Leadership coaching for behavioural change

Leadership Coaching for Behavioural Change

Leadership coaching is one of the most effective ways to support behavioural change in organisations. By helping leaders reflect on their actions, gain feedback, and develop new skills, coaching can foster resilience, improve communication, and strengthen decision-making.

This article draws on insights from Claire Cahill, one of The Coaching Academy's expert trainers, who shares her favourite tools and models for coaching leadership behaviours.

Why Leadership Coaching Matters

Leadership coaching is not just for executives or people with formal titles. Leadership behaviours can be demonstrated by anyone in an organisation:

• A team member leading a meeting
• A project manager navigating a complex task
• A junior employee taking initiative

Coaching helps individuals at every level:

• Raise self-awareness about behaviours and strengths
• Develop resilience and emotional intelligence
• Improve communication and active listening
• Align decision-making with values and purpose

Common Leadership Behaviours Explored in Coaching

Leadership coaching often focuses on:

• Having difficult conversations
• Practising active listening
• Strengthening resilience and emotional intelligence
• Exploring motivational drivers behind decisions
• Encouraging authentic, values-driven leadership

Claire emphasises that coaching provides a psychological sanctuary, a safe space for leaders to embrace vulnerability and reflect openly.

Five Coaching Tools for Leadership Behavioural Change

1. SWOT Analysis

A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis helps leaders reflect on what they believe about themselves versus what emerges in conversation.

• Identify strengths and weaknesses
• Explore opportunities for growth
• Reduce threats and blind spots
• Set clear goals and action plans

2. 360 Feedback

Feedback from peers, managers, and direct reports provides insight into blind spots and reinforces positive behaviours.

• Corporate leaders may do this annually, but quarterly feedback cycles are more effective
• Key reflective questions:
  • What do I need to do more of?
  • What do I need to do less of?

3. The Shadow I Cast

A self-awareness exercise exploring:

• What is it like to be around me at my best?
• What is it like to be around me at my worst?

This helps update a SWOT analysis and clarify the impact of leadership behaviours on others.

4. DISC Personality Profiling

A widely used assessment tool that highlights:

• Communication preferences
• Motivators and strengths
• Ideal working environment

Leaders can use DISC insights in CVs, LinkedIn profiles, or team communication strategies.

5. The STEAR Model

A structured decision-making and problem-solving tool:

• Specify the problem
• Think of solutions
• Evaluate options
• Act on the best solution
• Review the outcome

By linking thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, leaders can make more intentional choices.

Integrating Leadership Coaching into Practice

These tools can complement frameworks like the GROW Model and be adapted into any coaching practice. They help coaches and leaders:

• Foster greater self-awareness
• Build resilience
• Encourage positive behavioural change

FAQs on Leadership Coaching for Behavioural Change

Q1. What is the main goal of leadership coaching? To help leaders develop self-awareness, improve communication, and align behaviours with values to create sustainable change.

Q2. Who benefits from leadership coaching? Not only executives, but anyone demonstrating leadership behaviours—team members, managers, and business owners.

Q3. What tools are commonly used in leadership coaching? SWOT analysis, 360 feedback, The Shadow I Cast, DISC profiling, and the STEAR model.

Q4. How often should leaders engage in feedback exercises? Quarterly feedback cycles are recommended for continuous improvement, rather than annual reviews only.

Q5. Can leadership coaching be combined with other models? Yes, tools like SWOT or DISC can complement the GROW Model or other established coaching frameworks.

If you missed April's Coaching Conversation with Claire, head to our YouTube Channel where you can watch the replay of Coaching Leadership Behaviours! Plus, if you'd like to hear more from Claire and gain insights into Corporate & Executive Coaching, join her on our Insight into Corporate and Executive Coaching webinar.

About Author:

Claire Cahill is an award-winning Executive Confidence & Leadership Coach and published author of Empowering Employee Engagement – How to ignite your team for peak performance specialising in Employee Engagement. She is a graduate of The Coaching Academy and one of our inspiring trainers on our Corporate & Executive Coaching Diploma. She loves creating a safe psychological space to enable busy stressed-out leaders to step out of the hamster wheel and have time to get their creative juices flowing. She ‘ignites’ leaders’ potential for them and their teams to be their best selves, shining in all their glory by playing to their strengths, whilst challenging the status quo to implement and embrace change.