Solving Conflict and Getting Alignment
What is Alignment Coaching?
Alignment Coaching is designed for two or three high performers who need to work better together, whether it’s due to differing personalities, communication styles, or organizational visions. This coaching helps bridge any gaps and ensures both individuals are on the same page.
Through structured coaching sessions, Alignment Coaching addresses and resolves misunderstandings, enhances communication, and aligns their goals, ultimately nurturing a more cohesive and productive working relationship. Whether they’re on different pages or in entirely different books, Alignment Coaching is the solution to get them working in harmony, and well…..having better alignment!
Why Get Alignment Coaching?
The dynamic between leaders in your organization can get complicated. Alignment Coaching ensures your key players are not just co-existing but actively collaborating toward a unified vision. Our expert coaches will facilitate conversations that resolve lingering conflicts, define clear roles for both individuals in the coaching, and create a roadmap to work together effectively to achieve organizational goals.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Enhanced Collaboration: Develop a more collaborative and unified approach between two key players, ensuring they work together effectively towards shared goals.
- Acceptance of Different Styles: Promote understanding and appreciation of diverse working styles, leading to a more inclusive and adaptable team dynamic.
- Conflict Resolution: Address and resolve lingering conflicts or toxic behaviors, creating a healthier and more productive working relationship.
- Clear Role Definition: Define clear roles and responsibilities, reducing ambiguity and improving overall efficiency and focus.
- Improved Communication: Enhance communication skills between two individuals, leading to fewer misunderstandings.
- Increased Productivity: Create a more harmonious working environment, which can lead to higher productivity and better results.
Who Should Consider Alignment Coaching?
Alignment Coaching is ideal for two or three people in any of the following situations:
- Executive Pairs: Top-level leaders who need to ensure their strategies and visions are aligned for the organization’s success.
- Department Heads: Leaders from different departments who must work closely together and often face conflicting priorities or approaches.
- Project Leads: Individuals managing joint projects who need to synchronize their efforts and collaborate seamlessly.
- Co-Founders: Business partners looking to strengthen their working relationship and align their goals and strategies.
- Manager and Direct Report: Team members who need to enhance their working relationship, improve communication, and align on performance goals.
- Leader and Executive Assistant: Pairs who need to coordinate tasks, manage priorities, and support each other’s success efficiently.
The DLCC Way: Our Proven Process for Alignment Coaching
At Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting (DLCC), we follow a strategic, proven process for everything we do. This is our commitment to ensure an effective partnership and sets the stage for what you can expect when working with us. It’s what we call “The DLCC Way!”
Determine fit and desired outcome • We begin by assessing whether our services align with your goals and vision for the two of you involved in the Alignment Coaching. This initial phase involves understanding your objectives and determining the best path forward to achieve them. This includes:
- Initial conversations with both of you, the DLCC Coach Coordinator, and potential coaches using our Coach Match Process.
- Discussing confidentiality and other coaching best practices.
Learn current state • We explore your capabilities, challenges, and relationship dynamics. We identify your coaching goals to work on during the engagement. This step includes:
- Both of you completing a comprehensive pre-questionnaire to jumpstart the coaching. The questionnaires are then shared with both people involved in the Alignment Coaching.
- Conducting a two-hour Initial Discovery Session to set expectations, design your coaching alliance, and identify the goals for the coaching.
- Conducting an initial Sponsor session with both of you, your coach, and your sponsor (if involved) to discuss coaching goals.
- Completing Kolbe assessments and reviewing your comparison reports.
Create an exceptional client experience • During the coaching engagement, both of you and your coach engage in powerful sessions designed to increase awareness and identify new actions. Coaching provides the structure and accountability needed to supercharge results. During this step you can expect:
- Bi-weekly coaching sessions with both of you and your coach.
- One Sponsor session with both of you, your coach, and your sponsor (if involved) to discuss progress towards coaching goals and areas to continue to focus on during the coaching engagement.
- Unlimited email, text, and phone support for laser coaching between sessions.
Conduct an intentional completion • Upon concluding our engagement, we ensure a smooth transition by providing actionable insights and clear next steps. We help you maximize your investment by integrating the learnings into your ongoing leadership and team development efforts. This final step includes:
- Complete a Coaching Completion Form to reflect on new learnings and assess the coaching goals.
- Conduct a final session to celebrate successes, identify gaps, and determine the next steps.
- Conduct a final Sponsor session with both of you, Coach, and Sponsor (if involved) to discuss and celebrate progress toward the coaching goals and ways to maximize the investment.
- Determine specific action items to continue development beyond the coaching engagement.
Meet Our Expert Coaches
Our alignment coaches at DLCC are seasoned professionals who specialize in effective collaboration and conflict resolution. With a deep understanding of team dynamics and interpersonal relationships, our coaches are dedicated to helping you and your colleagues work together seamlessly.
What Our Alignment Coaching Clients Are Saying
Naomi Levesque
Vice President of Operations, Power System Engineering
I owe deep gratitude to Jill, with DLCC, for her thoughtful approach when coaching me through a difficult chapter in my career where a cherished friendship evolved into professional relationship. As friends and co-workers, deep misunderstandings had created tension, driving a wedge between us and making collaboration almost impossible. Jill’s expert coaching and guidance helped us navigate a highly emotional situation, breaking the ice, and finding effective ways for us to communicate and rebuild trust. Today, three years later, we are a true partnership – one built on creating a safe, honest, and respectful working environment where we can lean on each other’s strengths, acknowledge our misgivings with respect, and press forward with empathy and kindness. I highly recommend DLCC for anyone facing workplace relationship challenges that also touches matters of the heart.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Alignment Coaching
What is Alignment Coaching?
Alignment Coaching focuses on improving collaboration and communication between two key individuals within an organization. It aims to resolve conflicts, define clear roles, and create a unified approach towards achieving organizational goals.
Can we have more than two people participate in Alignment Coaching?
Only two people. If you have three or more people, take a look at our Team Coaching options.
Who can benefit from Alignment Coaching?
Alignment Coaching is ideal for executive pairs, department heads, project leads, co-founders, managers and direct reports, supervisors and support staff, and any other pairs experiencing interpersonal challenges or needing to align their efforts.
How long does the Alignment Coaching process take?
The duration of Alignment Coaching varies depending on the specific needs and goals of the clients. Contracts typically begin at three or six months.
What’s the difference between Alignment Coaching and mediation?
Alignment Coaching is proactive and focuses on improving collaboration and communication between two individuals. It aims to build stronger working relationships and align efforts towards common goals for long-term success. Mediation is reactive, dealing with specific disputes that have already escalated. A neutral mediator facilitates resolution, often resulting in a formal agreement. In essence, Alignment Coaching enhances ongoing collaboration, while mediation resolves specific conflicts.
In Alignment Coaching, the coach does not act as a mediator and does not assess who is “right” or “wrong” in a conflict or approach. The coach works with both clients to identify the way forward.
Is Alignment Coaching confidential?
Yes, confidentiality is a key component of our Alignment Coaching process. The coach will not disclose anything discussed in coaching goals. Ideally, both clients agree to keep conversations confidential as well.
How do you measure the success of Alignment Coaching?
Success is measured through the achievement of predefined goals set by both people in the Alignment Coaching.
What happens if progress is slow or there are setbacks during the coaching process?
Progress rarely occurs in a straight line. If progress is slow or setbacks occur, our coaches will work closely with the participants to understand the underlying issues and adjust the coaching plan as needed. Flexibility and adaptability are key components of our approach, ensuring that we address challenges promptly and keep the participants on track toward their goals.
How do you involve sponsors in the coaching process?
Sponsors are involved at key stages of the coaching process to ensure alignment and support. This includes initial conversations to set goals and expectations, periodic check-ins to monitor progress, and final evaluations to review outcomes and plan next steps. Their involvement helps reinforce the importance of the coaching engagement and provides additional perspectives and support.
Can you guarantee success?
While we can’t guarantee specific outcomes, we can ensure that our proven Alignment Coaching process and experienced coaches significantly increase the chances of success. The results depend on the commitment and engagement of the participants. Our role is to provide the tools, guidance, and support necessary for fostering collaboration and achieving shared goals.
Can Alignment Coaching be done virtually?
Yes, Alignment Coaching can be conducted virtually through video conferencing, making it accessible and convenient for clients regardless of their location.
What kind of commitment is required from participants?
Participants are expected to be open, willing to engage, and committed to the coaching process. This includes attending regular coaching sessions, completing any assignments or tasks between sessions, and actively participating in discussions. A genuine commitment to improvement and collaboration (even if they aren’t sure how it will happen) is essential for achieving the best results.
What if one or both of the participants is resistant to coaching?
Resistance to coaching is not uncommon. For Alignment Coaching to be effective, both participants need to be open and willing to engage. Our initial assessment helps determine readiness and fit, and we focus on building buy-in and commitment from all parties. While there may be hesitation to address conflict, maintaining the status quo is often not sustainable. Introducing a neutral third party, like an Alignment Coach, can be the catalyst needed to move things in the right direction.
Is Alignment Coaching only for people in conflict?
No! Alignment Coaching is highly effective when two people want to take their collaboration to the next level. It helps build stronger, more cohesive working relationships, even in the absence of conflict.
How do I get started with Alignment Coaching?
To get started, schedule an initial call with us to discuss your specific needs and goals. We’ll partner with you every step of the way.