DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A LEADER AND COACH?

With the extreme changes to working conditions and options in recent months, now more than ever a coaching approach will give you an advantage as a leader, and support your people to continue to grow and achieve.

The ICF Global Research study in 2009 found that coaching resulted in at least 70% of people experiencing improved work performance, improved self-confidence, improved relationships and improved communication skills.

‘Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.’

Timothy Galloway, Founder of The Inner Game

Do you think I can be a good coach? I get asked this question about once a week. Sometimes it’s from people who want to become professional coaches. More often, it comes from leaders.

So let me offer some insight.

I've worked with a huge number of leaders and coaches over the past 15 years, and I've noticed some consistent attributes for those who really do want to adopt, use, and leverage a coaching approach in their leadership. I’m sharing this because if you are a leader who coaches, then you're creating opportunity for yourself, your team members, and your organisation.

You already know that coaching is one of the best ways to grow and develop talent across your organisation.

So here are the three attributes that I have noticed about people who really do want to step up into coaching to bring out the best in the people around them.

1. THEY ARE SELF AWARE

The first one is the willingness to hold the mirror up. To really have a good look at themselves, and take the opportunity to identify the things where they have an opportunity to grow and develop themselves as leaders. These are people who are prepared to do the work on themselves.

1. THEY SELF DEVELOP

The second key attribute is that these leaders are willing to learn. They are willing to develop a coaching toolkit and a coaching approach. Not everyone inherently knows all the things they need to in order to be able to be a leader who coaches. So there is learning to do. There is practising and applying the new knowledge and skills, in order to develop competence. And of course, as with all leadership learning, this is an ongoing journey.

1. THEY SERVE OTHERS

The third component, I believe, that is key to becoming a leader who coaches, is a genuine desire to grow and develop the people around you. A commitment to it. One of the primary responsibilities of leadership is to grow other leaders. That is the people around you, your team members, your colleagues, your peers, your stakeholders, your boss. Leaders who coach have this commitment.

These are the three attributes I observe consistently in people who choose to be and become, successful leaders with a coaching approach.

I'd love to know your thoughts.

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Stacey is an award winning coach, leadership expert, speaker, author of the Amazon best seller 'The New Leader' and was named in Linkedin Top Voices 2018.

Nominated for the Telstra Business Women's Awards five times, including 2020, Stacey works with organisations and their leaders to develop their leadership and coaching, to inspire, influence and have impact.

To enquire about Stacey working with you and your organisation contact us by email at info@ashleycoaching.com.au or phone + 61 2 8006 1733.