Adopting a coaching leadership style is a highly effective approach to unlocking the full potential of your team. At HIGH5, we specialize in empowering leaders and organizations to thrive through a strengths-based approach. Our scientifically validated HIGH5 strengths assessment provides deep insights into individual and team strengths, enabling coaching leaders to tailor their mentoring strategies and create an environment where each team member can leverage their unique talents to contribute their best. By focusing on developing your team members’ strengths through teaching and mentoring, a coaching leadership style not only enhances productivity and performance but also fosters a culture of engagement and growth.
Coaching type of leadership can have many advantages, such as improved communication, productivity, and morale.
When properly executed, a coaching leadership style can help improve the skills of your team members. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and improved morale.
In this article, we will discuss the key characteristics of a coaching leadership style. We will also provide an example of a coaching leader and some of the advantages that this type of leadership can have.
What is Coaching Leadership? Definition & Meaning
Coaching leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on developing team members by teaching and mentoring them.
This type of leader provides guidance and support to help their team members improve their skills and performance.
One powerful tool that coaching leaders can leverage is the HIGH5 strengths assessment, which provides in-depth insights into individual strengths and how to optimize them. By understanding their team members’ unique strengths through the HIGH5 assessment, coaching leaders can tailor their mentoring approach, provide personalized guidance, and create an environment where individuals can thrive and contribute their best.
A coaching leader typically has a deep understanding of their team member’s strengths and weaknesses. They use this knowledge to provide tailored support that helps their team members reach their full potential.
The coaching leadership style can be used in any type of organization, from businesses to sports teams. It is especially effective in organizations that value employee development and growth.
Coaching Leadership Style: Characteristics & Key Quality
The key characteristics of a coaching leadership style are:
1. Teach and Mentor Team Members
A coaching leader spends time teaching and mentoring their team members. They help their team members learn new skills and improve their performance.
2. Focus on Development
A coaching leader focuses on developing their team members. They provide guidance and support to help their team members reach their full potential.
3. Tailored Support
A coaching leader provides tailored support to their team members based on their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Understands Team Members’ Strengths and Weaknesses
A coaching leader has a deep understanding of their team member’s strengths and weaknesses. They use this knowledge to provide the best possible support for their team members.
5. Driven by Results
A coaching leader is driven by results. They are focused on helping their team achieve their goals and objectives.
List of 10 Qualities of Coaching Leadership
The following are ten key qualities that those who have a coaching leadership style typically possess:
- Focused on the future and helping others achieve their goal
- Supportive and builds relationships
- Empowering and helping others grow
- Reflective and helps others learn from their mistakes
- Honest and helps others see the truth
- Forward-thinking and helping others plan for the future
- Provides guidance when needed
- Patient and allows time for growth
- Flexible and adapts to the needs of others
- Rewarding and helping others feel accomplished
The coaching leadership style has many key characteristics that make it an effective way to lead.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Utilize the HIGH5 team strengths profile to identify collective strengths and areas for growth. Assign projects and responsibilities that align with the team’s dominant strengths, ensuring optimal collaboration and performance. For areas of improvement, create cross-training opportunities that allow team members to learn from each other’s strengths.
Coaching Leadership Example
A coaching leadership style is a great way to motivate employees and help them achieve their goals.
The best practices for using this type of leadership include providing clear goals and objectives, giving feedback and support, and maintaining an open line of communication.
Coaching leadership can be a very effective way to improve employee productivity and morale.
For example, a manager who employs a coaching leadership style might give employees specific goals to achieve and then provide feedback and support as they work towards meeting those goals.
This type of leadership can help employees feel more engaged and motivated in their work.
For example, a manager who employs a coaching leadership style might use the HIGH5 strengths assessment to gain insights into their employees’ unique talents and motivations. With this knowledge, they can set specific, personalized goals that align with each employee’s strengths, increasing the likelihood of success. Regular feedback sessions can then focus on leveraging strengths, addressing development areas, and celebrating achievements – an approach that not only enhances productivity but also fosters a sense of purpose and engagement.
Additionally, a coaching leadership style can help managers build better relationships with their employees, which can lead to increased communication and collaboration.
Overall, coaching leadership is a great way to achieve results while also improving employee morale and engagement.
Managers who are looking to improve their leadership skills would do well to learn more about this approach.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
During feedback sessions, focus on celebrating and amplifying your team members’ strengths, rather than solely addressing weaknesses. Encourage them to identify their strengths and reflect on how they can apply their strengths to overcome challenges and achieve their goals more effectively.
Best Jobs For Coaching Leadership Style
The following are some jobs that are great for those who want to use a coaching leadership style:
- Human Resources Manager: An HR manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the human resources function within the organization. They work with employees to provide guidance and support, help set and track employee goals, and develop training programs
- Training and Development Manager: A training and development manager is responsible for designing and delivering training programs that help employees learn new skills and improve their performance. They also work with managers to identify training needs and create programs that meet those needs
- Organizational Development Consultant: An organizational development consultant works with businesses to improve their overall performance. They help organizations assess their current state, identify areas of improvement, and develop plans to achieve their goals
- Management Consultant: A management consultant works with businesses to help them improve their operations. They assess a company’s current state, identify areas of improvement, and develop plans to help the company achieve its goals
- Executive Coach: An executive coach works with executives and other high-level leaders to help them improve their performance. They provide guidance and support, help set and track goals, and provide feedback on progress
- Leadership Development Specialist: A leadership development specialist works with businesses to help them develop their future leaders. They help create and implement leadership development programs, assess leadership potential, and provide coaching and support to emerging leaders
- Career Counselor: A career counselor helps people make decisions about their careers. They guide choosing a career, finding jobs, and developing skills for the workplace
- Recruiter: A recruiter is responsible for finding qualified candidates for open positions within an organization. They screen resumes, conduct interviews, and make recommendations to hiring managers
- Leadership Trainer: A leadership trainer is responsible for designing and delivering training programs that teach people how to be effective leaders. They work with managers to identify training needs and create programs that meet those needs
Coaching Leadership Advantages and Disadvantages
Every leadership style comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some of the key advantages and disadvantages of coaching leadership.
List of 5 Pros of Coaching Leadership
- Coaching leadership can help employees feel more engaged and motivated in their work
- It can help managers build better relationships with their employees, which can lead to increased communication and collaboration
- Coaching leadership is a great way to achieve results while also improving employee morale and engagement
- Managers who use a coaching leadership style tend to be more successful than those who don’t
- Employees tend to be more relaxed and more likely to ask for help
List of 5 Cons of Coaching Leadership
- Coaching leadership can be time-consuming and requires a lot of effort from both the manager and the employees
- It can be difficult to implement in large organizations, where there may be resistance from employees who are used to more traditional methods of management
- Not all employees will respond well to coaching leadership, and it may not be appropriate for all situations
- It is still a relatively new approach, so there is still much to learn about it
- It can be difficult to quantify the results of coaching leadership, which can make it difficult to justify its use in some cases
Who Is a Good Example of a Coaching Leader?
While some of those that employ a coaching leadership style are publically known figures, many more are not. Most coaching leaders operate in relatively anonymous positions within their organizations.
This is likely because the coaching style of leadership is more about developing those around them than it is about seeking personal glory or recognition.
One well-known example of a coaching leader is Bill Walsh, legendary head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1988.
Under Walsh’s guidance, the 49ers won three championships and became one of the most successful teams in NFL history.
What made Walsh such a great coach? For starters, he was excellent at spotting talent and then molding that talent into a cohesive unit. He was also very good at making halftime adjustments and game-planning.
But perhaps most importantly, Walsh was a master at motivating his players.
List of Coaching Leaders
A few other people that prove themself as good coaching leaders are:
- Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple
- Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, and media mogul
- Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
- Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo
Bonus: What Is the Core & Main Role of a Coaching Leader
A coaching leader is a person who helps other people and teams to be better. They help them so that they can achieve their full potential.
The main role of a coaching leader is to help their team members reach their full potential by leveraging their unique strengths. By using the HIGH5 strengths assessment, coaching leaders gain invaluable insights into their team’s individual and collective talents, enabling them to provide targeted guidance and support. This strengths-based approach not only enhances performance but also cultivates a culture of growth, collaboration, and engagement, where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
Origin of Coaching Leadership Style
The modern version of coaching can be traced back to the Human Potential Movement in the 1960s, where it was used as a way to help people unlock their potential.
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, who were both part of this movement, developed the idea that everyone has the potential to reach their full potential if they have the right support.
The coaching leadership style has its roots in this idea.
5 Amazing Books That Encourage Coaching Leadership Style
The following are five amazing books that encourage coaching leadership style:
1. The Coaching Habit: Say, Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever, Michael Bungay Stanier
Presenting seven key types of questions that coaches use to help their clients move from stuck to unstuck, this book provides a simple and practical framework for changing the way you lead forever.
2. The Coaching Effect: What Great Leaders Do to Increase Sales, Enhance Performance, and Sustain Growth, Bill Eckstrom and Sarah Wirth
With the authors having spent years as business coaches, this book provides insights on how to increase sales and sustain growth by becoming a coaching leader.
It also identifies common characteristics and behaviors of leaders with a coaching mindset.
3. Performance Conversations: How to Use Questions to Coach Employees, Improve Productivity, and Boost Confidence (Without Appraisals.), Christopher Lee
Asking questions is the key to good coaching, and this book provides a blueprint for doing just that.
It not only shows how to have productive performance conversations with employees (without using appraisals), but also how to coach people to achieve their goals and dreams.
4. Co-Active Coaching: The proven framework for transformative conversations at work and in life, Karen Kimsey-House, Henry Kimsey-House
Breaking down the fundamentals and providing models that illustrate how co-active coaching works, this book provides an in-depth look at transformative conversations.
It also offers exercises and real-world examples to help you become a more effective coach in all areas of your life.
5. Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth, Richard Boyatzis, Melvin L. Smith, and Ellen Van Oosten
This is a crash course in coaching that takes a holistic view of human change.
With a human-first approach to coaching, this book provides the principles and practices that will enable you to help people change in meaningful ways.
In addition, being able to connect with, and understand people, is essential for a coaching leader. This book will help you to do just that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coaching Leadership
What are the 4 coaching styles?
There are four coaching styles: Directive, Supportive, Analytical and Creative.
Directive coaching is all about giving clear instructions and expectations. It’s the “just do it” approach.
Supportive coaching is more about creating a relationship of trust and mutual respect. It’s the “I believe in you” approach.
Analytical coaching is based on data and logic. It’s the “let’s figure this out together” approach.
Creative coaching is focused on tapping into your team members’ creativity. It’s the “what if we…?” approach.
How do you use coaching as a leadership style?
When using coaching as a leadership style, it’s important to remember that everyone is different.
What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to be flexible and adapt your coaching to the individual.
