Why I started coaching

Leading always involves coaching.

July 31, 2023
Coaching arrow pointing forward

A handful of phrases have stuck with me, and I’ve repeated them countless times to others.

  • If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
  • Make original mistakes.
  • Stop starting; start finishing.

Each of these came from someone coaching me when they said it. They had visibility into my life, could see both my challenges and goals, and they cared if I succeeded. 

These phrases helped me navigate the moments and seasons in which they were given, but they multiplied their impact as I’ve re-used them in coaching others. 

That’s part of what I love about coaching. The impact multiplies over time, helping more and more people overcome obstacles and unlock their potential.

Maximize Your Leadership Potential

The impact of coaching.

Coaching is an invaluable tool for any leader. It allows leaders to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, hone their skills, and better understand the people around them. 

With guidance from a coach, leaders can more effectively eliminate obstacles that may prevent them from achieving their full potential. 

Coaching also helps leaders foster their emotional intelligence and communication skills, enabling them to work collaboratively and build relationships with team members. 

Investing in leadership coaching is essential to ensure leaders have the tools to guide teams through any challenge or uncertainty. 

My backstory

I’ve worked in the nonprofit space for over 20 years. During those years, I’ve led teams, projects, events, programs, new initiatives and more. All that leadership always involved coaching. 

Especially in the nonprofit sector, leadership involves empowering people to make an impact. More often than not, the people I led didn’t report to me in an HR way. They wanted to make a specific impact or reach a particular objective, and I was the one to help them get there. 

Rarely was there just one level of leadership below me over those years, so often, I was helping those I coach to learn to be coaches themselves. 

Leading always involved coaching.

If you want to have a more significant impact, you coach. If you want something to outlast you, you coach. If you're going to leave a legacy, you coach.

Being a team leader.

When you become the team leader, there’s a shift from focusing on your direct contribution to how you can level up your team members' contribution. 

As someone with the Strengthsfinder competition talent in my top five, I had to shift from searching for how I could win to focusing on how I could help my teammates win. I believe this is actually the healthiest way to live out my competition strength.

A great coach is more of a facilitator, helping others leverage their understanding and experience.

But once I de-centered myself, it didn’t stop at wanting to help my teammates win. I wanted to help other teams win as well. I began to facilitate regular times to connect with other team leaders for a time of peer coaching. 

These other team leaders didn’t report to me, nor I to them, but we each took on the role of coach with one another.  

Through my years leading teams, I discovered how powerful and enjoyable coaching can be.

Leading a director network.

After a few years of leading teams and then leading individual major events, I was asked to oversee all our organization's major external events. 

Each of these events had its own leadership structures and depended heavily on volunteers. The events had operated almost entirely independently of each other and therefore had little understanding of or connection with one another. 

A strong my way or the highway approach would have been a disaster. Instead, I decided to take a coaching approach.

I created communities of directors organized by three common focus areas for the events, program, marketing and operations. I combined individual coaching and group coaching within these communities.

Facilitating group coaching sessions with each of these communities took a while to take off because none of these directors had experienced a community of peers. But things began to move once they realized we were there to help them diagnose obstacles and move forward. 

The next step in coaching directors was helping them become coaches themselves. A few were already applying some coaching principles, but most weren’t sure how to live it out in the complexity of their teams. 

This season was extraordinarily rewarding and gave me the vision to apply coaching more broadly and professionally.

What coaching looks like for me.

Coaching can take many different forms depending on the context. But for me, it usually falls into one of two categories.

Helping others navigate.

Many people are looking for a coach to give them the correct answer and tell them what they should do. 

But a great coach is more of a facilitator, helping others leverage their understanding and experience to navigate the challenges and opportunities they encounter. 

Leading always involved coaching.

When a coach helps someone else develop their own solutions, they train them to create new solutions in the future. Quality coaching doesn’t create dependence on the coach.

There are times when a coach can take a more participatory and thus, collaborative approach.

Collaborating together.

Often leaders want someone to join them in the problem-solving process but not solve it for them. I enjoy coming alongside others and working together to develop creative solutions. 

The collaborative process might be during a one-off ideation session or through a structured approach like a design sprint. The form really depends on the nature of the problem being solved.

A 5-day journey to living from your priorities

It’s easy to spend our day reacting to what comes at us. What if you could be proactive, intentionally making decisions based on your priorities? It is possible!

Our five-day short course guides you through the process of identifying your life priorities and scaling them day to everyday decisions. You’ll learn how to establish a rhythm to build good habits and grow a team that will be with you in the journey.

What next for coaching

I want leaders to live a life centered on the people and purposes that matter most. This begins with knowing your priorities and then living from them.

I now focus all my coaching efforts toward intentionality living expressed in four areas. 

  1. Leadership
  2. Innovation
  3. Messaging
  4. Agility

I’m keeping my 1:1 coaching engagements limited, but it’s still something I love to do.

Action Plan

I still offer a handful of free coaching sessions each month. If your're interested, see if one's available and let's connect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?

Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:

  1. Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
  2. Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
  3. Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
  4. Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
  5. Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.

Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?

Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:

  1. Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
  2. Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
  3. Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
  4. Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.

Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Team Leadership

What is team leadership?

Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.

Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:

  1. Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
  2. Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
  3. Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
  4. Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
  5. Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.

Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different styles of team leadership?

There are several different styles of team leadership, including:

  1. Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
  2. Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
  3. Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
  4. Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
  5. Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
  6. Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
  7. Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.

Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different skills required for team leadership?

There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:

  1. Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
  2. Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
  3. Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
  4. Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
  5. Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
  6. Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
  7. Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Learn more about leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Ready to level up your company? Get in touch today!