Many leaders carry this unconscious expectation that they need to know it all. But what if I told you this mindset is actually hindering your effectiveness as a leader?

The best leaders don’t just provide solutions—they adopt a coaching approach in everything they do. While coaching isn’t the only skill leaders need, it underpins many other leadership capabilities. It’s often where I start with leaders looking to elevate their impact or boost team performance.

Yet, so many leaders I meet say, “I’m just not good at coaching!”

I get it, because I’ve been there. When I was training to become a psychologist, I struggled with self-doubt too. Asking good open-ended questions felt daunting, and giving advice seemed easier. If only people would take it!

Thankfully, you don’t need to start out as a great coach to become one. You just need to:

BELIEVE COACHING WORKS: It’s a highly effective tool for unlocking potential in individuals and teams. Understanding why it works will help motivate you to use the approach.

UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE: Solving problems shouldn’t be the only focus; it’s about getting there in a way that develops the coachee’s capability, confidence, and autonomy. Knowing this will help you avoid the trap of “telling” under the guise of “helping.”

EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF: Coaching can be a vulnerable experience. Putting yourself in your coachees’ shoes will help develop the empathy and insight you need to empower others.

LEARN JUST ENOUGH TO GET STARTED: You don’t need advanced techniques right away. Focus on the essentials—building trust, asking open and purposeful questions, and listening deeply—then build from there.

DEVELOP CONFIDENCE THROUGH PRACTICE: Start in a low-pressure environment with someone who is not a direct report and open to the process. This will allow you to practice without fear of judgment or reliance on your technical knowledge.

GET SUPPORT TO GROW: Reflect on your practice, seek feedforward from your coachees, and continue to refine your approach. Even for professionals like me, there’s always room to improve!

I designed my coaching programme to incorporate all of these elements, helping leaders build the skills they need to coach effectively. So, if you think, “Coaching isn’t my thing,” maybe it’s just that you haven’t had the right support. And if you’ve started coaching but don’t feel confident or think you’ve plateaued in your learning, maybe it’s time to reach out for coaching on your coaching.