Accountability and Insight Coaching

The leaders of three to four decades ago came up in the work world with secret, underpaid, under-valued weapons--secretaries. My grandmother was one such secretary. She was also born at a time and place that did not value her intellectual and leadership talents, so she took on the only job available to her.

Besides typing, filing, and answering phones, I imagine she performed duties that made her supervisor better. She, like, so many other women of that generation, spent hours working with men they supported -- serving as both brainstorming and accountability partners. The value these women provided from both an economic and intellectual standpoint is staggering.

How many of us would be better and do better if we had a full-time secretary to help keep us focused, inspired, and accountable? While the administrative tasks performed by secretaries of former eras have been made obsolete by voicemail and email, the time and task management support has never been more important. Some of my FAVORITE work is with leaders who need an independent, organized and creative partner to help them stay both focused and accountable.

What does that look like? I meet weekly, bi-weekly or monthly with a manager who is struggling under the weight of a variety of projects and team member personalities/needs. Through guided conversations, I work to identify a work plan/matrix, and then meet regularly for accountability check-ins and brainstorming sessions about each goal. It is some of the most rewarding work I do.

I am proud to follow in my grandmother's footsteps. We make the work processes more efficient and work output more successful. We are leadership enhancers.

Contact jess@thomkeconsulting.com to learn more about how accountability and insight coaching can help you step up your leadership game.