Transitioning to a new role is a challenging phase for many leaders. To navigate this period with grace and fortitude, they can get help from transition coaches. Nirupama VG, Founder, AdAstra Consultants, says transition coaches have become critical in today’s business environment as skilled leaders struggle initially after securing their desired position.
Entering new leadership positions can feel like a pressure cooker — navigating uncharted territory, facing high expectations and leading a team needing guidance. The sink-or-swim method is no longer relevant. She cites research from Acuity Partners that shows that 40% of new executives do not succeed in their first 18 months.
This makes the role of a transition coach important. Leaders in large conglomerates typically go through certain career paths that involve transitions in roles, says Rajiv Krishnan, MD & CEO of Ma Foi Strategic Consultants Pvt Ltd. They would need to have exposure to high-growth businesses, turnaround situations, building businesses from scratch, improving profitability, managing costs, tapping adjacencies and exploring alliances.
“Now if you have either joined laterally or the conglomerate is not perspicacious enough to help you garner these experiences, it is very possible that you may be pitchforked into a situation for which you are unprepared. Such situations crop up all the time and the situation requires transition coaching. Just as a pilot boat shepherds the ocean liner through treacherou.
