Leadership today demands more than authority; it requires the ability to connect, empower, and evolve. In a powerful executive coaching webinar, Anne Phey, Founder and CEO of Leadership Coaching School, explored why coaching is the must-have skill for leaders navigating disruption, hybrid work, and generational change.
Anne emphasized that coaching enables leaders to build trust, foster engagement, and lead with empathy, all of which are essential for creating high-performance teams. She highlighted the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as the global benchmark for coaching excellence and shared practical strategies for integrating coaching into leadership styles to drive innovation, resilience, and continuous growth.
The session also highlighted how coaching shifts leadership from command-and-control to collaboration and growth, equipping managers to develop talent, encourage ownership, and lead change with greater clarity and confidence.
The webinar redefined leadership as a function of influence, not hierarchy. True leaders exist at every level of an organization, whether senior executives or team contributors, if they are capable of driving change or positively influencing others. In this evolving definition, coaching skills for leaders and managers are no longer optional. The ability to inspire rather than instruct has become the cornerstone of effective leadership in modern workplaces.
Today’s leaders are operating in a time of continuous upheaval from global health crises and geopolitical instability to AI-driven disruption and hybrid work models. These aren’t isolated events but ongoing realities that demand constant adaptation.
Strategic thinking, digital transformation, and innovation have become daily imperatives. A coaching approach helps leaders cultivate agility, psychological safety, and team alignment qualities that are essential for navigating such complex and dynamic conditions.
Building trust used to rely heavily on face-to-face interactions, physical presence, and informal workplace connections. However, in today’s hybrid and remote environments, leaders must learn to foster trust through virtual means. This requires more than digital fluency; it demands active listening, empathy, and the ability to support teams without micromanagement.
Coaching offers a robust framework to develop these skills. It teaches leaders how to be fully present in conversations, ask meaningful questions, and engage with team members in ways that build mutual respect and understanding, even from a distance.
Global data shows that only around 15% of employees are actively engaged at work. The remaining majority are either disengaged or actively disengaged, resulting in low productivity, poor morale, and in some cases, toxic work environments.
Coaching can serve as a transformative tool to reverse this trend. When leaders adopt coaching techniques, they shift their focus from directing tasks to enabling potential. By asking questions such as:
They help employees take ownership of their growth. This not only boosts engagement but also fosters a sense of accountability and purpose within the team.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) was introduced as the global benchmark for coaching excellence. For leaders or aspiring coaches, pursuing certification through an ICF-accredited program lends credibility and measurable impact to their coaching practice. Just as engineers pursue PMP or accountants earn ACCA certifications, professional coaching too requires formal training and standards to be effective.
Effective coaching goes far beyond simply hearing words; it involves a multi-dimensional listening approach. Words make up only about 5% of communication. Coaching requires leaders to:
This holistic form of listening enables leaders to connect more deeply, respond with empathy, and unlock the kind of insight that drives meaningful change.
Poorly led teams often resemble gondolas drifting in different directions, visibly active but lacking alignment. In contrast, a team led with a coaching mindset functions like a dragon boat: synchronized, focused, and moving toward a common goal.
Coaching empowers leaders to build such teams by:
This alignment translates directly into performance, innovation, and team resilience.
To coach effectively, leaders must embody specific qualities that support growth and development:
These traits are foundational in professional coaching training programs and widely emphasized in career coaching and leadership development webinars.
Coaching is not only a tool for enhancing performance, but it is a catalyst for personal transformation. Leaders who adopt a coaching mindset often witness team members experience lasting change, from improved confidence and mindset shifts to career pivots and personal growth. The impact of coaching extends well beyond professional outcomes, helping individuals thrive in all aspects of life.
Here, GSDC’s Professional Coach Certification empowers leaders, managers, and professionals with practical coaching skills to drive performance and growth. It covers proven frameworks, effective questioning, and goal-setting strategies to inspire teams and boost engagement. Globally recognized, it validates your expertise and prepares you to lead with impact and confidence.
Background: Daniel, a creative director, was burned out and confused about his next steps.
The Coaching Process:
Result: Daniel successfully transitioned into a new career, thanks to increased clarity and confidence cultivated through coaching.
Background: A mid-career woman in marketing wanted more purpose and visibility.
The Coaching Journey:
Result: She became a respected keynote speaker and doubled her income.
Takeaway: Coaching reveals potential that individuals might overlook or underestimate.
Background: Angeline, an HR head, struggled with disengagement.
Coaching Approach:
Result: Engagement scores improved by 25%, and her organization retained more top talent.
Background: Chris, a fast-scaling startup COO, was over-tasked and reactive.
Coaching Transformation:
Result: Improved team morale, and his leadership team became a model for others.
Background: A senior bank executive felt stagnated and unfulfilled.
Through Coaching:
Impact: She found renewed energy, career alignment, and greater influence.
Anne Phey's professional coaching webinar made it crystal clear: coaching skills are no longer optional. Leaders must shift from commanding to co-creating, from instructing to inspiring, and from managing to mentoring with a coaching lens.
Whether you're a founder, team leader, or executive, investing in coaching certification or even attending a coach training webinar will unlock your influence, transform your team, and future-proof your leadership.
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1. Why is coaching a must-have skill for leaders today?
Because leadership has shifted from command-and-control to empower-and-inspire. Coaching helps leaders build trust, drive change, and foster innovation.
2. What makes coaching different from managing?
Managing is about tasks and performance. Coaching is about people and potential. It’s proactive, developmental, and transformational.
3. Can anyone become a coach, or is certification required?
Anyone can learn coaching, but certification (like ICF) ensures you follow ethical, impactful practices. It builds trust with clients or your team.
4. What is ICF and why is it important?
The International Coaching Federation is the leading global body for coaching accreditation. It ensures professional standards and global recognition.
5. What are the top coaching skills for leaders?
6. How can I assess engagement in my team?
Use employee engagement surveys or observe behavior initiative, collaboration, volunteering, and innovation are signs of engagement.
7. What is the impact of coaching on employee retention?
Coaching increases engagement, which directly impacts retention, productivity, and morale.
8. Are coaching skills useful in remote teams?
Absolutely. They are more important in hybrid environments to replace lost non-verbal cues and build virtual trust.
9. Is coaching only for struggling employees?
No. Coaching is most powerful for high potentials, enabling them to grow faster, take on bigger roles, and innovate.
10. How long does it take to become a certified coach?
Depending on the program, 6 months to 1 year. Look for ICF-accredited online coaching certification webinars.
11. What’s the difference between career coaching and executive coaching?
12. Can coaching be integrated into performance reviews?
Yes. Use coaching conversations to set goals, explore blockers, and co-create solutions making reviews future-focused.
13. Do leaders need to be perfect listeners to coach?
Not perfect, just intentional. Practice deep listening with your ears, eyes, and heart.
14. What’s a good first step toward learning coaching?
Join a professional coaching masterclass or coach training webinar to explore tools, frameworks, and methodology.
15. How does coaching impact team collaboration?
It fosters psychological safety, allowing team members to speak up, support each other, and align better.
16. Can coaching help with conflict resolution?
Yes. Coaching provides a space for non-judgmental dialogue, which helps surface and address underlying issues.
17. How do I know if my team is disengaged?
Watch for withdrawal, minimal effort, silence in meetings, or resistance to change.
18. How is coaching different from mentoring?
Mentors offer advice based on experience. Coaches ask questions to help you find your answers.
19. Should coaching be internal or outsourced?
Both have value. Internal coaching builds a coaching culture; external coaches offer neutrality and a broader perspective.
20. What makes a great coaching question?
It’s open-ended, curious, and focused on potential. For example: “What would success look like for you?”
If you like this read then make sure to check out our previous blogs: Cracking Onboarding Challenges: Fresher Success Unveiled
Not sure which certification to pursue? Our advisors will help you decide!