Only 30% of leaders feel confident coaching their team. (Source: DDI Global Leadership Forecast, 2023)
That stat might not surprise you, but it should make us all pause.
Because here’s the truth: Coaching isn’t something you do when there’s time. It’s not a soft skill. It’s not a side quest for when the real work is done.
Coaching is leadership.
It’s how you move from being the person who solves everything to the person who grows people who can solve things themselves. And in today’s world, where priorities shift daily, expectations are high, and everyone is doing more with less, that shift isn’t optional.
It’s necessary.
Let’s Talk About the Real Job of a Leader
When I work with leaders and managers, especially those newly promoted or stretched to the limit, the story is often the same:
“I’m across everything. I’m solving all the problems. But I feel like I’m doing everyone’s job… and mine.”
Sound familiar?
It’s one of the most common leadership traps I see: the idea that being helpful means doing more. But the most impactful leaders I’ve worked with, and been led by, aren’t the ones with all the answers.
They’re the ones who help others find the answers.
And that, right there, is coaching.
The Coaching Shift: From Expert to Enabler
Let me be real for a second.
I used to pride myself on having the answers. As a young leader, I thought being quick to solve problems was what made me good. I was efficient. Reliable. Capable.
But it also made me the bottleneck.
It wasn’t until I deliberately shifted into a coaching mindset that everything changed. Instead of jumping in, I started asking questions like:
- “What options have you thought about?”
- “If I weren’t here, what would you do?”
- “What’s your gut instinct telling you?”
It felt awkward at first, especially when I knew the answer.
But slowly, something shifted.
People stopped defaulting to me. They started thinking more critically. They gained confidence in their decisions. And most importantly, they grew.
Coaching Happens in the Moment
Here’s the thing: coaching isn’t something you need to block out an hour for every week.
In fact, the most powerful coaching moments are often the smallest:
- In the 10 minutes before a meeting.
- In the corridor, when someone’s stuck on a decision.
- During your regular catch-ups (if they’re more than just status updates).
I call this “coaching in the flow” – building capability while you lead.
It’s simple. It’s practical. And it’s transformational.
If you want a helpful structure to support this, try my Coaching Template. Six questions to guide your next 1:1 and shift it from “checking in” to “coaching forward.”
A Challenge for You This Week
Next time someone comes to you with a problem, try this:
- Pause. Don’t jump into fix-it mode.
- Ask one coaching question. Start with “What have you already tried?”
- Hold the silence. (This part can be uncomfortable, but it’s powerful.)
- Reflect. What shifted in the conversation? What did they walk away with?
It’s not about abdicating responsibility. It’s about building capability.
And trust me, when you coach instead of constantly carrying, you don’t just build a stronger team… you build a more sustainable way of leading.
I’ve Been Musing About…
The long game of leadership. The courage it takes to coach instead of command. And how the best leaders I know are the ones who help others shine.
Because Leading Through Others means exactly that, leading through, not doing for.
Coaching is how we get there.
Here’s How I Can Help
✔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn. I post weekly reflections, tools, and ideas for better leadership.
✔️ Sign up to this newsletter – share it with a colleague if it resonated.
✔️ Check out the services and programmes I deliver, including:
- ‘Leading Through Others’ Coaching (1:1 and Teams)
- EXCEL Programme
- LEADERship Foundation Programme
- Change Leadership and Advisory Services
- Coaching & Support Resources
✔️ Let’s connect over a virtual coffee. Book a time via my website or flick me an email.
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