Mastering the Bird's Eye View: A Game-Changer for Corporate Coaches

As corporate coaches, we're often called upon to solve problems and drive change. But what if our most powerful tool isn't what we say or do, but how we observe? This is where developing a "bird's eye view" becomes a game-changer.

The bird's eye view is about stepping back from the day-to-day operations and seeing patterns, behaviors, and dynamics that might be invisible to those on the ground. It's about being a trusted advisor who can offer a fresh, outside perspective that illuminates blind spots and catalyzes positive change.

Let me share a personal experience that illustrates the power of this approach. I was once called in to "fix" a broken team. Instead of jumping in with solutions, I chose to simply observe their interactions during a retreat. What I saw was telling: the leader monopolized the conversation for 45 minutes straight, while team members visibly disengaged, checking their watches and phones. The leader, caught up in his own monologue, was oblivious to this dynamic.

By maintaining that bird's eye view, I was able to help the leader see and address this destructive pattern. My solution was simple yet effective: I asked the leader to remain silent for two hours. The result? A lively, productive conversation among team members who finally had space to contribute.

This story underscores a crucial point: often, the most valuable insights come not from what we say or do as coaches, but from what we observe and then gently bring to our clients' attention.

So how can we develop this bird's eye view? Here are some strategies I've found effective:

1. Practice mindful observation: In your next coaching session, try to focus less on the content of what's being said and more on the dynamics at play. Who's speaking? Who isn't? What's the energy in the room?
2. Ask powerful questions: Instead of offering solutions, ask questions that help your clients gain their own bird's eye view. "What patterns do you notice in your team's interactions?" "If you were observing this situation from the outside, what would you see?"
3. Resist the urge to problem-solve: Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is create space for our clients to see and solve their own problems.
4. Cultivate diverse experiences: The more varied your experiences and perspectives, the better equipped you'll be to offer a truly outside view to your corporate clients.
5. Regular reflection: Take time after each coaching engagement to reflect on what you observed. What did you notice that your client might have missed?

To truly embody this approach, we need to position ourselves outside the corporate bubble. As I often say, "I don't want to be in corporate. I want to be as far away as possible, they already are in their world. I want to be outside so I can see what they don't see"

This distance allows us to observe not just what is being said, but how it's being said, and perhaps more importantly, what isn't being said. It's about reading the room, noticing body language, and picking up on subtle dynamics that might be holding a team back.

Remember, our value as corporate coaches lies not in being another insider, but in offering a perspective that insiders simply can't see. By developing our bird's eye view, we position ourselves to be truly trusted advisors, capable of catalyzing transformative change in the organizations we serve.

As coaches, we're not there to throw around opinions or make decisions for our clients. We're there to help them see what they can't from within their own world. And for that, we need a bird's eye view.

So, let's spread our wings, rise above the fray, and embrace the power of the bird's eye view. It's from this vantage point that we can truly make a difference in the corporate world.