What does the origins of coaching tell us about leadership today?
Coaching has its origins in the concept of self-awareness and self-reflection for the purpose of achieving well-being and happiness, which can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers, namely Aristotle and Socrates.
They both maintained that individuals must have a full understanding of themselves and their values in order to transform themselves, take action, and be accountable.
Galileo Galilei expressed this sentiment when he said in pursuit of scientific truth, “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself.”
The term „coach“ can be traced back to 16th century Hungary, where a carriage called a „kocsi szeker“ was first used in the village of Kocs (pronounced coach) to transport goods from Budapest to Vienna. This invention quickly spread to other countries, and the name was adapted to Kutsche in German, coche in French, and coach in English.
In the 18 century, the word „coach“ was adopted as a metaphor, not only in the realm of sports, but also in academia, to describe the supportive and guiding role of the tutor, in helping others to reach their goals and potential.
Employee Retention
What can we learn from this about the current state of leadership coaching and employee retention ?
Studies have shown that employee retention is directly related to leadership. Leaders should have the mindset and set the culture that will allow them to retain their employees. Therefore they should reflect on their leadership style. But how to reflect? Where can they find the time in their busy schedule to pause and reflect to find the solutions within themselves? How can a leader change his old deeply embeded habits?
Because it is difficult to transform or expand our thinking on our own, especially when emotions are involved, we need someone from outside to expand and deepen our thinking. And this person is a coach.
Leadership coaching focuses today on empowering leaders to identify their goals, values and aspirations and create actionable strategies to achieve them. Coaches use open-ended questions and active listening to help leaders gain self-awareness, explore different perspectives to gain clarity and deep understanding. Through the process, coaches support leaders in establishing their plan of action that is aligned with their goals and values.
Leadership coaching also places a strong emphasis on accountability. Leaders become responsible for taking action and following through on their commitments. Accoutability helps them to stay on track, maintain their motivation and achieve their desired outcome.
By self-reflecting, in partnership with a coach, leaders create self-awareness on their leadership style, which will allow them to develop the mindset and build the strategies to create the culture that will retain employees and promote company growth.
The process of coaching will also enable leaders to learn how to deeply self-reflect and find solutions. Self-awareness becomes a way of being and doing.
In conclusion, the origins of coaching tell us that it is a powerful tool for professional transformation and growth, that has evolved over time to meet the needs of modern leaders seeking to achieve their goals and aspirations. By supporting individuals in their journey towards self-awareness, creating actionable strategies and maintain accountability, coaching helps leaders to unlock ther full potential and respond to the present challenges.
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