154 50 TOPEXECUTIVECOACHES
THOUGHT LEADERS
Phil Harkins
Getting the Organization
to ClickI
t’s not easy shifting an organization to a new direction. No single leader, no
matter how visionary, driven, or persuasive, can mandate such change to
occur. Whether the shift derives from a change in the leadership team, a new
capability, a reorganization, a product launch, or a next-generation informa-
tion system, success hinges on the organization’s willingness and capacity to
execute. To secure the commitment and drive of others, the leader ’s rela-
tionship with his or her team must be high-functioning; diverse perspectives
and agendas must be aligned with a common sense of mission; and passionate
champions throughout the organization must be enlisted in the cause. It’s a
complex set of dynamics that few can manage unassisted. Enter the coach
who helps the organization hit the ground running.
Unlike traditional coaching, which is typically one on one and focused on
performance improvement, coaching for organizational change concerns the
capabilities and relationships of any number of leaders and teams. The effec-
tive coach is part social psychologist and part organizational development ex-
pert with a sound business orientation and an acute understanding of what it
takes to build alignment, teamwork, and trust. The objective is to get the or-
ganization onto the same page, singing from the same hymnal, charging in
the same direction. Because so many people are involved and so much is at
stake, doing so can seem like an over whelming challenge. But in my experi-
ence, the essence is simple. It all comes down to creating a sense of click.Phil Harkins is the President and CEO of Linkage, Inc.,
a global organizational development company that spe-
cializes in leadership development. A recognized expert
on leadership and communications, Phil is the author of
Powerful Conversations: How High-Impact Leaders
Communicate as well as Everybody Wins,a book on the
growth story and strategy ofRE/MAX. Phil shares the
chairmanship of Linkage’s Global Institute for Leader-
ship Development with Warren Bennis. He can be
reached by e-mail at [email protected].