Coaching… or the Smarter Way to Lead

Let’s be clear, this isn’t about getting a coach. It’s about being one!

If you’re still the go-to person for all the answers, you’re not leading – you’re bottlenecking. Great managers coach. They grow capability, reduce reliance, and get their time back. And guess what… it doesn’t have to take hours.

More and more, businesses are focused on high performance over high growth, doing more with less. But if leaders aren’t coaching their teams (and building a culture where others do the same), they’ll struggle to get there.

Coaching isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s how you build problem-solvers, grow confidence and autonomy, and free yourself from being the team’s walking search engine.

Still, many managers shy away from coaching because it seems like a huge time drain. So let’s bust that myth.

The Armour of Expertise

Isn’t it simpler, easier and quicker to just give someone the answers?

When you consistently provide the answers and solutions, you build what we call the armour of expertise. It feels good. You’re seen as the expert, the go-to, the fixer. But here’s the problem; Each time you step in, you add another layer of armour. And over time, it gets heavy. You become overloaded, burnt out, and you drop the ball, not because you’re not capable, but because you’ve become the sole problem-solver.

That armour might feel powerful at first, but it stifles growth… for you and for your team.

True leadership isn’t about being the hero. It’s about empowering others to find their own way. When you coach, you’re not just solving today’s problems. You’re building tomorrow’s capability.

The Myths We Tell Ourselves

Myth 1: Coaching takes too much time
Coaching must mean formal sessions, long conversations, and deep reflection, right? Not quite. Many leaders believe coaching takes time they don’t have.

Myth 2: Coaching doesn’t provide immediate results
Without quick wins, it can feel like coaching is a slow burn. So it often drops off the to-do list.

Myth 3: Coaching is an added burden
Some see coaching as another task on an already overwhelming leadership plate.

If any of that sounds familiar, read on. We’re not here to sell fluff. Coaching is practical, powerful and can be done in minutes. Let’s break it down.

Busting the Myths

Myth 1: Coaching Takes Too Much Time

Reframe: Embed Micro-Coaching Moments

Coaching doesn’t need to be formal or time-consuming. You can create thinking space in the moment.

• Adopt a conversational approach: Use brief, focused questions in meetings, quick chats, or after tasks. These small moments build up over time.
• Lead with curiosity: Ask open-ended questions that prompt reflection and problem-solving. Even if you have the answer, hold back.
• Leverage everyday moments: One-to-ones, Slack messages, team reviews. You’re already there – just shift how you show up.

_{Start with simple questions like:}

• "What’s the challenge you’re trying to solve?"
• "What have you tried so far?"
• "How could you solve this?"
• "What makes this an important thing to solve?"
• "How can I support you?"

And remember: W.A.I.T. = Why Am I Talking?

Myth 2: Coaching Doesn’t Provide Immediate Results

Reframe: Invest in Tangible Benefits

Coaching builds long-term capability, but it doesn’t mean you won’t see change fast.

• Track progress: Set small goals and look for shifts in thinking, behaviour, and confidence.
• Celebrate small wins: Name and notice mindset shifts and moments of ownership.
• Link to outcomes: Coaching today means better decisions, more autonomy, and fewer dependencies tomorrow.

Myth 3: Coaching Is an Added Burden

Reframe: It’s Not an ‘Add-On’

Coaching isn’t something extra to squeeze into your day. It is a key part of how you lead effectively.

• Make it part of development: Coaching is a core skill for growing people. Not a separate job.
• Coach through delegation: Help people build the capability they need to take on more.
• Shift the mindset: Time spent coaching now pays back in time saved later.

Why Coaching Works for Leaders: A Recap

Coaching is not a leadership style reserved for the patient, the soft, or the time-rich. It is a high-leverage tool for building capable, resilient teams. Teams that can think critically, make decisions independently, and perform under pressure.

When you coach, you shift the dynamic from “leader as fixer” to “leader as enabler.” And that doesn’t just grow others, it frees you!

It doesn’t mean hours of soul-searching. Just small moments of curiosity and challenge, consistently.

It might not always give you instant gratification, but it will give you something better: a team that doesn’t need you to do all of the thinking or have all the answers.

Coaching in Action: What It Could Look Like

These examples show how coaching can fit into real leadership moments.

A time-pressed startup founder
Instead of long one-to-ones, the founder closes daily stand-ups with a coaching-style question: “What’s one thing you might try differently today?” A small habit that will encourage reflection and ownership – with no extra meetings.

A stretched team lead
Constantly asked to make decisions, this manager starts replying with: “What do you think you could try?” It helps shift the team from dependency to action.

A new manager learning on the job
During one-to-ones, the manager focuses on one question: “What do you need from our time together?” It opens up honest conversations, resets the power dynamic and places action in their hands.

Quick Recap: How to Lead Like a Coach

• Start with questions: Make curiosity your default.
• Create space: Don’t rush to solve
• Use what’s already there: Embed coaching into meetings, 1:1s, Slack threads, walk-and-talks.
• Be consistent: Coaching works best as a rhythm, not a rescue mission.
• Track small wins: Celebrate moments of growth or insight—even when they seem minor.
• Coach through delegation: Let people own problems and find solutions.
  

Want to Strengthen Your Coaching Muscle?

Here are some trusted resources to help you build your practice:‍

"The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier
Short, practical, full of usable questions.

‍"The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier
Short, practical, full of usable questions.‍

"Time to Think" by Nancy Kline
An excellent guide to the power of listening.‍

"Multipliers" by Liz Wiseman
Not strictly about coaching, but brilliant for building capability.

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Remember

‍Coaching is not an add-on to leadership. It is leadership. If you want a team that thinks for itself, performs at its best, and grows in confidence then coaching is the most effective, human, and sustainable way to get there.

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