Supporting a Rising VP to Increase Impact
Executive Coaching Case Study
In large, complex organizations, even high-performing leaders can find that their strengths are not fully recognized or leveraged. Navigating layered executive structures, balancing diverse stakeholders, and aligning with an established leadership culture demands more than expertise — it requires self-awareness, strategic influence, and the ability to translate feedback into meaningful behavioral change.
This case study illustrates how a customized executive coaching engagement with LAeRRICO & Partners helped a senior leader shift from strong individual performance to broader organizational impact. Through structured reflection, stakeholder insights, and deliberate behavior experiments, the client strengthened leadership presence, expanded influence, and prepared for the next level of responsibility.
Client Snapshot
The client was a senior leader in a large, expert-driven organization with multiple VP levels, where success depends on both strategic insight and sensitivity to organizational culture. Although already performing well, the client sought to grow influence across the organization.
Key challenges included:
Underutilization: The client’s strong track record was not fully visible or leveraged, limiting organizational impact.
Cultural misalignment: Questions about “fit” within the executive leadership culture created uncertainty about advancement.
Perception gaps: Stakeholder feedback revealed differences between the client’s self-view and how others perceived their strengths and development needs.
High-pressure environment: Multiple reporting lines and complex stakeholder relationships increased stress and the potential for missteps.
The client initiated coaching to process this feedback, strengthen leadership presence, enhance critical relationships, and position themselves for higher-level responsibilities.
Our Coaching Approach
At LAeRRICO & Partners, executive coaching is tailored to each leader’s role, organizational context, and personal challenges. Our approach integrates analytical rigor with human-centered insight and emphasizes:
Personalized, context-specific coaching: No generic models—each engagement reflects the leader’s environment and goals.
Integration of emotion and data: Emotional responses are treated as useful information that shapes decisions and relationships.
Action-oriented reflection: Insight is consistently translated into practical, measurable behaviors.
Stakeholder awareness: Multi-source feedback and stakeholder mapping help leaders understand perceptions and navigate complex organizational networks.
The Client’s Coach
The client partnered with Elizabeth Hauler, whose combination of analytical skill, legal training, and deep experience coaching senior leaders made her a strong fit.
Elizabeth’s coaching emphasized:
A safe, experimental space: The client was able to process feedback fully before responding, enabling more thoughtful decisions and reducing reactivity.
Turning feedback into strategy: She supported the client in converting perception gaps into specific, organizationally aligned actions.
Analytical and human-centered balance: Elizabeth’s approach combined problem-solving with emotional intelligence, helping the client navigate interpersonal dynamics as well as strategic challenges.
Her methodology blended structured reflection, stakeholder insights, co-designed behavior experiments, and ongoing reinforcement to ensure that learning was practical and sustainable.
Engagement Process
The coaching engagement followed a structured but flexible process:
1. Intake & Assessment
Elizabeth conducted interviews with peers, supervisors, and executive leaders to understand performance, stakeholder perceptions, and cultural expectations. This created a nuanced view of the client’s current impact and growth opportunities.
2. Reflection & Feedback Processing
In a supportive environment, the client reviewed feedback and explored emotional responses before taking action. Elizabeth encouraged pausing and observing patterns instead of reacting immediately, enabling deeper insight.
3. Behavior Experiments & Action Planning
Drawing from the feedback, the client and Elizabeth co-developed strategies to address perception gaps, build influence, and strengthen relationships. These included targeted stakeholder engagement, communication adjustments, and intentional leadership behaviors.
4. Follow-up & Adjustment
Progress was reviewed regularly. Strategies were refined, early successes reinforced, and new behaviors integrated into daily leadership routines.
Key tools and methods included:
Multi-source stakeholder feedback
Reflection exercises to identify emotional and behavioral patterns
Small-scale behavior experiments tested in real situations
Co-created action plans aligned with the client’s role and organizational context
The coaching remained highly customized, reflecting the client’s evolving needs and environment.
Key Moments
During the engagement, the client experienced several meaningful shifts:
Increased self-awareness: The client recognized habitual behaviors and perception gaps that previously limited influence.
Shift from reactivity to strategic pausing: More thoughtful reflection led to higher-impact decision-making.
Improved relationships: Small, deliberate changes—such as inviting challenging stakeholders to lunch or adjusting communication—built trust and alignment.
Confidence through early wins: Positive feedback reinforced the value of new approaches and motivated continued experimentation.
Collectively, these shifts enabled the client to lead with greater clarity and influence.
Engagement Outcomes
The coaching generated measurable, sustainable improvements:
Enhanced leadership presence: The client became more confident and influential in executive interactions.
Stronger stakeholder relationships: Increased trust and alignment emerged through more thoughtful engagement.
Readiness for higher-level roles: The client gained visibility and opportunities aligned with advancement into higher VP positions.
Lasting behavioral change: Reflection practices, stakeholder engagement, and self-awareness became part of the client’s ongoing leadership habits.
The client noted that the coaching “has become a way of life,” with benefits extending beyond work into personal relationships.
Why It Matters
This case demonstrates the value of executive coaching for leaders who perform well but seek broader organizational impact. By helping the client interpret feedback, adjust behaviors, and strengthen relationships, the coaching enabled them to navigate complex dynamics more effectively and expand their influence.
Leaders facing perception gaps, unclear expectations, or crowded leadership ranks can benefit from a tailored approach that blends practical problem-solving, emotional insight, and stakeholder alignment.
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LAeRRICO & Partners provides executive coaching designed to help leaders enhance presence, strengthen relationships, and achieve sustainable growth. Prospective clients can request a discovery call to explore a personalized coaching plan aligned with their organization and goals.
