Royal Bank of Scotland

Executive coaching and mentoring helps boost team's success

RBS Asset Finance focuses on ensuring their customers get the most out of the assets that they hold. The Business Change and Technology Department create the environment in which the business can operate in the broadest sense. Paul Stanley, Head of BCT, has the responsibility for ensuring that he and his team create an environment in which this fast growing and exciting organisation ‘thrives’.

Opportunity

To provide executive coaching and mentoring for Paul to support the personal growth needed to enable him to best lead the development of a BCT department which would be capable of managing the changes, facing the challenges and driving the business forward.

Action taken by True North

True North provided one to one coaching and mentoring support for Paul. This followed a recommendation from one of his colleagues who had received coaching from True North's Barry Hennessy based upon his “Down to earth, straight talking and experienced approach”.

Results

Supported by the coaching, Paul successfully developed a team that moved from ‘just’ providing the Information and Communications Technology for the organisation, to one that successfully provides and drives forward business change across the whole organisation.

Paul Stanley: “We have massively increased our responsibility; we contribute more than we ever dreamt possible, without the coaching support I dread to think what may have happened, chaos! We would have been way behind.”

What was it about the coaching that helped success? “It was very practical, Barry listened, listened and listened and then just asked the right questions. Sometimes the exercises and questions seemed almost inane but the effect was so powerful, prompting me and helping me find the right solutions. It was also self sustaining - some of the exercises will stay with me forever!”

So what did Paul personally get out of the coaching? “It helped me develop my own methods; the focus was on me, as a result I am more confident, I feel better about myself and the team are happier now that they have a confident boss! I think before I act, I'm confident about new things and respond faster, I overcome fear fast now and I know this trend will continue.”

What did Paul value most about the coaching? “I feel better about myself. That has brought everything else with it; the approach is right, I'm assured and have developed my own style; I value humility and the coaching showed that it was all right to be like that and attain success.”