Danielle Oakes
Pou Arahi (CEO), Te Ahi Kaa
Indigenous Solutions, Waikato

 
Kim: Danielle’s business has enjoyed rapid growth, which can be just as tough to manage and lead as a business that’s struggling to thrive. With that success comes a need to effectively manage bigger teams, recruit smartly and strategically, and for owners and leaders, appreciate delegation as a superpower.

Key to my work with Danielle was recognising that delegation is a leadership asset and the magic that comes from working on the business and not in it.

I worked closely with her on role and organisational alignment and improved team communications through workshops to ensure everyone feels connected and informed.

I also put Danielle in touch with an accountant who is now on board, ensuring she no longer needs to get buried in the numbers and can focus on more success. Danielle is soaring!


Danielle: Kim was recommended by someone I admire, and she shared how Kim had supported her to think differently to help her work on her business as opposed to always being in her business. I recognised that we had similar challenges but could also see how she was able to make small changes that made a significant impact, not only on her personally but the people she worked alongside.

Although this drove me to initially reach out to Kim and engage in her service, it was the immediate connection and relief I felt when I first spoke to her that kept me engaging.

The first time we met, she heard me and understood me. Business can be a lonely journey and that feeling you get when you know someone is your cheerleader can make a huge difference to your own confidence, determination, and ability to be innovative. This is where Kim came in, reminding me that you cannot build something to this stage without being pretty good at something.

Kim also directed and led a team workshop which has helped us improve so much and allowed me to recognise the power of delegation. She’s a sounding board and recognised that maybe I lacked a bit of self-confidence and that I needed someone to say: “Okay, tell me a little bit more about that.”

Kim helped me to uncover that while I've got pretty thick skin, I haven't lost my empathy. She explained that that's actually a really good thing to keep with you, and so it's those little points where I have that self-doubt, that Kim gives me something really short, to reassure me.