JOSEPH RICE

Coaching Impact

What specific results or improvements have you seen as a result of the coaching?

Tom helped me to see myself. He observed me in various settings including meetings and committees and provided me with real-time feedback. Tom evaluated every aspect of my style including body language, listening skills, questions that I asked of my team. He performed a 360 review, interviewing my staff, my peers and key business partners, and my superiors. He gave me a clear and unbiased view with recommendations on things I needed to work on.

Today, I am much more patient in how I evaluate business issues, resisting my natural urge to react immediately and taking all of the available information into consideration.

I can still make fast decisions but that is a skill that I used as needed and is not the default.

I learned to trust my team and to surround myself with skilled and trustworthy team members.

I have taken my new awareness with me into high risk situations and was successful in resolving critical issues and communicating effectively to my stakeholders (senior management, Boards, regulators and staff).

Can you share an example of a challenge you faced and how the coaching helped you overcome it?

My institution was under stress and I organized and ran the efforts to manage through that stress successfully.

At a later institution, I was in the position of being the risk coverage for Treasury in a firm that did not respect its Risk Management function. I took the time to listen and to make changes to the Risk function to make us more effective and a partner to the Treasurer, making that function more effective as well.

4. Program Structure

What aspects of the coaching did you find most valuable (e.g., 1:1 sessions, tools/techniques, action planning)?

The 360 degree review was the most helpful and that feedback was provided to me during the 1:1 sessions. For me, it was about being aware of what others truly thought of me. Also, my style need work, especially listening but also my physical habits like folding my arms and raising my voice.

5. Coach’s Effectiveness

How would you describe your coach’s style and effectiveness in supporting your growth and development?

I was promoted to a role that I was technically ready to take on but needed style changes on a battlefield promotion basis. Initially, I was the "Acting Treasurer" Tom's guidance helped me demonstrate that I was ready for the role to a boss that was not convinced when he put me in the "Acting" role. With Tom's help, I was able to make a very convincing case that I was the right choice, the only choice for the role. I credit Tom's guidance for me losing the "acting" in my title and getting promoted to Managing Director.

Were there any specific strategies or insights shared by your coach that you found particularly impactful?

6. Additional Insights

My relationship with my team improved. The trust I placed in them increased the trust they had in me. I have not worked with these people in many years and we are still friends that get together a few times each year.

My relationship with other senior managers also improved and a mutual trust developed. I am also still friends and get together with these people as well and we share our experiences and have each other as

Do you feel more equipped to handle your professional responsibilities and challenges after this program? Please explain.

I attribute my successes both at the bank and after to the lessons I learned from Tom. How I carry myself and how I take the time to listen have made new professional relationships easier to forge and have helped me address difficult situations. I am a consultant now and the listening skills are especially helpful as I service my clients.

Career Coaching