The United Nations World Food Programme feeds  people in the poorest countries. The Country Managers work in tough conditions, often under attack from rebels, buying and storing food under tight security, working in conditions which are physically challenging and sometimes dangerous. They spend their time negotiating funding from governments and recruiting, training and managing staff.  Their bosses are Regional Directors who are remote from the country.

The UN World Food Programme decided the country managers need some sort of assessment and development. They introduced 360° assessment: the country managers got their results but no guidance on what they meant.  They decided to take the project forward by telephone coaching.

I was commissioned to coach the Country Managers. The objective was that they should understand their 360° profiles and be supported in creating their own personal development and career plans.

I had the Country Managers’ 360° profiles.  They showed the usual range of responses: shock, delight, surprise, puzzlement. I encouraged each to discuss their responses, their ambitions, their immediate future etc.

The Country Managers were able to think through their own plans and ambitions. Some decided their task was to train and develop their employees to take over their own job: others decided to apply for more senior jobs: some committed to learning about the topics in which they had a low score.  All were grateful for the chance to see and understand their Managers’ detailed assessment of their performance and to have a “neutral” discussion about their personal responses and plans.