The qualities required by coaches and leaders are not necessarily the same

There is no doubt that all coaches are automatic leaders, but we cannot say for certain that all leaders are coaches!

So what is the difference? I’d like to share my views on this as there are a number of leaders out there who mistakenly feel that they are already coaches.

This is unhealthy as keeping to this view may prevent them from seeking ways to equip themselves to be more holistic leaders with both technical skills and personal powers to multiply their effectiveness to help their organisation grow, help their people grow and help themselves grow personally.

What is missing in many leaders?

Leaders get to their positions for many reasons. Some get promoted due to their strong technical competencies, such as their ability to grow market share, bring costs down, instil discipline, develop good systems and processes, and so on. Some get there due to other reasons, such as their close relationship with the right people in power, their years of seniority and their loyalty to the organisation, etc. And some get there due to their "natural rights", like parents passing on to their children, teachers to their students and so forth.

Due to this, they take their positions for granted, and thus, miss out on the "human" aspect, which concerns their ability to manage their own self-growth and that of others as well.

They focus too much on the "hard" aspects of their jobs (and lives) – so much so that everything else is at the bottom of their list of priorities.

So what’s wrong with this?

There is nothing wrong, if these leaders or their organisations are happy with where they are, while the "landscape" around their personal and professional lives is undergoing major shifts and changes. We all know that the needs and demands of customers and employees – including one’s own family members – change.

Take for instance, the customers. The hard selling techniques do not work well with customers who are now more discerning, more educated and exposed.

Another example is the employees. Unlike in my time, when "command and control" worked well on me, the use of this same leadership style can immediately bring about adverse repercussions in the form of resignation, resentment and even retaliation! What it means is that a different set of skills, which never used to be critically needed, is now at the forefront for those leaders to acquire if they want to see more fulfilment and success in their lives.

How does being a coach fill this vacuum?

The first quality of a leader who is "coach" material is that they are highly people-effective, with skills and behaviours that can inspire people and build instant trust with them. Due to this, they connect extremely well with people and can forge natural partnerships with them that drive them to shared goals and results. The other quality is their people-discerning ability, which enables them to read people so well that they know what is needed to get them ticking to reach their higher level of performance. The third quality is their "people-transformation" ability, which makes them exceptional experts in managing the change journey that people undergo. They know what brings success and failure.

This makes them strategic, proactive and smart enough to come up with the right "concoction" of behaviours and mindset to reach their highest potential. Last but not least, is their "questioning mind". As much as they always look for alternative and more empowering perspectives in any situation, they also use this same "gift" to lead their people to acquire the same through the powerful questions they ask to help them make self-discoveries in their work and life. Ultimately, when a coach has all these, it means that they are driven by an outlook and life philosophy that "magically" influence everything they do for themselves and for others! In other words, they touch their own lives and that of others too.

What are the implications of having all these?

Personally, a good coach-leader is a much more fulfilled person than one who only drives hard results. Good coach-leaders have their lives in order and are in balance too! They are also high achievers, dutiful and responsible. They are happy because they have joy and meaning in whatever they do. The other most beautiful thing is, they make the same things happen to others as well. Isn’t this what we eventually want before we close our eyes? Isn’t this about having left a legacy before leaving this planet for another one?

Corporate Coach Academy is a coaching school in Asia to certify leaders of all backgrounds to become manager-coaches or professional certified coaches in this region. Log in at www.corporate-coachacademy.com or e-mail [email protected] for details.