Coaching can be a powerful tool for developing the skills and abilities of leaders at all levels of an organisation. Whether you’re a leader looking to take your skills to the next level, or an HR professional seeking to support the development of leaders in your organisation, read on for the what, why and how of coaching for leadership development and success.
What is coaching as part of leadership development?
Coaching as part of leadership development is the process of helping leaders develop the skills and strategies they need to succeed in their roles. Rather than telling you what to do, as a consultant or mentor would do, a leadership coach will use a breadth of questioning techniques, tools and resources to help you formulate effective ways forward to achieving the results you are looking for.
This non-directive approach will help you develop your strategic thinking and problem solving skills, rather than always relying on someone else to give you the answers. It makes it more likely that the solutions will be a better fit for you, setting the stage for greater levels of ownership and commitment to taking action.
When coaching for leadership development, the coach will help you identify the areas that will be most helpful for you to grow in. You’ll work together to create stretching goals, and throughout your partnership, the coach will set up a balance of accountability and support to help you to get the results you need.
What are the benefits of coaching for leadership development?
Coaching can help improve your performance as well as your team’s through:
Improving your communication skills and your ability to influence key stakeholders throughout the business.
Creating better working relationships.
Becoming better at problem solving and responding more effectively to challenging situations.
Improving your public speaking skills.
Motivating your direct reports.
Becoming more adaptable during periods of change.
Raising your team's engagement levels
Improving loyalty and retention.
Supporting first time leaders in delivering results.
Raising your team's self-responsibility and initiative.
Setting stronger goals for yourself and your team - and achieving them.
Developing a growth mindset: a life-long skill that will help you tackle challenges in a positive and proactive way.
Partnering with a leadership coach can also help you identify barriers that may be holding you back and give you the tools, techniques and steps you need to overcome these barriers effectively.
Here's a deeper dive into some of the areas above:
Problem solving
Coaching can be a very effective tool for helping leaders develop the skills and strategies they need to solve problems, through:
Providing a safe and supportive environment for leaders to discuss challenges and problems they are facing.
Helping leaders become more aware of their strengths and capabilities.
Helping leaders develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Inspiring creative thinking.
Helping leaders identify resources and support systems that would help them achieve their goals.
Providing a structured process for leaders to follow when tackling problems, which can help them approach the problem in a logical and systematic way.
Create a clear and flexible strategy to move forward
Becoming an expert communicator
To help leaders become better communicators, coaching help help you:
Become more aware of your communication styles and identify areas for improvement.
Develop specific communication skills, such as active listening, giving feedback, and presenting effectively.
Better understand the needs, learning styles and perspectives of your team members so that you can tailor your approach to communicate more effectively with them.
Gain stakeholder buy-in on new projects, where previously you have been hitting barriers.
Build stronger relationships with team members, stakeholders, and clients through improved communication.
Navigate through change
During periods of transition, a coach can help you as a leader to:
Understand the psychology of change.
Learn how your communication can influence the outcome of changes.
Focus on what you can do instead of what you cannot.
Refocus your energy into things that move the needle in the business.
Create a clear and flexible strategy to move forward.
Reframe possibilities and perceived obstacles.
Develop strategies for managing stress and anxiety during times of change.
Provide a structured process for you to follow when navigating change, which can help you approach transitions in a logical and systematic way.
Supporting first time managers
In fast-paced companies, people who are highly skilled technically are often promoted to managerial positions without formal training. As leadership often involves a very different set of behaviours and attributes to excel in, the transition to becoming a manager brings about challenges, and can be stressful.
Leadership coaching can help first time managers develop their interpersonal and managerial skills, easing the transition and acting as a catalyst to developing high performing teams, and progressing in their careers at the same time.
Developing a growth mindset
This is the belief that your capabilities can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and experience - and one that is continually emphasised with the coaching approach practiced by Thrivably.
People with a growth mindset have a focus on their personal development, and see challenges and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow - rather than as threats to their abilities. Research has shown that having a growth mindset is associated with greater success and well-being.
Become laser focused in your leadership development
In summary, coaching offers an ultra-focused and bespoke way to develop your leadership skills. Whether it's public speaking or confidence building, becoming more assertive or influencing key stakeholders - you'll work with your coach to identify the most important areas to getting results, and at each session you’ll come out with an action plan to start moving towards your goals.
Where can I find Coaching for Leadership Development?
Thrivably offers highly rated in-person coaching for leadership development in London as well as virtual sessions. To find out more and arrange a free initial consultation, message sharon@thrivably.co.uk
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