When Karen’s manager at Save the Children first mentioned she should have some coaching, her stomach dropped. Oh no. What have I done wrong?
She’d been offered coaching support to prepare for her first leadership role, and in her mind, that could only mean one thing – she wasn’t really good enough.
She resisted it, postponed meetings, and generally dragged her feet.
The whole thing felt like being called to the headteacher’s office.
But you know what?
She was SO glad she did.
Six months later, Karen was a different person. More assured. More resourced. More skilled. She had real confidence – not the fake-it-till-you-make-it kind, but the deep-down knowing that she could handle whatever came her way.
The coaching hadn’t ‘fixed’ her. It had unlocked her.
Wow!
Is this how you feel?
- Do you see coaching as something that’s meant to fix what’s broken?
- Have you been offered coaching but took it as a massive hint that you’re not up to the job?
- Have you felt a bit ashamed at the suggestion – like needing coaching somehow means your performance was lacking?
I get it. This idea that coaching is remedial is deeply held.
And it’s got a bit of a bad rap in some circles, hasn’t it?
The stories we tell ourselves
On the one hand, business coaching feels too American and ‘pow pow’, like you need to pump your fist and shout about crushing your goals. Quite honestly that’s exhausting.
And life coaching? Well, that’s for hippies and weirdos, right? Or people who’ve fallen for some dodgy cult thing.
The whole coaching world seems to be about trying to fill gaps and fix things.
If your team knows you’re having coaching, they’ll surely think there’s something wrong with you and you’ll lose their respect. You can’t risk that, can you?
No wonder you might be sceptical.
But here’s the thing
The evidence tells a completely different story.
- The commercial sector is absolutely all over coaching. Seriously. FTSE 100 companies don’t throw money at fluffy feel-good initiatives. They invest in what works.
- The ROI data is pretty compelling. We’re talking about significant returns on investment. Studies show that coaching interventions can result in a 500%+ ROI. That’s not pocket money. It’s a serious business return.
The fact is, coaching isn’t about fixing things that are broken. It’s about creating space to go from perfectly good to absolutely great.
‘Fixit’ coaching doesn’t work
I’ve learned something important over the many years I’ve been coaching. If there’s pressure hanging over a coaching intervention, it just doesn’t work so well.
You know that creative, curious headspace where real learning happens? Well, you can’t get there when you’re getting coaching because you’re in deep, deep trouble.
When someone’s getting coaching to save their job rather than lift their game, the whole thing becomes restrictive rather than expansive.
That’s why I don’t coach people who are on an official disciplinary procedure anymore.
People don’t feel safe – their jobs on the line for goodness sake – and safety in coaching is absolutely everything.
If you can’t be honest, you can’t grow.
What great coaching actually looks like
When you work with the right coach (in the right circumstances) you’ve found gold.
You’ll be celebrated and challenged in equal measure. You’ll discover strengths you didn’t know you had. You’ll develop skills you didn’t even know you needed.
And people will notice. Your team will see and feels the difference. Your results will show it.
The transformation isn’t just internal, it’s visible.
The leaders who thrive aren’t the ones avoiding development, they’re actively seeking it out.
They get that coaching isn’t about thinking that they’re rubbish. It’s about claiming their brilliance.
Think about it.
Would you rather be led by the leader who needed the most help but who didn’t admit it or the one who actively sought out opportunities to grow?
A no-brainer, right?
You’re brilliant at what you do
I know you care deeply about your work and the people you serve. You’re handling complex challenges that would make other people’s heads spin.
But you don’t have to do it alone.
And you don’t have to wait until you’re struggling to invest in yourself.
The most successful leaders I work with are not the ones who needed the most ‘fixing’ or who came reluctantly to coaching.
They’re the ones who saw coaching as what it really is – a partnership for thriving and shining. They saw the gold.
So, here’s my invite
If you’re ready to move on from seeing coaching as a plaster for problems and start seeing it as fuel for your brilliance, let’s talk.
Book a call with me and let’s explore what’s possible when you give yourself permission to go from perfectly good to absolutely great.
The world needs leaders like you performing at your very best.
Oh, and just in case you’re wondering. Karen is still flying high – a brilliant, impactful, award-winning leader in her field.
