Coaching Program for a Board Member in a Media Company

An investment banker from a large German bank is, at 40 years old and after a picture-book career, appointed to the board of a media company. He is an acknowledged expert in his area and in the deepest sense of the words, “truly bankable”.

Executive Communication

In his new function he meets experienced media experts, journalists, technicians and company advisors, with whom he has had no previous experience in his professional life. With his personal behavior he puts up invisible barriers against cooperation with others; the communication style that is considered to be customary and proper in the world of bank and finance is interpreted as arrogant, technocratic and unrealistic in the media world. His lack of experience in the media world and his lack of contacts among important media players, together with his young age, further weaken his acceptance by the committee members.

Relationship Management

Because he was originally proposed for the job by shareholders of the company, the other board members treat him politely but distantly. His other colleagues also keep their distance, making no effort to integrate him into the committee. Already in the chemistry meeting the new board member works with his coach on the three important areas of work and development in which rapid action is essential. Together they set priorities for personal behavior, communication and work relationship activities, and contact and work partners, priorities which the board member adopts and uses to brave a new start. The board member and his coach develop a work program, in which the board member – atypically for him – agrees to arrange personal dates with his committee members and partners. He dares to show more of his own personality, and to ask openly for help and information and let them know that he wants to get to know the new world of the media with the help of his colleagues and quickly learn their language.

Through his great expertise and outstanding network in the bank and finance worlds the board member succeeds in establishing valuable new contacts for the media company, and as soon as he supplies relevant information to the board of directors as well as to the managing board they quickly forget his missing media experience.

Result

After a few months his role on the board and the behavior of most of his colleagues have radically changed. He is valued as a new colleague because of his different ways, and no longer kept at a distance. Together with his coach he keeps working with dedication to avoid falling back into the habitual behavior patterns of an “arrogant investment banker”, to effectively map out his work as a board member, and to gain new contacts in the media world.