Manager Moving into Senior Leadership

A mid-level manager in a financial services company had been promoted to a senior leadership role overseeing multiple departments. The manager struggled with stepping back from the hands-on work and delegating tasks, often getting caught up in operational details rather than focusing on strategy.

We focused on changing their mindset from task-oriented to strategy-focused leadership. Through regular coaching sessions, we discussed the importance of trusting their team, building strategic alliances with other departments, and focusing on higher-level goals.

The manager began delegating operational responsibilities to his direct reports and department heads, and began shifting their focus to building relationships with other senior leaders,and aligning departmental goals with the broader company strategy. We also worked on building the manager’s executive presence to enhance their influence in the leadership team.

Over the course of six months, the manager became more confident in their senior leadership role. They reported greater clarity in their strategic thinking and a noticeable improvement in team performance. Their executive presence also improved, leading to more effective collaboration with other leaders.