Leadership advice is a lot like diet fads. Every few months, a new one pops up, promising to revolutionize your life, your career, and maybe even your cholesterol levels. “Keto for CEOs!” “Intermittent Fasting for Founders!” And now, the latest addition to the leadership buffet:
“Every leader needs a coach.”
The idea that your path to greatness is incomplete without a coach by your side, whispering wisdom into your ear like a corporate genie. It’s a compelling narrative, isn’t it? The notion that all you need to unlock your full potential is someone to ask you, “But what’s really holding you back?”
Spoiler alert: It’s probably not the lack of a coach.
This isn’t a takedown of coaching. Coaching is fantastic. It’s transformative. It’s the secret sauce that can take a good leader and make them great. But the idea that coaching is some kind of leadership cheat code? That’s not wisdom. That’s marketing.
So grab your overpriced latte and let’s unpack this myth — with love, sarcasm, and just a pinch of irony.
Coaching Isn’t a Shortcut. It’s a Mirror.
Here’s the thing about coaching: it’s not a magic wand. It won’t turn you into a visionary leader overnight. What it will do is hold up a mirror and force you to confront the parts of yourself you woul rather ignore.
Think of it like going to the gym. A coach is your personal trainer. They’ll push you, guide you, and make you do the metaphorical squats and pushups of leadership. But they can’t do the push-ups for you. And if you’re not willing to sweat, no amount of coaching will get you the six-pack of self-awareness you’re hoping for.
The best leaders don’t hire coaches to “fix” them. They hire coaches to challenge them. To ask the hard questions. To call them out when they’re coasting. And most importantly, to remind them that leadership isn’t about looking good in the mirror — it’s about what you do when no one’s watching.
Yes, Coaching Can Help. No, It Won’t Make You Invincible.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: coaching is not a cure-all. It won’t magically erase your blind spots, fix your team’s morale, or make your quarterly numbers look less terrifying. What it can do is help you navigate those challenges with a little more clarity and a lot more confidence.
But here’s the catch: coaching only works if you’re willing to do the work. If you’re looking for someone to hand you a step-by-step guide to leadership success, you’re going to be disappointed. Because real leadership isn’t about following a script. It’s about writing your own and being brave enough to edit it when things go off the rails.
“But All Great Leaders Have Coaches!” Sure. And They Also Have Common Sense.
One of the most popular arguments for coaching is that all the best leaders have one. And yes, many of them do. But let’s not confuse correlation with causation. Just because great leaders have coaches doesn’t mean coaching made them great.
The truth is, great leaders don’t rely on coaching to define them. They use it to refine them. They’re already doing the work, the late nights, the tough conversations, the constant balancing act of strategy and empathy. Coaching doesn’t create that drive. It amplifies it.
So if you’re waiting for a coach to “make” you a leader, you’re already missing the point. Leadership isn’t something you outsource. It’s something you own.
If Coaching Is the Answer, Why Are You Still Ignoring Feedback?
Let’s be honest: most of us don’t need a coach to tell us what we’re doing wrong. We already know. We’ve heard it in the feedback we’ve ignored, the meetings we’ve dominated, and the team members who’ve quietly updated their LinkedIn profiles after one too many “quick chats.”
Coaching isn’t about giving you new information. It’s about helping you act on the information you already have. And if you’re not willing to listen to the feedback you’re getting from your team, your peers, and your boss, no coach in the world can help you.
The best leaders don’t just tolerate feedback. They seek it out. They create environments where it’s safe to speak up, even when the truth is uncomfortable and they don’t need a coach to tell them that. They just need the humility to listen.
Coaching Is a Tool, Not a Crutch.
At the end of the day, coaching is just one tool in the leadership toolbox. It’s not a replacement for experience, self-awareness, or the willingness to make tough decisions. It’s a complement to those things. A way to sharpen your skills, challenge your assumptions, and push you to be better.
But it’s not a crutch. And it’s not a shortcut. If you’re not willing to do the work, coaching won’t save you.
Ready to Do the Work? Let’s Talk.
Here’s the deal: coaching isn’t for everyone. It’s not for the leader who wants a quick fix, a magic formula, or a cheerleader to tell them they are already perfect. It’s for the leader who is ready to roll up their sleeves, face the hard truths, and do the work that real growth demands.
If that’s you, if you’re serious about becoming the kind of leader who inspires, challenges, and delivers, I would love to help. At www.glehago.com, I work with leaders who are ready to stop coasting and start climbing. Together, we’ll uncover your blind spots, sharpen your strengths, and build the habits that turn good intentions into great leadership.
But let me be clear: I’m not here to do the work for you. I am here to guide you, challenge you, and hold you accountable to the leader you are capable of becoming. If you’re ready to invest in yourself and you’re willing to put in the effort, let’s get started.
Visit www.glehago.com to learn more. Because leadership isn’t about waiting for the right moment. It’s about creating it.