Tier 1 – Changing the way teams do things
Most senior managers work solely at Tier 1 constantly making a change in the moment to address a specific situation, these people rely on procedure which is simply another word for technique. This is where most good coaches can help because however well-intentioned managers are at Tier 1, they are often perceived at the board level to be lacking in authority, gravitas, reliability and execution skills.
Tier 2 – Changing the way business does things
At Tier 2 to initiate and sustain change in a broader context, executives and managers start with learning and applying new influence strategies (often other people’s strategies). At this level, many still lack the mental toughness and thinking bandwidth as well. The “thought-bandwidth” capability that an executive possesses differentiates the mainstream mediocre from the superstar tier. This is the level where managers develop true integrity – they have to live up to their promises – or risk exposing themselves. This is also where some gifted executives and managers begin to realize they have a propensity to spot monetizing opportunities in virtually every aspect of their daily work lives. Your coach can develop a person’s thinking bandwidth and opportunity intuition skills in a very short period. Many coaches can talk about working up to Tier 3 but if you scratch below their surface they don’t even have a clue what Tier 3 is. (Unless your coach LIVES at tier 3 on a day-to-day basis you will end up stuck in a tier 2 “Groundhog Day” scenario)
Tier 3 – Changing The way the world does things
At Tier 3 the function is to change how the world is – to change lives and how we live. This is the true executive level; a place where the incumbents (e.g. Google, Virgin, DAVOS or Apple) and the experienced (e.g. Tesla, Blackrock, SpaceX , Siemens . . . ) deliver a whole new paradigm, or perspective – a new way of seeing – and a new way. This is the rarified atmosphere of the “king-maker” the super-coach world where we work. At this level change is a journey, an expedition (not something you are doing) this is also the ultimate soft skills territory.
At Tier 3 you will truly be observing the world of business at a quantum-like level, you will be centred enough to be able to see all of the options before you – thereafter you get to choose how and if to respond.
A coach helps you to observe through life-changing options – Ask Richard Branson, Jack Welch, Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, Boris Johnson, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Charles Saatchi: it does not matter whether you like them or hate ’em – understand only that they have all ventured beyond simply contributing, they are “the contribution” because they own the space they provide identity to new concepts.
To truly understand Tier 3, imagine you were framing a photograph and simultaneously recording a movie of what you are observing. You begin to think like a camera; you notice details in a person, landscape or object and you accept them as they are – pure opportunities. At Tier 3 you take time to notice things that other people are not seeing. You see the details of the world as well as notice the bigger picture. This is a talent some people have in varying degrees, but it also takes a large degree of patience, a constant dedication to observation, a strong sense of non-judgment, an understanding of the true nature of mindfulness a big heart and a good coach.