Tue 26 Aug 2025
By Gillian Smith
Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash
In today’s complex, fast-moving world, leaders are navigating change, uncertainty, and rising expectations, often with limited space to step back and think. At Dods Training we see leaders working hard to balance the pressure to deliver with constrained budgets, evolving priorities, and increasing workforce demands.
In this environment, executive coaching can be a powerful intervention to support leadership growth, improve performance, and build more resilient, adaptive organisations.
But what exactly is executive coaching? How does it work? And what difference can it make at an individual and organisational level?
Here we explore the fundamentals of coaching, how it’s delivered, and why it’s increasingly seen as a valuable investment in people, leadership, and performance.
What is Executive Coaching?
Executive coaching is a professional development partnership between a leader (or aspiring leader) and a trained coach. Its purpose is to enhance self-awareness, unlock insight, improve performance, and support the leader to achieve personal and organisational goals.
Coaching is confidential, non-directive, and outcome-focused. It creates a safe space for reflection, challenge, and growth, helping individuals to make sense of complex situations, identify limiting beliefs or habits, and explore new ways of thinking and acting.
It usually involves a structured dialogue focused on supporting capable individuals to become even more effective. Many coaches also adopt a range of approaches beyond dialogue to explore patterns and systemic insights.
Coaching is used in all sectors and is increasingly being made available to professionals at all levels, not just at the executive tier.
How Does It Work?
Coaching is typically delivered in a series of one-to-one sessions (usually between 60 and 90 minutes) over a defined period, often 3 to 6 months. Some coaching is short and targeted (e.g. for interview preparation), while other programmes focus on long-term growth and development.
Sessions are confidential and tailored to the individual’s needs. The coach helps the client clarify goals, explore barriers, reflect on behaviours and patterns, and develop new strategies and commitments.
What Are the Benefits of Executive Coaching?
Research consistently shows that executive coaching can have significant personal and organisational impact.
At an individual level, coaching can lead to:
- Greater self-awareness – clearer understanding of values, strengths, blind spots, and behaviours
- Stronger decision-making – more confident and considered leadership under pressure
- Improved communication – better clarity, influence, and relationship-building
- Career growth – stronger performance in applications, interviews, and transitions
- Greater resilience – improved ability to manage stress and avoid burnout.
At a team and organisational level, coaching can support:
- Improved alignment – greater clarity of purpose, direction, and shared goals
- Higher performance – increased trust, collaboration, and accountability
- Better retention – employees who feel supported are more likely to stay
- Cultural change – coaching can embed reflective, feedback-rich behaviours that ripple across organisations.
Coaching is particularly powerful in moments of transition or transformation, for example during a restructure, a leadership change, or a wider shift in strategic direction.
Is There Evidence That It Works?
Yes, and the evidence base is growing.
A range of studies over the past decade have demonstrated that executive coaching delivers measurable returns on investment (ROI). According to research from the International Coaching Federation and other global bodies:
- Most organisations report 5–7x return on coaching investment
- Over 85% of individuals report improved performance and self-confidence
- Over 70% report improved relationships, communication, and leadership presence.
Why Choose Coaching Now
For many leaders, coaching is more than a personal development tool. It’s a way to lead more effectively in environments marked by complexity, scrutiny, and pressure.
It supports:
- More reflective leadership in high-stakes roles
- Resilience and confidence amid change and challenge
- Stronger teams who work better together under pressure
- Cultural shifts, such as creating more inclusive and adaptive environments.
Coaching also plays a role in talent development and succession planning, ensuring leaders are supported to grow, stretch, and step up, rather than burn out or leave.
In the current political and financial climate, many organisations are looking for high-impact, cost-effective interventions. Coaching can be the solution.
Coaching provides a unique opportunity to slow down, think differently, and lead with greater purpose and presence. It’s an investment that has significant ROI for individuals and organisations.
If you think this might be right for you get in touch to find out more: customer.service@dods-training.com or click here to download the brochure.
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