Leadership and executive coaching for leaders stepping up or facing a big challenge
You have a leader stepping into a bigger role, or one facing a big challenge. One-to-one coaching gives them the time, support and challenge to have the difficult conversations and make measurable progress on the goals agreed at the start. Leadership and mindset coaching from our team of experienced coaches, virtually or in person across the UK.
- Typical one-to-one coaching programme, over three to six months
- Six sessions
- Virtual as standard, in person by arrangement, anywhere in the UK
- Virtual or in person
- Coaching programmes for groups of leaders, through our network of associate coaches
- 5 to 50 leaders
Coaching is the same work we do with teams, applied to one leader at a time.
The leaders we coach are usually capable people at a stretching moment: a first executive role, a bigger team, a major change to lead or a pattern (overthinking, avoiding difficult conversations or imposter syndrome) that is quietly holding back their performance.
Our leadership and mindset coaching works on the mindset behind the behaviour. It is structured, psychology-led coaching with clear goals and challenge as well as support. People sometimes expect therapy, mentoring or advice from someone who once had a similar job. It is none of those.
When organisations bring in a leadership coach
- A newly promoted executive who must land well, fast
- A senior leader whose team feedback says one consistent thing
- High-potential people the business wants to keep and develop faster
- Leaders navigating restructure, merger or role change
- A leadership programme that needs one-to-one depth alongside the group work
- Talented people held back by imposter syndrome
Who this is for
This work is built for:
- Executives and senior leaders at a point of transition
- Organisations commissioning coaching for groups of leaders or alongside a programme
- Leaders who want to be challenged as well as supported
- HR and learning and development teams who want consistent quality across multiple coaches
It is not the right choice for:
- Situations where coaching is really being used to manage poor performance (we will say so)
- Anyone sent unwillingly (coaching only works with consent)
- Situations that need therapeutic support (we will help you find the right referral)
How it works
A first conversation and agreed goals
Every engagement starts with a no-obligation chemistry conversation, so the leader and coach can see whether they will work well together. Where useful, we then hold a three-way meeting with the leader and the sponsor (the manager or HR lead commissioning the coaching) to agree what the coaching is for. This sets clear goals, clear confidentiality and clear success measures.
Matched to the right coach
Our coaches are a hand-picked network of experienced associates, so programmes for groups of leaders get consistent quality and every leader is matched with the coach who suits them.
Structured sessions, real work
Typically six sessions over three to six months. Between sessions, leaders test new behaviour on real situations, so the coaching carries on between sessions as well as in them.
Review and land the change
Progress reviewed against the goals agreed at the start, with the sponsor if that was agreed, so the organisation can see what has changed.
Working with Tim Robins has been the link that allowed for the learning, reflection, and objectivity that has been key to moving my career to the next level and success in my first C-suite role.Solveig Nicklos, Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance
Helping a brand-new global BAT team build trust and collaboration in months
A new team of thirty-four people from seventeen countries, working on a high-priority product category, who had never worked together. Two years later the category had grown by more than 250% without increasing headcount.
Outcomes you can expect
- Leaders who step into bigger roles with confidence
- Difficult conversations finally happening
- Measurable movement on the goals agreed at the start
- Retention of the people you're investing in
- One consistent coaching standard across a whole group of leaders
How it runs
| Format | Virtual as standard, in person by arrangement |
|---|---|
| Group size | Individual coaching, and programmes for groups of 5 to 50 leaders through our network of associate coaches |
| Duration | Six sessions over 3 to 6 months is typical; executive coaching can run to 12 months |
Questions
What is leadership and executive coaching?
Structured, psychology-led one-to-one coaching for executives, senior leaders and high-potential people, with clear goals and challenge as well as support. It works on the mindset behind the behaviour, so leaders change how they act on real situations at work. It is not therapy, mentoring or advice from someone who once had a similar job.
How long does executive coaching last?
Typically six sessions over three to six months. Executive engagements can run to 12 months. Between sessions, leaders test new behaviour on real situations, so the coaching carries on between sessions as well as in them.
Is the coaching virtual or in person?
Virtual as standard, in person by arrangement. Inner Leader is based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and coaches leaders across the UK and internationally.
Can you run coaching for a whole group of leaders?
Yes. Programmes for groups of 5 to 50 leaders run through our network of associate coaches, so every leader is matched with the coach who suits them and the whole group gets one consistent coaching standard. Coaching can also sit alongside a leadership programme to add one-to-one depth to the group work.
Who are the associate coaches?
Experienced, accredited coaches, hand-picked and working to Inner Leader's approach and standards. Every associate is personally known to us.
How do you measure whether coaching worked?
Goals are agreed in writing at the start. They are behavioural and specific and, where appropriate, agreed with the sponsor. We review against them mid-programme and at the end.
What does mindset coaching involve?
Working on the beliefs and patterns underneath behaviour, such as overthinking, avoidance and the inner critic. It's psychology-led and practical: leaders leave each session with something specific to do differently before the next one.
Is it confidential?
Yes. The content of sessions stays between coach and leader. Sponsors see progress against the agreed goals, never the conversation itself. This is agreed explicitly at the start so nobody is surprised later.
Further reading
Team coaching: what it is and how it works
What team coaching is, how it differs from team building and group coaching, how a business team coaching programme runs and what it changed for two teams.
How to deal with leadership failures
What causes leadership failure, from boredom and micromanagement to poor communication, and five practical steps for taking ownership and learning from it.
Let's talk.
Commissioning coaching for more than one leader? Ask us how our network of associate coaches keeps the quality consistent across every coach.
We’ll reply within one business day.