Leadership coaching is not just a skill but a transformative tool that enhances performance and cultivates a culture of continuous improvement in the modern workplace.
Teams no longer seek traditional managers or authoritative leaders; they crave coaches who can inspire growth and empower individuals to reach personal, professional, and organisational milestones.
This shift highlights the crucial role of leaders who can build supportive coaching relationships with their teams, guiding them towards success.
This article explores why managers and leaders need to actively shift and add coaching to their list of people management abilities.
What is leadership coaching?
The workforce is evolving, and with it, the expectations placed on leaders. Traditional managerial skills such as strategic planning, problem-solving, and delegation are no longer sufficient. This shift necessitates the adoption of coaching as a core leadership skill.
Leaders who possess coaching skills are more crucial than ever for developing a positive company culture, enhancing overall performance, and earning the loyalty and engagement of their people.
In a nutshell, leadership coaching is about helping your team members learn, grow and maximise their potential. To achieve this, leaders need to develop their skill set around listening, questioning, empathy, self-awareness, relationship building, and giving constructive feedback.
The Importance of leadership coaching
Here are some key reasons why leadership coaching is essential:
Enhanced Employee Engagement and Productivity
Employees who feel supported and valued are more engaged and productive. Coaching helps leaders build strong relationships with their team members, developing a sense of trust and commitment. This leads to higher job satisfaction and better performance.
Strengthening Team Dynamics
Effective leadership coaching enhances team dynamics by fostering open communication and mutual respect. These skills help leaders build strong, collaborative teams and overcome personality clashes, conflicting goals, trust issues, and communication gaps that hinder their team’s performance. Leaders who coach create an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, leading to more cohesive and high-performing teams.
Improved Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
By encouraging employees to think critically and independently, coaching helps them develop better problem-solving skills. Leaders who coach their teams empower them to make informed decisions, leading to more innovative solutions and improved outcomes.
Fostering a Growth Mindset
Coaching promotes a growth mindset, where employees are encouraged to learn from their experiences and continuously improve. This mindset is essential for adapting to change and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.
Achieving Organisational Goals
Coaching managers align individual development with organisational objectives. By setting clear goals and providing ongoing support, leaders can ensure that their teams are working towards the same strategic priorities, driving overall business success.
The Transformative Power of LEADERSHIP Coaching
Several researches highlight the significant benefits of coaching for managers and leaders. Studies show that managers trained in coaching experience improved work performance, relationships, and communication skills. Moreover, organisations that invest in coaching training see substantial returns, including higher sales, better customer metrics, and reduced absenteeism.
The Statistically Proven Impact of Leadership Coaching
Stats reveal that 50% of Gen Y professionals (Millenials) in Singapore expect their managers to be a coach.
Here is the incredible impact of Coaching unveiled through studies by Gallup and other reputable research institutes:
- Over 70% of managers trained in Coaching experienced improved work performance, relationships, and communication skills
- 86% of companies felt they more than recouped their investment in Coaching
- More than 90% of managers who coached said they learnt how to manage people better
- Coaching leads to 20% more sales, 10% higher customer metrics, 41% lower absenteeism
By taking a coaching approach to leadership, you can build strong relationships with your team, set goals, provide guidance and support, and motivate your team to improve performance.
leadership Coaching as a Critical Core Skill
Critical Core Skills (CCS) is a framework developed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to emphasise the importance of soft skills in the digital era.
With the rapid digitisation and technological advancements in Singapore’s economy, CCS aims to equip the workforce with 16 essential competencies across three clusters: Thinking Critically, Interacting with Others, and Staying Relevant. These skills are crucial for employees to navigate and thrive in the evolving business landscape.
By prioritising the development of these critical core skills, both employees and organisations can better adapt to changes and seize new opportunities in the future economy.
Coaching plays a vital role within the CCS framework, particularly in the “Developing People” module.
Read more about CCS in our detailed Critical Core Skills article.
leadership Coaching through the Lens of Transactional Analysis
Coaching programmes at SeraphCorp are deeply rooted in the principles of Transactional Analysis (TA), a social psychology framework developed by Eric Berne.
TA provides a practical framework for understanding human behaviour through the analysis of three distinct ego states: Parent, Adult, and Child. These states influence how individuals behave, communicate, interact, and learn, offering deep insights for improving interpersonal dynamics.
By integrating TA into our programmes, we equip leaders with the ability to recognise and navigate these ego states, empowering them enhance their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, communicate more effectively, motivate and mentor team members, and foster a supportive and positive work environment.
This approach not only improves individual self-awareness but also strengthens team dynamics by promoting healthier communication patterns. By leveraging TA, we prepare leaders to guide their teams with empathy and rationality, ultimately driving organisational success and personal growth.
Read more in our detailed article on Transactional Analysis.
Our leadership Coaching Programmes in Singapore
SeraphCorp Institute offers two distinct coaching programmes for executives and leaders in Singapore. The first is our 2-day stand-alone Coaching 101 course, designed to build foundational coaching skills.
The second is the comprehensive Seraph Certificate in Coaching, consisting of six modules, designed to thoroughly equip aspiring coaches with advanced skills and knowledge as well as a pathway to become an accredited ICF coach.
1. Coaching 101
In our 2-day Coaching 101 programme, we explore how you can build coaching relationships with your team, help them identify and set goals, and provide them with the guidance and support they need. Finally, we look at how continuous feedback can help motivate and encourage your team to improve performance and accelerate organisational growth.
Key Highlights:
- Learn how to build strong coaching relationships with your team.
- Master the art of setting goals, providing guidance, and offering support.
- Motivate your team to improve performance and accelerate organisational growth.
Who it’s for and what you’ll learn:
Tailored for managers, high-performing executives, supervisors, team leaders, or those in technical roles, this programme is designed to equip you with essential skills, including:
- Self-reflection techniques for personal and professional growth
- Performance review strategies to enhance team performance
- The art of harnessing the full potential of team members
- Facilitating coaching conversations that drive accountability
- Developing a growth mindset for continuous improvement
Programme Details:
- Duration: 2 Days (14 Hours)
- Time: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Mode of Delivery: Classroom learning
- Funding Support: SkillsFuture funding eligible
2. The Seraph Certificate in Coaching
The Seraph Certificate in Coaching is a comprehensive programme designed to develop well-rounded and impactful coaches. It is the only coaching programme in Singapore grounded in social psychology (Transactional Analysis), providing participants with deep insights into the dynamics of coaching relationships.
Suitable for both beginners and experienced coaches, the programme consists of six modules, starting with Coaching 101.
Module Highlights:
- Module 1: Coaching 101 (2 days, 14 hours)
Acquire fundamental coaching skills and cultivate a growth mindset. - Module 2: Psychological Foundations of Coaching (2 days, 16 hours)
Explore the psychological basis of coaching presence and communication strategies. - Module 3: Partnering With Clients (2 days, 17 hours)
Build trust and enhance coaching presence. - Module 4: The Being of a Coach (1 day, 10 hours)
Grasp ethical coaching practices and navigate coaching relationships. - Module 5: ACC Group Mentoring (8 hours)
Elevate competencies through mentor coaching sessions. - Module 6 (optional): ACC Accreditation Examination Prep Class
Prepare for ACC (Associate Certified Coach) accreditation with ICF (International Coaching Federation) with a group preparatory session and individual mentor coaching sessions.
Qualifications and Outcomes:
- Gain a WSQ Statement of Attainment (SOA) for Coaching 101
- Receive an internationally recognized Transactional Analysis 101 Certificate after Module 2
- Earn individual Certificates of Completion for Modules 3 and 4
- Attain The Seraph Certificate in Coaching after completing all modules
Modules 1 to 5 are crafted to align with the International Coaching Federation standards.
We also offer an optional module 6 that prepares you to take the exam and become an Associate Certified Coach accredited with International Coaching Federation.
By taking the Seraph Certificate in Coaching, you’ll have the opportunity to become an exceptional leader and coach, as well as become an accredited ICF coach.
Read more about Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation on the ICF website.
Conclusion
In conclusion, coaching skills are indispensable for modern leaders and managers. By adopting a coaching approach, leaders can inspire their teams, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and drive organisational success.
At SeraphCorp Institute, we are dedicated to helping leaders develop these essential skills and achieve their full potential.
To learn more about how coaching can transform your leadership and management capabilities and how we can tailor a programme for you, book a sharing session with us by filling out the form below.
P: +65 6100 7372 | E: enquiry@seraphcorp.net
