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Testimonial by Jimmy Laureys (Amista)
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As a problem solver, how do I fit into the management team?
“Solving problems with my team, in our clients’ offices, has been a recurrent theme throughout my career. But as a member of the management team, isn’t there some other way I can add value?”
Mentoring results
- More mindful coaching and management of teams throughout the organisation
- Ability to communicate in a more considered and structured manner
- Greater focus on innovation
Bio
- Jimmy Laureys (49)
- Managing Partner – Amista
- Team mentoring and individual mentoring for senior managers in 2022
- Mentor: Inge de Smet
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Being the best version of myself
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“I’ve always been someone who enjoys solving problems and working with other people. So managing teams is right up my street: thanks to my technical CRM expertise, I can lead a project team from the front and monitor implementation at the client’s premises. But when I compared myself with other members of the Amista management team, I used to get a niggling feeling of insecurity. I knew I wasn’t a showman, or a gifted speaker who can pack a room. But was I really the best version of myself?
- As a manager with a technical background, how can I add more value, both in-house and externally?"
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Mentor Inge: experienced coach and true people person
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“The other four Amista managing partners and I all received individual mentoring at the same time, though six group sessions were also scheduled. Ambits suggested three possible mentors for me, and I chose Inge based on gut feeling. She doesn’t have a typical CEO profile, but she’s an experienced coach who manages teams herself and is really good with people.
We talked once a month, usually in person but sometimes online. As a certified coach, she shared coaching theories and practices, such as the best way to deal with introverts or extroverts.
Inge helped me get a better feel for my leadership style, but also how I come across to others. One of the things she did was take me to an equestrian coach. When we arrived, all the horses came over to me. For Inge, this not only illustrated how I work and who I am as a person; that ability to connect is also where my strength as a leader lies. And I have no reason to think she’s wrong – quite the opposite, in fact.”
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Self-insight and peace of mind
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“Inge provided me with some coaching frameworks and I’ve shared those with our in-house team leads, so my mentoring programme has created a ripple effect within our organisation.
Another difference is that I now communicate in a more considered and structured way. Before, when people contacted me looking for information, I used to reply at great length, dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s. Now I still e-mail them back, but I wait a while before sending it – or I delete it altogether (laughs).
I’ve come to realise that I want to work more conceptually. I want to focus more on product development, R&D and innovation – still as part of a team, as that’s what fires me up, but I no longer need to be on-site with the client every day. That self-insight and slight change in perspective has brought me much-needed peace of mind.”
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I’ve come to realise that I want to work more conceptually.
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What’s the difference between coaching and mentoring? Here’s Jimmy’s take on it:
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- Coaching is about teaching skills and expertise.
- Mentoring is more peer-to-peer, an exchange of views between like-minded people without expecting an immediate, well-defined solution.
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