Case study: L'Oréal

Rising Star!

Leadership Level: Director
Coaching Need: Transition to Senior Management

“The main objective of the coaching was to ‘accompany’ him through this period and allow him to be supported with an external contact…. I feel the coaching has played a positive part offering external advice and support for him to evolve successfully into his role and growing his confidence and maturity. Ed has had a very strong year and I'm delighted with his development and results and that you could help him in this journey”
JS, General Manager

Introduction

With over 130 L’Oréal products sold every second, L’Oréal has an impressive approach to nurturing its own talent. L’Oréal is listed in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and goes out of its way to get the best rather than the most out of its people. This pays dividends, as rising stars are quickly identified.

Challenge

As L’Oréal’s rising stars emerge, the company needs to ease the individuals’ transition into senior management roles and help them develop their ability to lead new and bigger teams. In the case of one talented individual, L’Oréal needed to fast-track and support his progress in a new role as Marketing Director.

Solution

L’Oréal partnered with Genergy’s Lisa Mitchell to support this individual through his transition into senior management.

Professional & flexible. The Coach, coachee and the coachee’s manager all agreed a plan, timeframe and objectives to set focus. Coaching was flexible and the objectives adapted as the coachee’s needs changed.
Brighter, Better. The Director learned how to increase and sustain his own personal energy, impact and gravitas across the organization. This involved choosing new, effective ways of influencing others, including internationally. His personal style of management was expanded and refined to enable him to lead in his demanding new role.
“Taking A Breath”. He coined this phrase for learning how to communicate better and flex his style. He learned new ways to ‘really listen’ and ‘create space’ for conversations rather than leaping in. This, combined with the new ways he learned to give colleagues feedback, led to increased engagement from them and powerful new team performance. ‘Taking a breath’ also helped him secure vital leadership perspectives.
Combined Talent. At the Director’s request, the whole Management Communications team was coached. Insights® Discovery identified team strengths and development areas, opened up more scope for communication and created new conditions for team success.

“The process was excellent, challenging and sometimes uncomfortable! The coaching allowed me the valuable space to dig deep, identify issues and come up with my own solutions and ideas. As a result I have settled into the Marketing Director role quickly and smoothly, have become a much more effective manager with a team who are really empowered, play a pivotal role in the Mancom team, and we have a stronger marketing plan - and results.”
EH, Marketing Director, L’Oréal