About Richard Lim
Leading is Hard!
If you’re like most leaders I know, you are probably already good with planning, strategizing, figuring out where you want to go and how to get there.
Leading well, however, is always a challenge.
I’m not talking about the “I tell you where to go and what to do and you just do it” type of leading. I’m talking about leading that empowers, motivates, builds ownership, develops people so that they will excel, and then they journey with you because they are excited about the cause!
That’s what I am passionate about: to empower and develop leaders to lead well, so that they may then build a high-impact team by empowering and developing their people to fulfil their mission!
My Learning Experience
Years ago, when I started leading teams, I wrestled with the question of how I could lead well. When the team was relatively small, it was fairly simple, “That’s where we’re trying to go, so let’s go!” That’s not saying it was the best or most effective way.
Faced with a Challenge
My first major challenge came when I was leading a large team, of several departments with diverse needs.
The real problem, though, was this team was demoralised! While the team handled all of the larger organisation’s mission-critical support functions, many front-line staff considered those on the team as “second-class people” (sadly, some on the team saw themselves that way too)!
I had to figure out how to lead this team, and I felt ill-equipped for the task. But with hard work, lots of prayers, and learning along the way, we managed to transform the team into a competent, highly motivated, high-impact team. We managed to change front-line staff’s (and our own) perception of the team too!
Succeeded in Transformation
We knew we succeeded when people approached us and asked if they could join the team!
That’s just one of the learning experiences I had. Even in church, I had opportunities to transform ministry teams.
During the past 20 years, I have spent most of my time working with leaders from different cultures, developing them and helping them lead their teams well.
Key to Leading High-Impact Teams
The key, I believe, is to move away from the “telling” way of leading, and be more “coach-like”, so that we can empower and develop our people and motivate them towards living out the mission. In the process, we multiply our impact and yet become less busy, and less likely to experience burn-out!
That’s what I would like to help you accomplish.
More about me…
I have been coaching teams and individuals for more than 15 years, and love the way coaching brings out the potential in people. I believe that God has given each team and person a unique calling, along with gifts and talents that will help them live out that calling. Through coaching, I enjoy coming alongside teams and individuals to draw out what God has put into them, and help them to fully live out that calling.
I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF). I have previously served in a global not-for-profit organisation for almost 30 years and in leadership roles at country, regional, and international levels. During that time I spent most of my time helping teams and individuals be more effective in their ministry.
I am proficient in both English and Chinese and can coach and train in both languages.
