Leadership is not a walk in the park. It is a constant challenge in a rapidly changing environment: the uncertainties of the market, the changing needs of employees and ever new technical developments that you have to keep up with as a manager. Having self-doubt in such a situation, perhaps even a feeling of inadequacy and being overwhelmed, is normal and can even be „healthy“. This is because it prompts us to pause for a moment, reflect and recalibrate.
In such a situation, external sparring can become a crucial training session, a training session that saves us from the final knock-out.
A good sparring partner helps you to focus on the essentials while at the same time changing your perspective. He throws taboos overboard and confronts you with uncomfortable truths that others either like to sweep under the carpet or that you can’t talk about with colleagues or superiors for various reasons. A good sparring partner is useful to avoid sinking into your own bubble. He allows new creative ideas to emerge, visions to be formulated and checked for feasibility. Because change begins in the mind.
- A serious sparring partner or coach, however, is not a cheerleader who recites fine motivational mantras or tells you that anything is possible at any time if you only really, really want it.
- A serious sparring partner or coach has in-depth knowledge, training and experience. He sees his clients with their individual strengths and challenges in their individual environment.
- A serious sparring partner has experience under their belt. He knows the highs and lows of day-to-day management at first hand. Theorists are just as out of place here as self-proclaimed „motivational gurus“.
- A serious sparring partner/coach is a visionary realist. He sees what would be desirable and focuses on what is feasible.
A good sparring partner offers an independent and objective perspective. On the basis of experience and trust and with a benevolent attitude, he helps to clarify the challenges that need to be tackled in order to avoid sinking into one’s own bubble.A good sparring partner offers an independent and objective perspective. Based on experience and trust, and with a benevolent attitude, he helps to clarify the challenges that need to be addressed and to deal with them in an appropriate, realistic and solution-oriented manner. He is wary of „easy fixes“ or (false) promises of salvation.