How can you develop a Coaching Leadership style, where you recognise your team members strengths, weaknesses and motivations to improve? What are the advantages and downsides of this approach?

We share our top tips on the skills and qualities you need to develop to take a coaching approach, how you can develop them and how to overcome the challenges you may face – as shared by executive career coaches at our recent event:

1. “Be self-aware and understand how you are questioning. Are you asking enough questions? What kind of questions are you asking your members of staff? Are they open enough conversations or are they shutting people down?” – Janice Taylor
2. “There is a certain power in questions. It’s no longer about needing to know all the answers but knowing which questions to ask. ” – Geetha Ramachandran
3. “Listening, questioning and drawing insight are vital skills for leaders. Listen not only to what is being said, but also what isn’t being said.” – Lisa Leonce
4. “Patience is important. Allow people time to process each question and give them time to respond before asking another question.” – Jenny Garrett
5. “Work at the right pace for the individual you are coaching. Remember that some people may need a bit more time to process and think about things.” – Lisa Leonce. 
6. “Be open to learning and hearing feedback. That will really help you to develop your skills.” – Janice Taylor
7. “There will be times when you can afford to coach your team members in the moment and others when you can’t. Ken Blanchard’s situational leadership model is helpful in knowing when to coach and when not to.” – Lisa Leonce
8. “Are you coaching as wide a range of people as possible or are you coaching in your own image? Is your coaching available to everyone that needs it?” – Janice Taylor
9. “Emotional intelligence is important. Being aware of your employees’ emotional intelligence is important and knowing the impact you have on their emotional intelligence.” – Lisa Leonce
10. “Do your personal profile. Understanding yourself and how you operate and impact on other people is a good starting point.” – Lisa Leonce