The Power of Team Coaching: A Case Study at Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Maldives
In the competitive world of hospitality, excellence is more than a goal—it's an absolute necessity, especially in a paradise destination like the Maldives. At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, a bold target was set: to break into the Top 10 Resorts on TripAdvisor in the Maldives. Achieving this ambitious milestone required more than just hard work; it demanded a transformative approach to team dynamics and leadership. This is where team coaching with a focused strategy on excellence played a pivotal role.
Identifying Stages and Setting the Framework
The journey at Sun Siyam Iru Veli began with an in-depth team coaching session for the 18 Heads of Departments (HODs) and the General Manager (GM). As a coach, Nick’s first step was to collaboratively identify the current operational stage of each department. This initial assessment was crucial as it set the baseline from which to grow. By evaluating existing performance and processes, we identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, creating a solid foundation for improvement.
Following this assessment, we explored the desired stages for each department. This vision-setting phase was a key element of team coaching, focusing not just on lofty aspirations but on defining clear, actionable, and ambitious goals aligned with the resort's strategic objectives. Through collaborative goal setting and strategic alignment, we developed detailed action plans to bridge the gap between current and desired stages, ensuring every department was well-equipped to contribute to the resort's overall success.
Bridging the Gap with Deep Questioning
The core of our team coaching involved fostering an environment where deep, reflective questioning became the norm. Central to this process were questions like, "How can we bridge the gap between where we are and where we want to be?" These questions prompted department leaders to think critically and creatively about solutions and innovations. By encouraging this level of introspection and strategic thinking, our team coaching sessions helped leaders identify actionable steps to achieve their goals and drive the resort's success.
Developing a Strategic Action Plan
The next phase was perhaps the most critical—translating the insights gained from our team coaching sessions into a robust action plan. Each department developed tailored strategies that addressed specific gaps. These plans focused on sustainable growth and development, ensuring that every improvement contributed to the overarching goal of breaking into the top tier of resorts. This strategic approach, rooted in team coaching, ensured that all efforts were aligned with long-term success and excellence in service and were not only short-term fixes.
Transformative Impact of Team Coaching
The impact of these intensive coaching sessions was profound. Team coaching helped cultivate a culture where continuous improvement was embedded into daily operations. Leaders learned to be more reflective and strategic, not just in their thinking but also in their approach to problem-solving and team management. This shift fostered a proactive mindset, enabling leaders to address challenges more effectively and drive their teams toward excellence.
The culture shift towards a more collaborative and proactive team environment meant that the departments were not just working in silos but synergizing their efforts towards common goals. This holistic approach, driven by team coaching, was instrumental in paving the path toward reaching the top echelons of the hospitality industry in the Maldives. By aligning departmental efforts and fostering a united front, team coaching played a crucial role in propelling the resort to new heights of success and recognition.
How Sun Siyam Iru Veli Benefited from Nick’s Coaching, Client Testimonial
Athif Ibrahim - Creating something special at Sun Siyam Resorts | Writer at athifibrahim.com | Ultra-runner
I had the great pleasure of working alongside Nick Jonsson, who delivered two exclusive three-hour workshops on "Leading with Authenticity: Building Meaningful Connections, Achieving Personal Goals, and Energizing Your Health" for the executives, managers, assistant managers, specialists, supervisors, and departmental trainers of Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Maldives, as part of our Leadership Learning and Enrichment Program.
Leaders and people managers from all Sun Siyam Resorts based in the Maldives attended Nick's session, hosted at Sun Siyam Iru Veli, including participants from Siyam World, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
Nick shared a powerful message about vulnerability, having a purpose, asking for help, exceeding expectations, and serving others without compromising one's own needs through his life experiences. His message resonated deeply with team members, particularly around building and sustaining healthy connections and relationships with loved ones, especially considering the isolation that can sometimes come with our work.
His words struck a chord and stirred something deep within many team members. Several reported reaching out to their loved ones immediately after the session, making amends, and rekindling connections that had long been neglected.
Nick's raw, genuine, and unwavering desire to reduce unnecessary suffering in the world managed to tug at the heartstrings of our team.
In addition to the two workshops, Nick conducted a 90-minute Leadership Team Coaching session on "Top 10 Trip Advisor Breakthrough: Team Coaching for a Culture of Excellence." He helped us identify bottlenecks in service, process, and operations, and prioritize the most pressing issues that could affect our ambitious goal of reaching the top 10 on Trip Advisor by 2024.
Working with Nick was a breeze, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to help their teams:
Bring their authentic selves and build meaningful personal and professional connections both at work and in their broader lives.
Dream, set, and achieve big and audacious personal and career goals.
Reclaim and reenergize their mental, physical, and spiritual health to become more well-rounded individuals who bring their A-game to work and beyond.
The Transformative Power of Team Coaching at Sun Siyam Iru Veli
The journey of Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Maldives, is a testament to the transformative power of team coaching. By focusing on identifying current and desired stages, engaging in deep reflective questioning, and meticulously planning actions, the resort positioned itself as a contender among the best. This case highlights the strategic use of team coaching to achieve business excellence, illustrating how directed collective efforts can make ambitious targets achievable. The emphasis on collaboration and strategic thinking enabled the resort to align its operations with its overarching goals, driving significant improvements in performance and guest satisfaction.
Team coaching isn't just about improving performance; it's about setting the stage for continuous and holistic excellence that aligns with both immediate objectives and long-term visions. At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, the journey to excellence is well on its way, with the ripples of these coaching sessions set to enhance not just today's operations but also tomorrow's achievements. By embedding a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment, team coaching has ensured that the resort remains on a path of sustained success, ready to meet future challenges and opportunities with confidence and innovation.
If you are looking to drive similar transformative results within your organization, I invite you to contact me for professional team coaching. Together, we can develop tailored strategies that will help your team reach its full potential and achieve outstanding success. Let's work together to create a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in your organization.