What does ‘unleadble’ means?

Scott Clancy is a retired Major General with the Royal Canadian Air Force. With 37 years of experience as a tactical helicopter pilot and in various leadership roles, including Director of Operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Scott has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in leadership and coaching.

A trusted and insightful military leader, Scott’s energy and passion for people, coaching, and leading is infectious.

In this episode, Scott shares his experiences in mentoring and coaching leaders who were initially deemed “unleadable”. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the root issues and providing frank and forthright feedback to help individuals improve and succeed.

Why you have to check out today’s podcast:

  • Gets insights on fostering skill sets in leaders to become extraordinary coaches.
  • Learn the importance of self-awareness, team awareness, and understanding the different perspectives of leadership and coaching.
  • Know the six essential tips for aligning and engaging teams with the mission, including knowing what needs to be accomplished, understanding the boss’s intent, and breaking down the vision into tasks.

Topics Covered:
02:02  – Introduction of Scott Clancy
02:57 – Fostering skill sets for extraordinary leadership
04:12 – Six essentials to align and engage a team with the mission
06:05 – Tips for preventing stress 06:00 Examples of addressing stress issues
10:21 – Importance of feedback for behavior change
13:10 – Leading the “unbelievable” and changing their behavior
16:23 – Example of addressing insubordination and family issues
18:38 – Differences between Canadian and American military cultures
22:58 – Overview of the book “Developing Coaching Leaders
Key Takeaways:

  • Foster skill sets in leaders by promoting self-awareness, team awareness, and understanding the different perspectives of leadership and coaching.
  • Align and engage teams with the mission by knowing what needs to be accomplished, understanding the boss’s intent, and breaking down the vision into tasks.
  • Prevent and manage stress by prioritizing sleep, exercise, mindfulness, and setting intentions.
  • Cultivate behavior change through feedback loops rooted in the vision, with multiple inputs and a balance of subjectivity and objectivity.
  • Understand the root issues and provide frank and forthright feedback to help individuals improve and succeed.

Connect with Scott Clancy

More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/ 

Note: This article is based on the insights and perspectives shared by Scott Clancy in the Excellent International Leadership podcast episode. All quotes and ideas are directly sourced from the transcript of the episode.

Developing Coaching Leaders: Fostering Extraordinary Leadership Skills

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Scott Clancy, a retired Major General with the Royal Canadian Air Force. With 37 years of experience as a tactical helicopter pilot and various leadership roles, Scott brings a unique perspective on fostering skill sets and developing extraordinary leaders.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Scott shares his insights on the importance of self-awareness, team awareness, and understanding the different perspectives of leadership and coaching. He also provides valuable tips for preventing stress and highlights the significance of feedback in cultivating behavior change.

Furthermore, Scott delves into his book, “Developing Coaching Leaders: The Fundamentals and Techniques That Make Leaders Extraordinary,” where he explores the essential elements of leadership and coaching. Let’s dive into the key themes discussed in this enlightening conversation.

Fostering Skill Sets: The Bridge Between Leadership and Coaching

Scott emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and team awareness as essential skill sets for leaders and coaches. He believes that leaders must reflect on themselves and their teams to bridge the gaps between leadership and coaching. According to Scott, “Being self-aware, whether it’s through journaling, meditation, or other practices, allows leaders to understand themselves and their teams better.” He also highlights the significance of understanding the different perspectives of leadership and coaching. While leaders focus on leading teams toward a vision and performance goals, coaches guide individuals toward personal development and success.

Aligning and Engaging Teams with the Mission

Scott outlines six essentials for aligning and engaging teams with the mission:

  1. Know what you need to accomplish: Understanding the vision and mission is crucial for leaders to set performance-based goals.
  2. Know your boss’s intent: Leaders must grasp the organization’s direction and goals to align their teams effectively.
    Understand how your team relates to the mission: Team awareness is essential for leaders to connect with their team members and understand their perspectives.
  3. Break down the vision into tasks: Leaders should translate the vision into actionable tasks and help team members see how their individual development contributes to the mission.
  4. Execute and coach: Leaders must guide their teams through the execution of tasks and provide coaching support along the way.
  5. Sustain the vision: Creating a culture that reinforces the vision and values is crucial for long-term success.
    Scott’s approach emphasizes the importance of clear communication, task breakdown, and ongoing coaching to ensure alignment and engagement within the team.

Preventing Stress: Tips for Leaders

Stress is a common challenge for leaders, especially in high-pressure environments. Scott shares his tried and tested tips for preventing stress:

  1. Prioritize sleep: Getting enough rest is crucial for maintaining mental and physical well-being.
  2. Stay fit: Regular exercise helps reduce stress and promotes overall health.
  3. Be mindful of what you eat and drink: Enjoying meals mindfully and savoring the experience can contribute to stress reduction.
  4. Practice self-awareness: Meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and gratitude can significantly help in fighting stress.
  5. Engage in hobbies and socialize: Having activities outside of work and connecting with others can provide a much-needed break from stress.
  6. Create space for intention: Setting aside time for reflection and intention-setting before engagements can reduce reactive stress and promote deliberate action.

Scott’s tips highlight the importance of self-care, self-reflection, and intentional living to prevent stress and maintain overall well-being.

Feedback: Cultivating Behavior Change

Feedback is a powerful tool for leaders and coaches to cultivate behavior change. Scott emphasizes the need for feedback loops rooted in the vision and purpose of the organization. He suggests having multiple input vectors for feedback, including subjective and objective measures. Scott also emphasizes the importance of revisiting feedback loops routinely to ensure continuous improvement. He states, “Good feedback loops lead to self-awareness, which allows leaders to become better coaches and leaders.”

Scott shares an example of an executive leader who had never received frank and forthright feedback on their personal competencies. By providing honest feedback and helping the individual understand their limitations, Scott was able to foster personal growth and improve the leader’s effectiveness. He believes that feedback is essential for elevating the relationship between leaders and their teams, promoting trust, and driving long-term success.

Leading the Unleadable: Leading Through Challenges

Scott introduces the concept of the “unleadable” to describe individuals who may be insubordinate or resistant to following orders. He believes that these individuals require additional mentoring and coaching, even if it means leaving the organization. Scott shares an example of an individual who refused to take on leadership responsibilities before a deployment. By understanding the root cause of the resistance, Scott was able to address the underlying issues and foster a more productive relationship.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

In his book, “Developing Coaching Leaders: The Fundamentals and Techniques That Make Leaders Extraordinary,” Scott explores the essential elements of leadership and coaching. He emphasizes the importance of adding coaching skills to the skill sets of leaders to create more meaningful relationships and drive success. By fostering self-awareness, team awareness, and feedback loops, leaders can become extraordinary coaches and leaders.

The insights shared by Scott Clancy provide valuable guidance for leaders and coaches seeking to develop their skills and create a positive impact within their organizations. By prioritizing self-awareness, aligning teams with the mission, preventing stress, and embracing feedback, leaders can cultivate behavior change and foster extraordinary leadership.

Scott’s book serves as a comprehensive guide for leaders looking to enhance their coaching abilities and create a culture of success.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of leadership, it is essential to embrace the principles of coaching and develop the skills necessary to lead with excellence. By incorporating the strategies and techniques shared by Scott Clancy, leaders can create a lasting impact and drive their organizations toward success.