The illiterate of the 21st Century are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler, Power Shift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Power at the Edge of the 21st Century
Most people can relate with formal training and its impact on skill development. The fancy terms for that is ‘capacity building’, right? However, what many aspiring and matured leaders fail to recognise is that improving leadership skills and capabilities is an evolving process that requires constant cycle of learning, unlearning and relearning – to borrow the now famous cliché by Alvin Toffler.
The non-directive practice of empowering and assisting people as they build their leadership qualities and skills is known as leadership coaching. It started out as a systematic methodology used to assess and improve leadership within an organization’s executive leadership branch. Leadership coaching helps theindividual and organisation attain measurable results since it provides transformational change within different leadership levels in an organisation. The ultimate objective of leadership coaching is to assist executives in realising their full potential and enhancing their performance in their various positions. Coaching in leadership has been credited with a big impact on people and businesses alike when conducted by accredited coaches with the requisite experience that matches your needs.
Here are some ways in which leadership coaching can make a significant impact and provide you with the return on investment that far surpasses other forms of training/capacity building:
Improved Self-Awareness
Effective leadership requires having a strong sense of one’s own abilities and limitations as well as values, emotions, and behaviors. People can receive the benefit of reflective feedback on their leadership style through leadership coaching, which can help those spot areas where they need to grow and increase their self-awareness. Coaches can help clients better understand their own strengths and limitations by offering insights into how their behavior affects others and by assisting them in identifying their blind spots.
Enhanced Leadership Skills
One way of effecting leadership coaching involves working with an experienced leadership coach to develop and enhance one’s leadership abilities. It can help individuals develop a range of skills and competencies that are critical for effective leadership. These leadership competencies include enhanced communication skills, developing greater emotional intelligence, improved decision-making ability, and task delegation skills. These competencies are essential for every leader.
Increased Engagement
Leadership coaching can help individuals become more engaged and committed to their work. This is achieved by concentrating on their strengths and values. Through this, leaders can develop a stronger sense of purpose and motivation, which can translate into higher levels of engagement and performance. This results in better leadership and enhanced productivity.
Better Teamwork
When coaching focuses on fostering the abilities and attitudes required to successfully manage and lead a team. Leaders are better able to match duties and responsibilities to team member’s talents and interests, leaders who undergo coaching are able to gain a deeper grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of their team members.
Moreover, leadership coaching can assist leaders in improving relationships with their team members, fostering trust and rapport, and cultivating a productive workplace. Team members are more likely to be motivated and involved in their job, which can result in higher productivity and better teamwork, when they feel heard and respected.
Improved Organisational Performance
By creating leaders who are more capable of managing and leading their teams, motivating people, and fostering innovation and growth, leadership coaching may be a potent instrument for enhancing organizational performance. There are several ways that leadership coaching can enhance organisational performance. Leadership coaching assists by giving leaders the abilities and resources they need to successfully lead and manage their teams. It helps the leader achieve increased productivity, enhance team engagement, enhance creativity and innovation, and improve a person’s decision-making ability. The whole aim of leadership coaching is to develop better leaders.
Closing Thoughts
Leadership coaching is different from mentoring. While a mentor is someone who has travelled a similar path ahead of you and is probably a guru in your field, your coach does not necessarily have to be an exoert in your field. The tools and skills of a mentor and coach differ significantly. Your mentor shows you what to do, and how to do it well – based on experience.
A good coach helps you find the right path for you, based on your skills and capabilities.
Dr. Akin Oke is an executive coach and convener, Leadership Express – a global leadership development platform. He is based in Abuja. Nigeria.
