Coaching leaders focus on fostering individual growth and development within their teams. They act as mentors, guiding employees to build skills, gain confidence, and unlock their potential. By taking a long-term approach to leadership, coaching leaders cultivate a learning environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for improvement, and success is measured not just by immediate results but by the personal and professional growth of team members.
Key Traits: Mentorship and Development
At the core of Coaching Leadership is Mentorship. Coaching leaders are deeply invested in guiding their team members through challenges, offering constructive feedback, and helping them grow both personally and professionally. This trait is all about nurturing potential and giving employees the tools they need to succeed beyond the short-term.
Another defining feature of coaching leadership is Development. These leaders focus on building the capabilities of their team, ensuring each individual not only performs well now but is set up for future success. Whether it's through one-on-one guidance, offering stretch assignments, or creating learning opportunities, coaching leaders prioritize the continuous development of their people.
Great at:
- Skill Development: Coaching leaders excel at helping team members refine their abilities and build new skills. They aren't just focused on what's needed today, but on long-term growth. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, embodies this style by fostering talent development within the company. Barra is known for mentoring her team and investing in the next generation of leaders.
- Empowering Teams: By instilling confidence and providing the necessary tools, coaching leaders empower their teams to take initiative and ownership of their roles. Phil Jackson, the legendary NBA coach, exemplified this by developing his players into leaders on the court, allowing them to make critical decisions while guiding their overall growth as athletes.
- Motivation: When team members feel their leader is invested in their growth, motivation naturally follows. Coaching leaders foster a culture of engagement by supporting their team's personal and professional development. Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, created a coaching environment at Google, empowering employees to innovate and take ownership of their projects, fueling both individual and organizational success.
Watch out for:
- Time-Intensive: Coaching leadership requires a significant time investment, as leaders need to spend one-on-one time mentoring their employees. In fast-paced settings, it can be difficult to provide the necessary attention to each team member.
- Dependency Risk: Coaching leaders who offer too much guidance risk creating a dependency. If team members rely too heavily on the leader's input, they may struggle to make decisions or operate independently when needed.
- Delayed Results: The coaching style often focuses on long-term development, which may delay immediate results. In fast-moving environments where quick decisions are required, leaders may need to adapt and balance coaching with more directive approaches.
Examples of Great Coaching Leaders
- Mary Barra: As CEO of General Motors, Barra focuses on mentoring and developing talent within her organization, helping future leaders grow. Her coaching approach fosters a strong culture of continuous improvement and leadership development.
- Phil Jackson: The former coach of the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers is well-known for empowering players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Jackson's leadership style was based on individual development and team cohesion, helping his players reach their full potential both on and off the court.
- Eric Schmidt: As CEO of Google, Schmidt created a culture that emphasized personal growth and autonomy. He provided guidance while empowering his employees to innovate and take ownership of their work, leading to a high-performance environment.
Final Thoughts
The Coaching Leadership Style is an incredibly effective way to develop strong, capable teams over the long term. By focusing on individual development, leaders can foster greater engagement, motivation, and performance. However, coaching leadership requires balance—it's time-intensive and may not deliver immediate results, but the long-term benefits of nurturing growth and empowerment are undeniable.
For leaders committed to building a culture of continuous learning and development, coaching is a powerful tool that helps individuals and teams thrive in the long run.