Do you have a work mode and a home mode? And does the work-you have much to do with the home-you? Because you aren’t delegating, giving presentations, or chairing meetings with your spouse. However, from my experience, leaders carry the same habits and behaviours from the work environment to the home.
So, I’ve been helping leaders use this to their advantage.
Last year, I had the pleasure of working with David who wanted to improve how he communicated, so I suggested he enrol his wife as one of his stakeholders. Every month she gave him feedback, tips, and suggestions about how he could up his game. And it was a big success.
So now I encourage my clients to involve their partner or family (if they’re willing, of course). The behaviour change must be something the family will observe, but you’d be surprised how often it is.
If you’re working on becoming a better listener, who better to practice on than your partner? They will appreciate the effort – I guarantee it.
How about if you’re aiming to stop solving everyone else’s problems? Do you have any teenagers in the house? Can you stop stepping in and help build their resilience?
Are you trying to be more optimistic and opportunity sensing? How about your next family holiday. Can you take a constructive mindset to stress and keep open to creative solutions if things go wrong?
Would you be willing to share your coaching goals with your spouse?
