How You Might Be Stalling Your Team’s Growth Without Realizing It
If you’ve found yourself constantly solving problems for your team, putting out fires, or wondering why people keep coming to you instead of thinking for themselves…
I’ve got a leadership truth for you: The more you fix, the less they grow.
That’s why coaching is one of the most powerful, but underused, skills for modern leaders.
And no, I don’t mean becoming a certified coach. I mean showing up with a coaching mindset. One that sparks ownership, accountability, and growth.
Let’s look at what coaching in leadership really means and why it’s a Small Brave Move that leads to massive team impact.
Why Coaching Is a Leadership Superpower
Only 21% of employees say their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work (Gallup). That’s a loud signal.
Coaching changes that.
It’s not about having all the answers.
It’s about creating the space for them to find the answers. That shift builds:
Deeper thinking
Better communication
Stronger ownership
Real trust
More time for YOU to lead, not micromanage
When you coach instead of tell, you grow a team that can think, act, and lead without always leaning on you.
That’s brave. That’s strategic. And that’s where transformation begins.
5 Coaching Behaviors That Change Everything
You don’t need more hours in the day, just a new way to use the ones you already have.
Start here:
Listen to understand, not to fix. Pause before jumping in. Say: “Tell me more.”
Ask questions that open up thinking. Try: “What’s getting in your way?” or “What have you considered?”
Give feedback that fuels. Honest and hopeful. “Here’s where I see opportunity and I believe you can meet it.”
Hold accountability, not hands. Ask: “What’s your next step? When will you take it?”
Believe in them, especially when they don’t yet. Sometimes your greatest impact is showing them what they can’t yet see.
Yes, It’s Harder. Yes, It’s Worth It.
Coaching takes more intention, more patience, and more bravery than just giving answers.
But the payoff?
Self-sufficient, confident team members
Faster problem-solving (without you!)
Higher engagement and lower turnover
Less firefighting, more strategic thinking
Coaching is an investment in your people, your team’s performance, and your leadership legacy.
Your Brave Move This Week: Coach, Don’t Tell
Want to try it out? Here's where to get started.
Pick one team member this week.
In your 1:1, say: “Let’s take a few minutes to think through something important to you—your challenges, your growth, your goals. What’s on your mind?”
Then… get curious. Stay quiet. Let them lead.
Afterwards, reflect: Did I truly listen? Did I resist solving? What did I learn about them, and myself?
This is how coaching begins. One brave conversation at a time.
The best leaders don’t just drive results. They develop people.
So the next time you feel the urge to solve, pause, and coach instead.
You might just spark something extraordinary.