Coaching Leadership: The Key to Transformation
People development is often considered a function of the Human Resources department. But if you lead people, then people development should be one of your top priorities. However, we know that with the fast-paced nature of our lives and careers, it can be so difficult to even define our top priorities when our days feel urgent and hurried. But that’s why approaching leadership differently is so important.
At Building Champions, we believe that coaching leadership is key to transformational leadership. And in this article, we define coaching leadership, discuss why it’s important, and share how you too can become a coaching leader.
What is coaching leadership?
To become a coaching leader, you’ve got to think differently about your job—because you’re not just a manager. Your purpose is to add the most value to the people you get to lead and to help them improve. You understand that leadership is a unique privilege; and you’re passionate about developing your people, wanting to see them both grow and succeed. You take the time to get to know them as humans, and you help them to grow in their lives and career. A coaching leader is committed to people without forsaking results. You believe that by investing in your people and helping them to be their best, you’ll get the results too.
Why is it important?
Coaching leadership is key to transformational leadership. It will make you a more intentional manager and a better leader. You’ll become clear on your purpose and convictions and begin living in a way that aligns with both. By embracing this leadership style, you’ll get to equip future leaders. Not only will you help those you lead improve their performance, but you’ll help improve their quality of life. And if you’re modeling coaching leadership and showing people that you care about them and are rooting for them, then you’ll experience the benefits too. Coaching leadership can make your legacy one of tremendous impact.
How do I become a coaching leader?
Mindset. This comes down to your fundamental beliefs about people. You understand that by caring about the whole person, you’ll be better equipped to lead them. A coaching leader believes that by investing in the people they lead, they’ll create a ripple effect of transformation within their organization and community.
Skills. To be a coaching leader, you’ve got develop the necessary skills. Active listening plays a huge role in coaching leadership. When you take the time to listen to and understand the people you lead, then they will feel heard, valued, and respected by you—and that is when you’ve earned the space to speak into their lives, instilling belief and confidence into them, and helping them to be their best.
Disciplines. A disciplined leader is a successful leader. Your daily disciplines are your behaviors—the actions that you take each day that will set you up for success. These behaviors are rooted in your convictions.
Tools. Organization is key for an effective leader. And within our coaching engagements, we give our clients proven tools to help them set themselves and their teams up well with organizational systems to improve their productivity, stay accountable to their disciplines, and achieve their goals.
We’ve had the opportunity to work with thousands of leaders over the past nearly 30 years and we’ve been privileged to witness the transformation that can take place within the lives of leaders, teams, and organizations all because of their embrace of coaching leadership. We’d love to work with you and help you develop your own coaching leadership. Reach out to learn more!
