The Power of Vulnerability: KPMG's Leadership Revolution
How Braver Leaders Coaching Transformed KPMG's Director Group
KPMG, a global network of professional firms, renowned for providing audit, tax, and business services, faced significant challenges within its Decarbonisation Strategy team. This newly formed director group struggled to define its roles, work together effectively, and align with KPMG's broader strategic objectives.
To address these challenges, KPMG appointed the Braver Leaders to implement a Coaching Programme. This case study explores how Braver Leaders helped KPMG's directors improve collaboration, gain clarity, and become more aligned with the organisation’s overarching goals.
The Challenge: Defining and Aligning Senior Roles
KPMG’s Decarbonisation Strategy team was formed with the objective of driving organisational growth and strategic initiatives. However, the team faced several challenges:
Undefined roles and responsibilities within the director group
Lack of clarity and focus on individual and team objectives
Difficulty in aligning with the partner group's broader strategy
Keith Thompson, a director at KPMG, highlighted the initial confusion: "We knew there were broad goals within the partner group, but within our newly defined director group, we needed clarity and focus. We questioned our roles, expectations, and how to bond as a team."
The Solution: Braver Leaders, Team Coaching Programme
Braver Leaders Team Coaching Programme aimed to transition the director group into a cohesive, high-performing team through group coaching, facilitated discussions, and experiential learning activities. The programme focused on three key areas:
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The Braver Leaders team facilitated discussions to identify and define the director group’s roles and responsibilities.
They pivoted the programme to focus on actionable steps within the director group's control, rather than trying to interpret the partner group's objectives.
This approach helped directors understand their roles and align their daily activities with the team's goals.
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Braver Leaders encouraged the directors to share vulnerabilities, fostering a deeper connection and trust within the team.
Exercises focused on empathy, understanding personal tasks, and honest feedback helped the team bond and improve collaboration.
This nurturing environment allowed the directors to challenge each other constructively and work towards common goals.
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Despite initial success, sustaining momentum and translating insights into day-to-day actions were challenging.
Feedback from the director group suggested adding individual coaching sessions and regular post-programme check-ins to maintain accountability.
Braver Leaders plans to incorporate these elements in future projects to ensure long-term success and continuous improvement.
Results: Enhanced Collaboration and Strategic Alignment
The Braver Leaders Coaching Programme delivered significant benefits to KPMG’s director group:
Strategic Alignment: By focusing on what was within their control, the directors aligned their daily activities with the organisation's broader strategy, driving KPMG's success in a competitive market.
Enhanced Collaboration:
The director group developed a flexible approach to working together, directly attributable to the Braver Leaders programme.
Improved Connection and Trust:
Keith Thompson remarked, "The biggest takeaway was helping us connect better as a group. We now have a more open and transparent approach, which extends beyond work to being accountable and considerate of each other's personal lives."
Conclusion: A Learning Experience for Continuous Improvement
The coaching programme at KPMG provided valuable insights for both the director group and Braver Leaders. Based on feedback, Braver Leaders is committed to refining its approach, including longer engagements and a more versatile coaching style to better serve clients.
Keith Thompson reflected, "The programme fast-tracked us towards becoming a more open and transparent group. We now have a more flexible approach to working with each other, which is directly attributable to our work with Braver Leaders."
Braver Leaders plans to evolve its programmes by focusing on accountability check-ins, ensuring the long-term maintenance of self-managing teams. With continuous client reflection sessions, Braver Leader’s team coaching framework and leadership development programmes continue to be elevated hand-in-hand with KPMG.