Here’s what executive coaching taught 15 business leaders

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Forbes’s expert panel, “20 Ways Leaders Can Get Their Team To Focus On Long-Term Results.” Focus On Building Toward Something Meaningful Short-term wins are tempting, but if you’re not building toward something bigger and more meaningful, you’re just busy. I learned this after the acquisition of a portfolio company that smashed…

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Fast Company’s expert panel, “16 ways CISOs can lead the charge on ethical, compliant AI usage.” SERVE AS ‘AI GUARDIANS.’ Chief Information Security Officers should act like “AI guardians,” making sure AI is safe, fair, and follows the rules. They use a “trust by design” plan to check fairness, how the…

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Fast Company’s expert panel, “Industry shifting? 18 leaders share their challenges and solutions.” LACKING SPONSORSHIP RESOURCES My firm focuses on lower middle-market buyouts. The rise of unfunded sponsors and the increase in Main Street-focused PE funds have added complexity to lower middle-market acquisitions, particularly in the $10 million to $30 million…

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Fast Company’s expert panel, “How to master PR without a communications team on board.” PRACTICE RECORDING YOUR MESSAGE. It’s the same way to Carnegie Hall: practice. Record multiple takes and select the last one for the best delivery. While the first take feels authentic, later takes are more polished while retaining…

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Fast Company’s expert panel, “15 steps to achieving seamless cross-departmental communication.” USE DISPOSABLE DOCUMENTATION. Workflows and documentation must evolve with team needs. Use disposable instead of permanent documentation that stakeholders challenge and rebuild. Change it every quarter. This lowers resistance to change, encourages cross-team alignment, surfaces misalignments faster, and prevents teams…

Shayne Fitz-Coy contributed to Fast Company’s expert panel, “19 leadership principles to strengthen lasting client relationships.” NOT FEARING THE HARD TRUTHS Tell uncomfortable truths. When a client wanted a project 30% faster, my team wanted to say “yes” while knowing we couldn’t do it. Instead, I said, “We can’t do that, and here’s why.” There…