7 Times It's Essential To Use Coaching As A Leadership Development Tool
Updated: Jun 18, 2024
Expert Panelists are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within the areas of Business, Mindset, Leadership, Lifestyle, and Sustainability. Members of The Brainz Magazine community of experts will share their best tips, advice, ideas, and hacks on different topics.
Expert Panelists
1. Allowing for assistance
We are taught that we have to be independent and do things on our own, and what if the opposite is actually true? I find with coaching clients that; we together can set targets, clear limiting beliefs, and actually create an easier path to success and achievement than they can on their own. What if we allowed ourselves the gift of having someone there for us, empowering us to have a faster, smoother, and more enjoyable time on the journey?
2. Accountability matters
Coaching is believing the individual is capable and resourceful. Coaching instead of rescuing means asking them questions to help guide them and letting them come up with creative solutions. They will engage more, feel more empowered, and be accountable for the outcomes.
3. Having self-awareness
Sometimes as leaders, we are blindsided by the pitfalls of our leadership style, unaware of our idiosyncrasies that cause friction or oblivious to our own unhelpful behaviours that hinder rather than help... until it’s too late! All too often, we point the finger of blame when things go wrong. We take zero responsibility for confusion or misunderstandings. We pounce rather than seek to understand when output and productivity take a nosedive. We lose our cool in a minor disagreement which swiftly erupts into a crisis! It’s easy to allocate blame but harder to reflect on our own actions or take responsibility for them if we lack self-awareness. In leadership, these defining moments are the ones that dictate the future of our relationships. This is when a coach can provide a helicopter view to highlight the part we may have played and empower us to not only be accountable for it but to show us how to communicate with better judgement and manage our behaviours with more insight.
4. Understanding the art of questions
Coaching is a powerful tool leaders can use to encourage employee engagement and improve performance in the workplace. Coaching allows the leader to listen to the employee and gain a deeper understanding of the behavior, attitude, or situation. Through coaching, the employee can discover their own solution or resolution to workplace challenges or problems. Understanding the art of questions in coaching is a great skill to add to the leadership toolkit. Effective leadership involves coaching.
5. Leading instead of managing
Leading means being a role model for your team as well as for your customers. Self-coaching, self-care and using tools from the mediation can support you in your leadership role.
Tip no.1: For self-coaching: every challenge begins with your view on the challenge/those who challenge you. Change your view and reframe challenges as opportunities to grow together.
Tip no. 2: Set a frame where self-growth & learning (including failure) are allowed!
Have together retrospectives to optimize processes and learn from each other for more! Remember yourself daily: your team with their gifts is your greatest asset! Give them a space for greatness!
6. Possessing the skills and competencies
First-time leaders benefit tremendously from working with a coach. The skills and competencies to get promoted to a leadership role differ from the skills and competencies of successful leaders. “What got you here won’t get you there!” Skills such as negotiation, decision-making, or relationship building are paramount for leaders and required as of day one.
7. Finding your leadership playbook
Behind every successful Leader is a successful Coach. The best leaders have a Coach! Have you read this book: 'Trllion Dollar Coach' Written by Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell? Your answers are here. I have worked with Silicon Valley tech gurus, and the team emerging from this 'Playbook,', including Google, and more. As a Consultant and Coach I can only hint at the secrets and vast insight that these entrepreneurs and tech companies gain from working with coaches, consultants, and the like. And you can, too. Get yourself a Coach today! rebecca@harleystreettherapyclinic.com
