sustainable approach to long-term success.

For those ready to embark on this transformative leadership journey, partnering with a seasoned professional like Nicki Gilmour, Founder of theglasshammer.com, can make all the difference. With a foundation in social-organizational psychology and a dedicated team of experts, Nicki delivers tailored coaching programs that accelerate both career growth and leadership development, paving the way for meaningful impact.  You can book into Nicki’s calendar here for an exploratory coaching session.

By Jessica Robaire

leadership coachWorkplace culture plays a critical role in an organization’s success. A positive culture can enhance employee satisfaction, improve productivity, and foster innovation. Executive and team coaching are powerful tools that can significantly contribute to cultivating an improved workplace culture.

Here’s a look at the benefits of executive and team coaching in transforming workplace culture:

1. Enhanced Leadership Effectiveness

Executive coaching focuses on developing leadership skills and enhancing the effectiveness of leaders within the organization. Benefits include:

  • Self-awareness: Coaches help leaders understand their strengths, weaknesses, and impact on others, fostering greater self-awareness.
  • Decision-making: Improved decision-making abilities through better understanding of different perspectives and critical thinking.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Enhanced emotional intelligence, leading to better management of emotions and relationships.

2. Stronger Team Cohesion

Team coaching fosters a sense of unity and collaboration among team members, leading to:

  •  Increased Trust: Building trust through open communication and shared experiences.
  • Aligned Goals: Ensuring all team members are working towards common objectives and understand their roles.
  • Collaboration: Encouraging collaborative problem-solving and leveraging diverse perspectives.

3. Improved Communication

Effective communication is essential for a healthy workplace culture. Coaching enhances communication skills at both the executive and team levels by:

  • Clarity: Ensuring clear and concise communication of goals, expectations, and feedback.
  • Active Listening: Teaching active listening skills to understand and address concerns and ideas.
  • Conflict Resolution: Providing strategies for resolving conflicts constructively and maintaining positive relationships.

4. Increased Employee Engagement

Engaged employees are more productive, motivated, and committed to their organization. Coaching contributes to employee engagement by:

  • Empowerment: Empowering employees to take ownership of their work and make meaningful contributions.
  • Recognition: Creating a culture of recognition and appreciation for achievements and efforts.
  • Personal Growth: Supporting personal and professional development, leading to greater job satisfaction.

5. Cultivation of a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset encourages continuous learning and improvement. Coaching fosters a growth mindset by:

  • Encouraging Innovation: Promoting a culture where experimentation and innovation are valued.
  • Learning from Mistakes: Viewing failures as opportunities for learning and growth.
  • Continuous Development: Emphasizing the importance of ongoing personal and professional development.

6. Enhanced Problem-Solving and Adaptability

In today’s dynamic business environment, the ability to adapt and solve problems is crucial. Coaching enhances these skills by:

  • Critical Thinking: Developing critical thinking skills to approach problems strategically.
  • Flexibility: Encouraging flexibility and openness to change.
  • Resilience: Building resilience to handle setbacks and challenges effectively.

7. Stronger Organizational Alignment

Coaching helps to align the efforts and goals of individuals, teams, and the organization as a whole. Benefits include:

  • Strategic Alignment: Ensuring that individual and team goals are aligned with organizational objectives.
  • Cultural Consistency: Promoting a consistent and cohesive workplace culture across all levels of the organization.
  • Unified Vision: Creating a shared vision and purpose that motivates and guides employees.

8. Enhanced Accountability

Accountability is crucial for achieving goals and maintaining a positive workplace culture. Coaching enhances accountability by:

  • Goal Setting: Helping individuals and teams set clear, achievable goals.
  • Progress Monitoring: Providing regular check-ins and feedback to track progress and make adjustments.
  • Responsibility: Encouraging a culture of responsibility and ownership for outcomes.

9. Increased Innovation and Creativity

A positive workplace culture that encourages innovation can drive organizational success. Coaching fosters innovation and creativity by:

  • Safe Environment: Creating a safe environment for sharing new ideas and taking risks.
  • Diverse Perspectives: Leveraging diverse perspectives to generate innovative solutions.
  • Encouragement: Encouraging creative thinking and challenging the status quo.

Executive and team coaching offer a multitude of benefits that can significantly improve workplace culture. By enhancing leadership effectiveness, fostering team cohesion, improving communication, increasing employee engagement, cultivating a growth mindset, enhancing problem-solving and adaptability, strengthening organizational alignment, boosting accountability, and promoting innovation and creativity, coaching transforms the workplace into a more positive, productive, and dynamic environment. Investing in coaching not only develops individual and team capabilities but also creates a thriving workplace culture that drives organizational success.

Theglasshammer.com offers six distinct offerings via evolved people coaching so if you need 1) leadership coaching, 2) career coaching 3) team coaching or 4) mentor coaching, 5) business coach or 6) consulting not coaching – organizational development work to help with overall culture, performance or change, please book into Nicki Gilmour’s calendar here (CEO and Founder) to begin to explore and discuss you or your company’s needs. We have a team of 5 coaches and several Ph.D.’s in Organizational Psychology/OD and other disciplines to work with you.

By Nicki Gilmour, CEO and Founder of theglasshammer.com

leadership coachCoaching can change your leadership abilities; it can literally make you a better version of yourself as an executive and a person- it can yield tangible results as well as provide support and a thought partnership. Getting a coach is also the fastest way to help you to advance because coaching offers a personalized and tailored approach to your leadership development. Unlike training programs, coaching focuses on each individual leaders’ unique strengths, challenges, and goals. Through one-on-one sessions, coaches help leaders identify areas for improvement and create actionable plans for growth that align with their specific leadership style and aspirations.

Are You Ready for a Coach?

Some leaders come to coaching with very specific goals or outcomes that they want to achieve. A good coach can help with furthering your objectives and goals by evoking your highest thinking around how to figure out the exact pathways to get there. Coaches can also help you to sanity check your goals, to help refine and define and sometimes tweak the goals. It can be daunting to specifically articulate your desired future state to work towards so gaining clarity in goal setting is very much part of the process as it is through deep conversations with a coach, executives can identify their strengths, values, and areas for growth. This clarity enables you to set ambitious, yet achievable career objectives aligned with your long-term vision. Previous articles here on theglasshammer.com have addressed transformative ways to improve your professional life and specifically coaching is recommended as the fastest, most effective way to not only grow, but get tangible results. Evidence based research shows that coaching female leaders still reaps massive benefits for the coachee and the organization at large; I believe coaching men in conjunction with organizational development of structures, systems and behaviors is the most effective way to ensure the effects of coaching women are amplified.

What Does Coaching Help all Executives and Leaders do Better Exactly?

1. Develop Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence:

Effective leadership begins with self-awareness and emotional intelligence. It has been claimed via research that women demonstrate more EQ naturally then men, but honestly, I believe everyone regardless of gender has a varying amount of self-regulation which is formed over their entire life experience and arguably yes some amount is intrinsic. Coaches work with leaders to deepen their understanding of their own emotions, behaviors, and impact on others and by enhancing self-awareness, leaders can better manage their emotions, build stronger relationships, and make more informed decisions.

It is obvious then that improved communication skills enable leaders to build trust, motivate others, and foster collaboration within their organizations. As leaders become more self-assured and adaptable, they can lead with greater personal conviction and inspire confidence in their teams. A very specific extra skill you should look for in a coach is the ability to help you clear any hidden competing commitments that are lurking in your subconscious preventing you from doing the actions you need to do to actually obtain your goals. It is removing any “immunity to change” that will make the more elusive goals that perhaps you have struggled with for a while, become reachable because we address our inner critic and pour cold water on paradigms that we have been holding for a long time on the “way it is”. Most of us have hidden fears, or even a sense of shame or lack of worthiness and this can be addressed with the right coach who knows how to use a mix of developmental and cognitive theory together to remove any constructs that cause psychological barriers to success. Leadership can be challenging, often requiring confidence to navigate uncertainties and setbacks.

2. Be Better at Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making

Coaching cultivates strategic thinking and decision-making skills among leaders. Coaches encourage leaders to think critically, analyze complex situations, and anticipate future challenges trends. Through guided reflection and exploration, leaders gain the ability to make well-informed decisions that drive individual, team, and ultimately organizational success. Navigating the systemic issues that belong to the company around ways of working is really fundamental. A coach with a background in organizational psychology can enable you to parse what is your development versus what belongs to the organization and the company’s own work for development can feel like a burden is lifted from you and you can focus on what is truly your own work to do.

3. Get Comfortable with your Leadership Style

Coaching encourages leaders to adopt empowering leadership styles that foster growth and development within their teams. Coaches assist leaders in delegating effectively, empowering team members, and nurturing talent. Flexing style is also a key component to being a leader and a coach can privately help any leader learn how to lead in various ways as most of us have a preferred style when it comes to communication, thinking, doing, and even learning. Leadership development through coaching promotes a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. We know that female leaders walk a fine line in style, especially when gender issues are present (most companies!).  Sometimes it is a matter of flexing a communication style and other times it is truly about changing your entire lens on the world to move into a learner mindset and change the questions you ask.

Coaches encourage leaders to seek feedback, embrace new challenges, and embrace lifelong learning. This commitment to growth enables leaders to stay agile and responsive in dynamic business environments.

4. Have Deeper Alignment with Organizational Goals

Coaching is aligned with organizational goals and priorities. Coaches work collaboratively with leaders to ensure that their development efforts support the organization’s vision, values, and strategic objectives. By cultivating leadership skills that directly contribute to organizational success, coaching becomes an integral part of driving performance and achieving results. Team coaching is also an increasingly popular way to connect a senior management team to the culture, strategy and to what is happening in the trenches of their own teams and those of their peers. The “Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Pat Lencioni is a great way to approach team performance challenges as it all starts with trust!

Coaching plays a vital role in developing a pipeline of future leaders within organizations. By investing in coaching for current leaders, organizations groom high-potential individuals for future leadership roles.

Get Started with Executive Coaching Today!

To embark on a transformative leadership journey, consider engaging with a professional coach like Nicki Gilmour, Founder of theglasshammer.com. With a background in social-organizational psychology and a team of experienced associates, Nicki offers tailored coaching programs designed to accelerate career growth and leadership development.

For a comprehensive coaching experience over 6 sessions spanning 12-18 months, book an exploratory session with Nicki or one of her endorsed coaches. Take the first step towards realizing your leadership potential and achieving unprecedented success in your career. Click here for a complimentary 1st mini session (30 minutes long chemistry and goal setting meeting). * Cost of 6 full sessions (a pack) is $2999 or 10 sessions for $4799 – sessions are 90 minutes long. Or bring us in to work with your team – we design and deliver offsites and programs! Check out testimonials on LinkedIn.

By Nicki Gilmour, Founder and CEO of theglasshammer.com

Rachel Lockett“It might seem tough at first, but I’ve come to learn that you have to relax and enjoy the ride. No journey is linear where you must pass A and B, to reach C, or else you’re lost. That’s just not how it works,” says Rachel Lockett.

Lockett shares her thoughts on embracing a career pivot, building leadership skills through diverse experiences, prioritizing team development, and the importance of finding meaning in her work.

Pivoting from the Public to the Private Sector

Lockett’s path into marketing in the beauty industry took an unconventional route, beginning with a career in international relations. Working on the Mexico desk at the State Department while getting a graduate degree, she found herself intrigued by the macro subject matter and sense of altruism behind the work, but ultimately craved a faster pace and more control. This led her to pivot into the private sector, earning an MBA in marketing and finance and joining Johnson & Johnson’s international rotation program before landing a role at L’Oréal in New York.

She reflects, “I was interviewing at the UN while I was interviewing at L’Oréal, but the next phase for the UN was sitting for an exam. When L’Oreal offered me the job, I had to choose. I remember there being a lot of pressure to make a ‘right choice,’ feeling the weight of a decision that might be irreversible.”

Lockett recognizes that even though she felt the heaviness of the decision at the time, she is pleased with the way things turned out, particularly as she never even initially saw herself in the beauty space.

“Initially, I didn’t see myself as a ‘beauty girl,’ but my perception has changed over time. I’ve really grown to adore it. Throughout my career, I’ve delved into various roles in trade marketing, brand marketing, and consumer engagement, all within the beauty vertical. I’ve come to realize that I am, in fact, a ‘beauty girl’ and I proudly embrace this identity.”

Empowering Women to Express their Unique Individuality and Beauty

Lockett finds her marketing career in the beauty industry to be as dynamic as she anticipated, constantly offering new challenges and opportunities that energize her.

“The platforms, retailers and landscape of competitors are always changing…there is also the opportunity to work cross-functionally with retailers, media partners, and event activation vendors, making it both diverse and exciting.”

Her enthusiasm for the work shows through in what she has been able to accomplish, with her team winning an Ogilvy award and two Glossy awards for different brand campaigns. These achievements also reflect her commitment to finding innovative ideas to break through and “introduce MAC to a younger Gen Z consumer.” She continues, “a lot of these efforts have been specifically targeted around those goals and have successfully moved the needle in increasing our awareness among younger multi-ethnic consumers.”

Lockett’s aim for MAC is to continue to promote and expand diverse representations of beauty, whether it be body type, skin color and texture, sexual orientation, or gender, through thoughtful decisions around casting, who they feature on their story wall, influencers they work with, and people they feature on their social handles.

“All of those representations are really powerful, and they make a huge impact on how people see themselves and experience the brand’s transformative effect.” She continues, “it’s about encouraging self-expression and experimentation and affirming that everyone is beautiful in their own way.”

Becoming a Well-Rounded Leader who Uses Her Voice

Lockett emphasizes the dual importance of creativity and operational savvy in marketing leadership. While innovative ideas are significant, effective leadership also hinges on adeptly navigating organizational processes, securing resources, and assembling the right team. She advocates for cultivating leadership skills through diverse experiences rather than solely focusing on moving up the ladder.

“Success stems from a breadth of experiences. The broader your understanding and hands-on involvement across domains, the better equipped you will be to thrive in senior roles. Focusing on the richness and depth of experience versus the speed to get there will pay off in the long-term.”

As Lockett builds on her varied experiences to advance her career, she is committed to using her voice and point of view in how she shows up as a leader, particularly as a woman of color. Even though she finds the beauty industry to generally have more women in leadership roles, she notes that there are noticeably more men in the higher ranks of beauty.

She advocates, “As you move up, it’s important to bring your voice and your experience. Remember to speak up, because you bring a unique perspective and a richness to the conversation or strategy discussion that’s not always represented.”

Valuing the Development and Growth of Her Team

Building relationships and sustaining connections is another key element of Lockett’s leadership style, particularly when it comes to managing a team.

“As your team grows and as your profile becomes more visible cross-functionally, simple gestures like walking around the office, asking about people’s weekends, and fostering personal connections can make a big difference in their engagement and commitment because they know you genuinely care.”

Creating engaged and high-performing teams by letting everyone in on the “why” can also go a long way in making people feel included and that they are an important contributing team member.

“As you progress into senior leadership roles, you may gain insight into the ‘why’ of certain strategies, yet this information may not always trickle down to every team. Pausing to communicate the overarching vision to the broader group and explaining the reasons behind our collective efforts fosters camaraderie, understanding, and an investment from the entire team.”

Beyond engaging her team in the vision, Lockett fosters a strong team dynamic in being accessible and open to hearing feedback, demonstrating that the team has a voice and can influence change. She also looks for opportunities for the team to bond outside the office, whether it be a graffiti class or mini golf, so that the team can get to know one another in a more relaxed atmosphere, as she notes, “it can go a long way when down the line they might be in a challenging conversation or have to work long hours getting ready for a big launch.”

Coaching Helps Connect the Dots

Lockett’s insightful reflections on her development as a leader are testament to the value of executive coaching, a recent experience for her.

“Having external perspective has helped me connect the dots between my experiences and approach to things by having someone externally mirror it back to me. Also, through targeted resources and exercises, I’ve gleaned more insights into how other people learn and how I may need to adapt and present information to effectively communicate and engage with others.”

Lockett notes that the benefit of having someone outside the organization facilitate that reflective process is that it helps reveal potential limiting beliefs or behaviors that may not be beneficial, opening new possibilities for how to approach an issue.

“I’ve seen the impact of leadership coaching reflected in my ability to dedicate more time with my team, listen to their perspectives and advocate for what they need in a way that I may not have in the past.”

Making an Impact with the Relaunch of VIVA GLAM

Lockett is an inspirational leader who not only hopes to make an impact with her team, but also on a macro level through the relaunching of the MAC VIVA GLAM campaign. The charitable arm of MAC, VIVA GLAM has given over half a billion dollars globally to support organizations in their mission to create healthy futures and equal rights for all. Now thirty years after its founding, MAC VIVA GLAM has an expanded mission with new pillars including sexual equality, racial equality, gender equality and sustainability that all markets can tailor with grant funding.

“Being involved with VIVA GLAM is one of my favorite parts of working on MAC. I get to oversee the programs that we will run and the charities that we support, allowing me to play a role in making an impact on something – and someone – that is much bigger than myself.”

Reflecting on where she started with aspirations to work in international relations, she realizes, “finding what’s important to you and how to bring that into your work” is what she values most, and she is excited to have an opportunity to continue to do that in her leadership role at MAC.

By Jessica Robaire

personal developmentIn the ever-changing world of work, it’s essential to continually develop your skills in order to stay ahead of the competition and further your career. This is particularly relevant following the recent evolution of remote working, as new skills are required to operate efficiently. However, the reality is that up to 35% of workers have never sought out training on their own.

Fortunately, there are many ways to begin your personal development journey and stay ahead of the trends. In this article, we cover several different methods of personal development to help you find the best fit.

Undertake training courses

Although personal development isn’t exclusive to training courses, they remain an effective way to pick up new skills. You can find all kinds of courses for almost any area of development, ranging from job-specific to more general soft skills such as communication.

To know which type of training would be most beneficial to you specifically, look at your performance review feedback and your personal goals to see which areas you need to buff up. Especially if you work in a competitive industry, it’s well worth doing your research and staying up to date with emerging trends and technologies that you could learn to help keep you at the front of the pack. If you’re not sure, then make sure to follow some industry leaders on social media, and see what skills they’re displaying that you’re not.

Finding and embarking on a training course is easier than ever in the modern age of remote learning. There’s no longer a need to travel in order to upskill yourself, making it more accessible and convenient. Completing the course remotely also tends to make it a lot cheaper, owing to the typical venue overhead costs being eliminated.

Set achievable goals

Setting goals provides a sense of direction and purpose, motivating workers to focus on their priorities. When setting goals, it’s important to ensure that they’re achievable amongst other things. Using the SMART method can help with this, standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Ask yourself what it is that you want to achieve in order to further your personal development. Once you’ve decided on your target areas of improvement, use that to formulate goals following the SMART method. This can really help to break down a seemingly big task into smaller, more manageable steps.

Use an executive coach

An executive coach is a specialist dedicated to your own personal development. Their industry experience means they’re able to provide clients with detailed advice specific to their own situation. This kind of customized plan is invaluable when it comes to self-improvement, as your coach will be able to help you quickly identify areas of improvement and provide you with tips on how to tackle them.

Be sure to also ask your employer about mentorship opportunities, as they may be able to assign you to someone within the company to help your progress and expand your professional skills. Perhaps you’re interested in learning more about a different department, or leadership skills to help you climb the ladder of success. Being active and seeking new learning opportunities is a great way to show your employer you take your professional progression seriously.

(If you would like to be coached by the founder of theglasshammer, please email nicki@theglasshammer.com or book an exploratory session.)

Learn something new every day

Keeping your brain active can be done in many different ways, and you shouldn’t only focus on work-based learning. Reading regularly, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, exercises your brain and makes you better able to absorb knowledge, improves cognitive function, enhances memory and enriches your vocabulary. These skills are beneficial not just for personal evolution but will also go a long way to furthering your professional pursuits.

From listening to podcasts to learning a new hobby, cooking, or just socializing with new people, there are plenty of ways to enrich your brain and learn new skills to help your professional development.

Work on your existing skills

No matter your industry, there is always room for improvement within your existing skill set. You might think you’re an expert on your current tools, but quite often there are ways to further optimize your work.

Think about what your typical day consists of and do some research on the tools you use the most often. Sometimes something as simple as watching a quick video online can provide you with new shortcuts or ideas, but if you’re looking for more in-depth knowledge, consider reaching out to a coworker or friend that’s familiar with the tool.

You might find that you can both learn things from each other that can help to make you more productive. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, so make sure you’re taking the time to invest in yourself.

By: Kathleen White, who works as an independent business analyst for several small businesses. She completed her degree in Business and Management. She enjoys writing in her spare time to share what she has learned, in hopes of benefiting other businesses.

(The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).