Leading Boldly in Times of Change: 7 Coaching Essentials for Thriving Leaders
In today’s volatile environment, leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about having the self-awareness and agility to navigate the unknown with integrity. Here are seven evidence-based coaching techniques to help leaders not only survive change but thrive through it.
Key Techniques:
Anchor in purpose to lead with meaning. Purpose brings direction and resilience. When leaders are anchored in a clear sense of purpose, they can make aligned decisions and inspire others to stay connected to the bigger picture.
Normalize discomfort to create psychological safety. Openly acknowledging the emotional challenges of change helps teams feel seen and supported, making them more likely to stay engaged and contribute meaningfully.
Shift from control to influence to foster adaptability. By focusing on influence rather than control, leaders can empower others to take ownership, which increases flexibility and responsiveness in uncertain environments.
Reframe resistance as a source of insight. Resistance often holds important clues about unmet needs or organizational misalignment. Reframing it helps leaders address root causes and build more inclusive solutions.
Prioritize emotional agility to enhance relational trust. Emotional agility enables leaders to navigate stress and setbacks while maintaining integrity and connection, strengthening their relationships and credibility.
Co-create the path forward to increase ownership. Involving others in shaping the change process taps into collective wisdom, builds commitment, and accelerates implementation through shared responsibility.
Celebrate progress to build momentum. Recognizing small wins helps sustain morale and reinforces positive behavior, especially when navigating complex or long-term transformation efforts.
As Kotter reminds us, “People change what they do less because they are given analysis than because they are shown a truth that influences their feelings.” Coaching helps leaders bring that truth to light.