Leader Development at ITW
"Coaching has had a direct effect on getting four of our managers promoted."
A large plastics manufacturing plant serving automotive manufacturers in the US, Europe, and Japan. The organization manufactures small plastic fasteners used in the assembly of OEM automobiles. In business since 1991 with over 200 employees, it operates as a flagship plant within a Fortune 500 company with a history of outstanding performance.
The operations team was managed with a traditional approach. The Director of Operations wanted to raise the bar across multiple dimensions: leader communication, team development, employee development, problem-solving capability, and organizational inclusiveness. The challenge was to equip supervisors and managers with the leadership skills and mindsets needed to sustain performance amid significant leadership transitions.
Burns Leadership Consulting partnered with the organization to identify key leader competencies aligned with strategic objectives. Based on those competencies, a customized program of team training and individual coaching was designed and delivered. The team training was structured to create psychological safety—supervisors attended without senior management present. Individual coaching focused on translating training concepts into real leadership behavior change. The engagement emphasized leader communication, empathy development, and problem-solving capability.
The coaching produced measurable leadership and business results. Four managers were directly promoted as a result of coaching and skill development. Individual leaders transformed their approaches to communication and peer relationships. KPI results, including profitability, continued to improve despite the organization losing four long-term senior leaders to retirement over three years. One technically strong manager with communication challenges experienced a dramatic turnaround—coaching created what the Director described as a "night and day difference" in his performance and relationships with peers and direct reports. This manager has since been promoted and has significantly improved plant KPIs.
"The training was well received. Benefits in the approach to leadership for the one-on-one coaching personnel are immeasurable. Dan transformed several team members' approach to the work. We are a flagship plant in a Fortune 500 company with a history of outstanding performance. We have had long-term senior leaders retire. Our KPI results have continued to improve despite losing this long-term talent. Dan has coached most of the current senior leaders and is part of this results improvement."
