Be A Coach: The Simple Formula for Leadership Success

Author

Ed Clementi
September 09, 2024

In today’s fast-paced digital world, leadership advice seems to flood not only LinkedIn but also countless other social media platforms. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by long checklists of attributes promising to make you an effective leader. These lists, while insightful, can leave you asking, “Which ones are most important? Do I need to master them all?”

The answer, in my view, is simple: Don’t overthink it.

Leadership doesn’t need to be a complex puzzle of endless traits to master. If you find yourself in a leadership position, simply start with an authentic and caring heart. When you lead with authenticity and genuine care for your people, everything else tends to fall into place naturally. Each day, you’ll be motivated to show up, learn, and be your best for your team.

The Coaching Approach to Leadership

Early in my journey as a leader, this mindset naturally led me to adopt a coaching approach. Having spent years coaching my children’s football, baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer teams, I came to a powerful realization: no matter the sport, there are key attributes that transcend the game itself. Whether on the football field or basketball court, success relied on listening, understanding, inspiring, teaching, and guiding.

These core principles are not only critical for success in sports but are equally vital in the corporate world. The attributes I honed as a coach on the field became the foundation for my approach to leadership in any environment, proving that, regardless of the context, great leadership is rooted in the ability to coach and uplift others.

A coach’s mission is simple: understand each person’s potential and guide them toward reaching that potential. Coaches become their team’s biggest advocates, helping them unlock their capabilities and believing in them even when they might doubt themselves. In the workplace, the same principle applies: your role isn’t just about managing tasks or hitting deadlines, it’s about nurturing growth and helping your people succeed. Their success is your success.

Why Aren’t More Leaders Coaches?

Over the course of my career, I’ve encountered people who sought advice outside their own organizations. When I asked what kind of guidance they were getting from their current leaders, the answers were sometimes disheartening.

I’ve heard things like, “You need to figure it out yourself, like I had to,” “That’s not my job,” or even, “I’m not a coach.” Many leaders resist coaching because they feel it’s too time-consuming or they believe their role is to manage outcomes, not to mentor individuals.

But to me, these are missed opportunities. To me, it’s unacceptable for a leader to take a hands-off approach to development. Leadership isn’t about standing on the sidelines waiting for your team to figure it out. It’s about being right there with them—teaching, guiding, and showing them the way.

The Power of a Caring Coach

When you lead with a coach’s mindset, something transformative happens: you build trust. Your team knows you’re invested in their success, and that trust becomes the foundation for stronger relationships, improved performance, and mutual respect. They begin to see you not as just their boss, but as someone who genuinely cares about their growth.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the legendary basketball coach John Wooden:

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A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.

This is the kind of leadership we need—leadership that doesn’t just impact performance but touches lives. If you can change the trajectory of someone’s career, you can change their life. And it all starts with caring enough to take on the role of a coach.

Leadership Is About More Than Results

Leadership often gets reduced to achieving outcomes—hitting targets, meeting goals, and driving results. But when you adopt the coaching mindset, you realize leadership is so much more than just achieving results. It’s about investing in people, helping them grow, and ensuring they leave better than they arrived.

When you’re a coach, you know that each individual plays a critical part, and their success is directly tied to how well you’ve coached them. Did you equip them with the right tools? Did you inspire them to reach beyond their comfort zones? Did you create an environment where they felt empowered to thrive?

That’s the heart of leadership.

Be A Coach and The Rest Will Follow

For over 20 years, I’ve embraced the coaching approach in my leadership roles, and it has been the most rewarding part of my journey. Now, through my newsletter, podcast, social media, courses and personal coaching, I’m taking this approach global—helping people discover and unlock their potential across various platforms and borders.

The principles of coaching—listening, guiding, teaching, and advocating—are universal. When applied with authenticity and care, they have the power to transform not only individuals and teams, but entire organizations.

So, when leadership advice feels overwhelming, remember: Be a coach. Lead with heart, and everything else will follow. By focusing on the success and growth of your team, you’ll naturally inspire, guide, and uplift those around you. Coaching isn’t just a strategy—it’s a mindset that empowers others and builds trust.

At the end of the day, leadership is about people. And people thrive when they’re coached with care, trust, and belief in their abilities.

Be a coach, and the rest will follow.

With Absolute Sincerity,

Ed Clementi, Founder & CEO of Inspired Fire, LLC

Make an Impact.  Feel an Impact.