The importance of these skills becomes all the more evident in an organization where the culture is changing as the economy brings new organizational demands, managers leave/arrive or are reassigned and production requirements are more exact and demanding.  And yet some of the requisites of good leadership may not have kept pace with this growth. The end result is a slew of problems that ultimately waste our energy and obstruct streamlined production effectiveness.

In this project with a southern Ontario manaufacturer, the project team worked with the CEO, managers and supervisors for over 14 months.  The objectives were to

1. Clarify supervisory/managerial/executive roles and responsibilities.

1. Provide individualized and group coaching to deal with the relevant, real life issues found within the organization and to develop goals for both the individual and the teams. 

1. Develop an agreed upon system for managers and supervisors and managerial/supervisory teams to support one another on a continual basis.

1. Determine skill sets that are lacking or under utilized and develop/implement strategies that will reflect the organizations goals and values.

1. Determine authority/accountability/responsibility issues, probable solutions, and proposed implementation

The process as described herein was divided into two phases.  Phase one focused on eight (8) managers and the CEO.  Phase two, focused on the supervisory staff and included an emphasis on their relationship with the management team.

The process included both individual coaching and group meetings.  Meetings with the executive group focused primarily on what’s happening and why; the management and supervisory groups focused on skill development, strategies and organizational objectives; nevertheless, participants at all levels received individual coaching.

There were other objectives and strategies included in the process.  This organization was able to weather the economic meltdown more successfully than might otherwise have been without these interventions.