Torch Coaching

In my 2.5 years at Torch, we have navigated an incredible amount of change - much like all of your companies. We’ve had - M&A integration - Platform migration - Layoffs and reorgs - A lot of leadership change (CEO included! ????♀?) - A crazy number of people for our small organization go on parental leave (then-COO included! ????♀?) - Cultural strengthening as well as culture shifts toward new ways of working - Scaling and driving more efficient operations - Significantly changing our strategy, vision, and product - Rapidly advancing how we use data, automation, and AI …you name it, we’ve probably been there. And yet, we’re now in the strongest position I’ve ever seen us. I am tremendously proud of not just WHAT we’re doing, but HOW we’re doing it together. ?? The parallels are uncanny between what we’ve been through and had to figure out how to navigate as leaders, and the way companies are talking to us about how to get their leaders to navigate similar changes. Figuring out how to enact this much change at breakneck speed, stay steady while feeling the tectonic shifts in the market, make the right strategic decisions for preservation and growth, help our teams be resilient and adaptive, maintain a strong and healthy culture, AND increase our capacity to lead in a very uncertain time is no easy feat. ?? As a leader, it has been the most challenging experience I’ve had on pretty much every level. It will come as no surprise that I’ve leaned hard on coaching, and that has helped me both build my capacity as a leader, and get very clear about where I need to take this business to solve our most complex challenges. As a company, we’ve also leaned hard on coaching, both individually and in groups, to dig deep into how we’re working together to move through these changes. We’re walking the walk and talking the talk - not selling nice ideas that we don’t actually practice ourselves. We’re leading in a way that’s refreshingly human, while also delivering the innovation and results we need. Every company is on a journey to evolve our leadership to meet this moment, and here at Torch we’ve seen what a difference it makes to operate from a new kind of playbook.

Is your succession plan all talk and no action? ?? Succession planning is more than just filling roles when they become vacant—it’s about preparing future leaders to step up and succeed. Here’s why coaching is a game-changer for boosting leadership readiness: ?? It puts learning in context: Emerging leaders need to build specific “muscles”—or capacities—that matter in their role. Coaching provides tailored development to help leaders do just that. ?? It meets the demands of modern leadership: Leaders today need more than technical skills—they need strong social and emotional intelligence too. Coaching helps leaders strengthen their people-first approach. ?? It builds confidence and resilience: Stepping into bigger roles is daunting. Coaching provides the psychological safety for leaders to openly discuss challenges and gain the confidence and clarity they need to thrive. ?? It creates a ripple effect: Leaders who are coached influence their teams positively, leading to improved engagement and retention across organizations. Want to learn more about how coaching can strengthen your succession strategy? Read now ?? https://lnkd.in/gkDT_76G #LeadershipDevelopment #SuccessionPlanning #Coaching #FutureLeaders #HR

Exciting news! ?? Next week, we're heading to Orlando for Gartner’s ReImagineHR Conference, and we can't wait to connect with you! Be sure to visit us at Booth #125 and join our must-attend session: Fireside Chat with Vinay Kumar Chandrashekar and James Williams: How HP Empowered Leaders Through Coaching ?? ?? Monday, October 28th ?? 1:35 PM ET ?? Theater 3 See you there! #ReImagineHR #Leadership #Coaching

When is the last time you did something that scared the crap out of you? Whenever I do something that really scares me, I grow the most. Even when it doesn’t work out, I’m proud of myself for being courageous and taking the risk. Sometimes it makes for a pretty entertaining story too. ?? I emailed the CPO at StitchFix back in 2012 and said he needed more women on his team as part of a pitch to hire me. I asked Bret Taylor to lead the APM program when I had never done anything like it before. I took on a role at Salesforce that had zero definition and went from leading a product org to being an IC again. I taught our APMs about Brené Brown and Daring Greatly, then led us through sharing our personal stories, when I was sure everyone would think I was nuts. I left a senior executive position at a top tech company to follow my passion. I took the CEO role at Torch Coaching in a bad economy, tough market, and with 3 little girls at home. If you care about something, act. Yes, there are risks. But there is so much more downside in staying quiet than the risk of rejection or failure.

We are thrilled to announce our new Torch Coach Advisory Board! ?? This exceptional group of coaches consists of leaders from our coaching community, each bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to their craft. The Coach Advisory Board plays a crucial role in supporting our coaching community, refining our coaching strategies and innovations, and helping us redefine what great leadership can be. Join us in welcoming our new advisory members in the comments below as we celebrate the start of this exciting journey! #Leadership #Coaching #TorchCommunity

Did you catch the interview with our CEO, Heather Conklin, on how leadership is evolving? One of the biggest takeaways is how managers need to become better coaches. This shift is crucial for unlocking more open, engaged, collaborative, and innovative teams. Check out our top five tips to help managers strengthen their coaching muscles below ?? What other tips would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments, and explore the full interview for more insights ?? https://lnkd.in/gG_wVSia #Leadership #Coaching #TeamCulture #LeadershipTrends

How well is your team able to — in the words of Ross Geller — “Pivot!!”? These days, skills like adaptability and agility are more important than ever. They enable teams to evolve as fast as the world around them. ?? Our latest blog post covers five ways to build more adaptable and agile teams. Here’s a sneak peak: - Rethink "doing more with less" ?? Focus on prioritization for better results - Promote a coaching culture ?? Leave the micromanagement tactics behind and empower your team to take ownership of their work - Make accountability easy ?? Ensure everyone understands their role and knows how to deliver their best work Check out the full article for more tips ?? https://lnkd.in/gUABaNuR #LeadershipDevelopment #Agility #Adaptability #Teamwork #OrganizationalCulture

?? Calling all Wordle fans .... who nailed Wednesday's word of the day? Let's just say that our team had a unique advantage that day ... but we also had a few accidental spoilers. The first rule of Wordle is to not spoil Wordle, right? Good thing we had a timely group coaching session to work through that hiccup together. Just one of the many ways group coaching can bring your teams closer. Who knew???? #spoileralert #groupcoaching #coaching

Let’s talk group coaching ???? More specifically, why HR leaders choose to add group coaching into their L&D programs ?? Interested in group coaching for your organization? Our latest ebook is for you ?? https://lnkd.in/gwhnjedW #GroupCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #HRTrends #LearningAndDevelopment #Coaching

Are performance reviews the best way to identify high-potential employees? Or just a piece of a larger puzzle? ?? Check out our latest Coach AMA to explore top strategies for identifying and nurturing your future leaders ?? ? Key Takeaways: 1. Professional development should always be on the agenda. ?? 2. Document, Document, Document: Use shared documents to maintain a clear record of employees' aspirations and achievements — crucial for effective succession planning. ?? 3. Get the Full Picture: Combine ongoing feedback with performance reviews to get a comprehensive view of who’s ready for leadership roles. ?? #Leadership #SuccessionPlanning #TalentDevelopment #FutureLeaders #Coaching