“One of my colleagues said to me, ‘I got my Master’s in ‘pivoting’ from this institution.’ I thought to myself, ‘I don’t have this skill yet.”
This candid comment, shared by a participant during a Coaching Circle for senior university leaders, was met with sympathetic nods and murmurs of affirmation. In today's higher education landscape, defined by constant change and disruption, these "we've been there" responses were hardly surprising. After all, the leaders in the room were constantly required to "pivot"—to navigate uncertainty, complex interpersonal relationships, personnel management, student issues, and budget constraints with nuance.
Nebo Coaching Circles: Developing Individuals, Teams, and the Institution.
The Nebo Company’s Coaching Circles bring together peer leaders for a facilitated leadership development process focused on mutual learning. In this instance, the Coaching Circle participants held similar senior leadership positions at the same institution; the Coaching Circles offered the opportunity to step outside the daily demands of their roles to:
Over several months, this cohort engaged in candid conversations, like the one above, and structured leadership development to support them through the inevitable twists, turns, and pivots of leadership. From this group of leaders, we observed the following key outcomes:
Sparking a Professional Network.
Though these leaders worked at the same institution, they didn't frequently collaborate. The Coaching Circles provided a chance for them to step out of their functional “silos” and connect as fellow leaders. They shared perspectives on navigating leadership challenges and on developing connections with colleagues who could relate, offer insights, and serve as resources to one another.
Connecting as Professionals and as People.
Beyond building a professional network, the participants embraced the opportunity for deeper interpersonal connections. As busy leaders, they rarely had the opportunity for deep, dedicated one-on-one time with peers. Through exercises that placed them in partners or small groups, they relished the chance to share experiences and connect more closely.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
All participants were experts in their fields, yet they all identified areas for growth as leaders. Leadership communication topics—such as deep listening, delegation, and making clear requests—were a "growth edge" for many. At each session, participants selected a topic to practice “in the field” before the next Circle. To increase accountability, each session began with small group discussions about what they practiced and learned.
On-going Leadership Development, Not “One and Done.”
As the series concluded, numerous participants highlighted the benefit of the regular, facilitated sessions. The monthly cadence provided a consistent touchpoint for the group while leaving enough time between sessions to practice new skills and behaviors. This intentional, extended pace allowed the cohort experience to truly develop over many months, moving beyond a one-time workshop or training.
Through this Coaching Circle experience, these senior university leaders built trust, strengthened relationships, and learned and practiced key concepts about effective leadership. While the demands on higher education are constant, these participants are now better equipped with essential skills and a collegial support system to successfully navigate the challenges ahead and pivot with greater flexibility and resilience.
If you are curious about how Coaching Circles could strengthen the leaders within your institution, contact us today to schedule a conversation.
Photo by chris robert on Unsplash.