Leadership coaching is a natural style for those who support themselves, offer guidance rather than giving orders, value learning as a way to grow, ask guided questions, and balance the transmission of knowledge with helping others find it for themselves.
Coaching leadership
is positive in nature and focuses on 360-degree feedback, communication, and helping people develop. It is different from other leadership styles as it emphasizes employee growth. The coaching leadership style is based on collaboration, support and guidance. It is the opposite of autocratic leadership which focuses on top-down decision-making.A coaching leadership style creates a culture of high performance which includes collaboration, empowerment and fulfillment. This type of leadership is essential to drive engagement and performance in any organization. To be an effective coach, one needs to know the different leadership styles and which one best fits their style. It is also important to have personal similarities that allow for communication and other aspects that are essential to success with the coaching leadership style.
The coaching leadership style should be applied when the time is right and when the circumstances for the coach and the person being addressed are right. In one study, 3,761 executives evaluated their own training skills, and then their evaluations were compared to those of the people who worked with them. The results showed that with effective leadership and training, an organization can expect employees to respond positively because they will have ample opportunities to learn, experience, and improve their work skills. Many effective leaders use a combination of styles to better motivate and lead their teams (it's a leadership style of their own, known as situational leadership).
However, with the right tools and support, a solid method, and lots of practice and feedback, just about anyone can become a better coach. Companies are recognizing the value of this approach and investing more in empowering leaders to be coaches.
