22 Coaching Perfectionists

Sally Helgesen

Sally Helgesen, cited in Forbes as the world’s premier expert on women’s leadership, is a best-selling author, speaker, and leadership coach. She is listed as Number 6 among the world’s top leadership thinkers by Global Gurus. Her most recent book is How Women Rise, co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith.

Vera was a talented private banker with a long list of satisfied clients, impressive technical skills, and deep knowledge of her industry. Fluent in four languages and a graduate of Europe’s top MBA program, she also held an advanced degree in economics from Oxford and had been identified as a high potential from the day she had joined her top-ten rated New York City financial institution. The firm had a storied reputation along with a commitment to hiring and advancing talent pedigreed by the world’s top learning institutions.

Eighteen years into her career, Vera was on the short list to head her firm’s wealth management business, a highly visible and demanding position. She certainly had the right CV, yet the executive committee hesitated. Could her demonstrated skill in satisfying fiercely demanding clients translate into the ability to lead a highly individualistic team of colleagues, each with an impressive client list of their own?

Her peers and colleagues tended to think not. “ABV,” they said when interviewed by the HR team charged with recommending a new leader. Anyone but Vera.

What exactly was the problem?

Vera was as talented ...

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