10 Signs You’re Not Using Enough Coaching in Your Leadership

(And How to Fix It)

Many leaders believe they’re coaching—but are they really? Coaching in leadership roles isn’t just about checking in with your team or offering advice.

True leadership coaching empowers people to think, act, and grow independently. If you’re noticing low engagement, poor decision-making, or lack of innovation in your team, you might not be using enough coaching in your leadership role. Here’s how to tell.

You give advice instead of asking questions. Leaders often fall into the trap of telling instead of coaching. If your conversations sound like directives rather than explorations, you’re missing the coaching mindset.
Your team always comes to you for answers. A high-performing team should be able to problem-solve without constant approval. If they always rely on you for direction, they’re not developing autonomy.
You’re focused on performance, not growth. If your conversations are always about KPIs and results, your team might feel like cogs in a machine rather than valued contributors.
You struggle to delegate effectively. Micromanaging is a sign that you don’t trust your team’s decision-making. True coaching involves empowering others to take ownership.
Your team rarely challenges you. A coaching culture fosters open discussion and debate. If your team always agrees with you, they may not feel safe challenging ideas.
You focus on weaknesses instead of strengths. Coaching isn’t about fixing people—it’s about leveraging their strengths.
Meetings feel like status updates, not growth conversations. If your 1:1s focus only on what’s been done, you’re missing opportunities for real coaching.
Your team doesn’t take initiative. A lack of proactive behavior is a sign of a low-coaching environment. When people feel coached, they step up without being asked.
Your team struggles with problem-solving. Coaching develops critical thinking. If your team struggles to navigate challenges, they might be too dependent on instructions.
Your employees aren’t growing in confidence. Great coaching creates confident, self-assured leaders. If your team lacks confidence, you may not be coaching effectively.

How We Coach Leaders to Be Better Coaches

At Zenith Training, we help leaders integrate real coaching into leadership—shifting from managers to mentors. We work with leaders to develop coaching conversations that drive ownership, build trust, autonomy, and innovation in teams, and master NLP techniques to lead with influence.

Take the Next Step – Talk to a Coach

Want to level up your leadership coaching skills? Let’s talk. Book a 15-Min Consultation to see how coaching can transform your leadership.

🤝 Connect with me on LinkedIn. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn.

Read more here on the Impact of Coaching in Leadership Roles