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Janet Polach is a top global executive coach, known for her transformative impact on business leaders and senior executives from diverse cultural backgrounds. With over two decades of experience in executive coaching, leadership development, change management, and team effectiveness, Janet is an inspirational figure in the corporate world.
Early Beginnings: Dedicated to Empowering Others
Janet developed her leadership skills during her stint as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, where she affirmed that leadership can be cultivated. Along the way, Janet earned her Ph.D. in organizational leadership development and has coached leaders in the U.S., China, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Ireland, and France.
As an expert in cultivating leaders, Janet specializes in coaching individuals at every level—from new managers to executives—through one-on-one coaching, group sessions, and leadership development programs.
In the Lead: A Quick Glance
In the Lead is Janet’s initiative to cultivate leadership capabilities and boost confidence in individuals navigating today’s chaotic world. Recognizing that leaders come from varied backgrounds and face diverse challenges, In the Lead focuses on helping these leaders clear their thinking and discover their unique leadership voice. Janet’s approach empowers individuals to lead authentically by finding strength and direction from within, fostering resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to adapt to an ever-evolving environment.
The Evolving Leadership in Digital Transformation
Janet emphasizes the importance of leaders focusing on building strong relationships with their teams, especially in the context of remote work. She acknowledges that while remote work presents challenges to maintaining these connections, it also makes them more crucial. Janet advises leaders to go beyond routine task updates and take the time to engage in deeper conversations with their team members. This includes discussing their learning experiences and ensuring they are finding fulfillment and joy in their work. By doing so, leaders can foster a more supportive and connected team environment.
The Key Executive Leadership Mindsets
Janet has just finished her second book, The Mindset of the Strategic Leader. In it, she argues that executives must shift their thinking to a broader perspective, both inside and outside the organization; they must listen more than talk and gain the confidence to act courageously.
Janet’s Take on Different Global Leadership Perspectives
With years of experience working with global leaders, Janet emphasizes the importance of appreciating the culture of the country in which one is working. This involves immersing oneself in the local culture by eating local cuisine, watching local movies that have subtitles, and building friendships in the work community. By doing so, leaders can gain the support of their colleagues and develop the understanding needed to make informed decisions within the local context.
The Notable Gaps in Leadership
Janet’s first book is about this challenge, The Seven Mistakes New Managers Make. Most managers are promoted because they are great individual contributors, but as a manager, you have to shift your mindset to working through others, delegating, teaching, and letting go of “how” the work is done.
Ensuring for Long-term, Sustainable Leadership Growth
Janet often follows two-step processes. First, `she helps the leader set goals for herself and then supports them in creating a very specific development plan to achieve their goals. She helps the leader identify strategies that will keep these goals and behaviors top of mind. Second, Janet and her team have three check-in meetings with the leader’s boss. Together they establish expectations, review the development plan midway through, and then have a final meeting to ensure their development remains a priority for both the leader and their boss.
Impact of AI and technology on leadership decision-making
Janet recently used AI to help her write her book; she considers it a valuable research tool. She believes leaders can use AI to gather relevant data and even perspectives. However, Janet emphasizes the importance of verifying this information, as AI can sometimes be wrong. She encourages leaders to allow AI to contribute to their decision-making process, but not be the sole source of input. Janet also notes that AI is not just a shortcut to get things done.
The Biggest Challenges of Future Leaders
According to Janet, it’s thinking and acting strategically. She believes that strategic thinking is not widely taught except in major programs like Warton and elsewhere. That is why Janet wrote her new book, which focuses on the various mindsets that strategic leaders need to embrace. She also coaches leaders on this and also has a development program for strategic thinking.
The Significance of Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health in Leadership
This was brought to the forefront during COVID-19 but continues to be a need today. Executive leadership involves connecting with your team in a personal way, understanding their families, asking how they are doing, and genuinely caring about how them. Taking time on these issues helps build confidence in team members and makes them feel valued and included.
The Key Lessons from Military Leadership
Leadership in the Marine Corps generally involves giving orders rather than gathering people around and asking for input. That’s because Marines often find themselves in life-and-death situations and need to react quickly on behalf of their Marines. In the business world, it’s almost the opposite. While leaders need to be decisive, they usually reach decisions by including and involving others. The most significant lesson Janet learned from the Marines is that leadership can be taught and developed. She also learned that women’s positions in highly male populations can evolve and advance, but they have to prove their worth, and possibly in multiple ways.
