𝟱 R𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 C𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 L𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 B𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 P𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 C𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵

Over the years, I’ve coached leaders navigating complex change—and been one myself.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

The transformation we ask of others must first begin within us.

That’s where 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘳𝘺—𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦.

While organizations invest in tools, training, and team coaching, we must not forget the fertile ground those seeds need to take root: the leadership mindset.

A conversation with four brilliant coach peers helped me refine my thinking around this:

🖐️ 𝟱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵—especially through change:

1️⃣ 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆

Change brings uncertainty. A coach becomes a trusted thinking partner—helping leaders make meaning, not just decisions. They offer space to reflect, reframe, and respond wisely, not reactively.

2️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about enabling others to find theirs. But that shift requires a redefinition of how leaders add value.

Coaching supports leaders in letting go of old identities—rooted in control, certainty, and heroics—and stepping into new ones that empower others through context, confidence, and care.

3️⃣ 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁

Culture doesn’t change through strategy decks - it shifts when leaders model transparency, vulnerability, trust, and curiosity. Coaching supports leaders to “fly with both wings”—confidence and compassion, assertiveness and empathy, logic and intuition.

4️⃣ 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺, 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘁

When external support fades, old habits return. Coaching supports lasting mindset and behavior shifts—so change doesn’t just roll out, it takes root.

5️⃣ 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽

The higher up you go, the fewer honest mirrors you have. Coaches illuminate blind spots, sore spots, and strengths—so they don’t get stuck in echo chambers, and can lead with both confidence and humility.