Coaching is changing the world

By Flemming Videriksen and Lina Aldana

In a Changing World - Coaching is the One Constant

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, one thing remains certain: change is inevitable. Organizations face unprecedented challenges—from technological disruptions to global crises—that demand agile leadership approaches. Amid this constant flux, coaching has emerged as the bedrock of effective leadership.

The Acceleration of Change

The modern workplace transforms at breathtaking speed—not just 60 seconds per minute, but exponentially. Research from McKinsey shows that companies that successfully navigate change are 1.5 times more likely to outperform their peers. Yet only 30% of organizational transformations succeed. The difference? Leadership approach.

Why Coaching Works When Everything Else Shifts

Traditional command-and-control leadership models falter in uncertain times. Coaching, however, unlocks hidden potential and drives sustainable change:

Real-world example: When Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella took over in 2014, he shifted the company's culture from "know-it-alls" to "learn-it-alls" through coaching-based leadership. This transformation helped Microsoft's market value grow from $300 billion to over $2 trillion.

Coaching Through Strategic Transitions

Every new strategy implementation triggers what organizational psychologists call "strategic anxiety"—the natural resistance to change. Coaching provides the bridge:

Practical application: A global pharmaceutical company we worked with faced significant market disruption. Rather than simply announcing their new digital strategy, they equipped 200 middle managers with coaching skills. These managers held structured coaching conversations with their teams, exploring concerns and co-creating implementation plans. The result? 76% faster adoption of new processes and 31% higher employee engagement scores compared to previous initiatives.

Remote Work and the Coaching Imperative

The rise of distributed teams has only heightened the need for effective coaching. According to Gallup research, employees who receive regular coaching are 67% more engaged and 54% less likely to look for a new job.

Case in point: A technology firm struggling with remote team performance implemented a "coaching Thursday" practice—dedicated time for managers to conduct coaching conversations focused on removing obstacles rather than checking task completion. Within three months, productivity metrics improved by 23% while employee wellbeing scores rose by 29%.

The Coaching Advantage

Effective coaching creates a virtuous cycle:

  • Employees feel heard and valued

  • Hidden potential emerges

  • Innovation flourishes

  • Adaptability becomes a cultural norm

  • Business results improve

As one executive we coached reflected: "In times of uncertainty, the strongest leadership move isn't having all the answers—it's asking the right questions."

Moving Forward

In a world where the only constant is change, coaching provides the stable foundation upon which organizational agility is built. By embedding coaching into your leadership approach, you don't just manage change—you harness its power to drive unprecedented growth.

The most successful organizations don't just adapt to change; through coaching, they learn to thrive on it.

 

Next
Next

Coaching Beliefs