What is a Leadership Coach?

A client sat across from me, frustrated and confused.
“We gave her everything she asked for—flexibility, a raise, more responsibility. And she still left.”

She was one of their best. An all-star.
Losing her wasn’t just a staffing issue—it was a signal. Something deeper was off.

That’s often when organizations bring in a leadership coach.

So what is a leadership coach, exactly?

It’s not always an easy role to define. Unlike job titles like “teacher” or “physical therapist,” the term “leadership coach” can leave people with more questions than answers.

As a leadership coach, sometimes I wish I could say something simple and universally understood—like “pilot.” No questions there. You know exactly what they do.

But “leadership coach”? That usually leads to a pause… and then, “So what does that actually mean?”

At its core, a leadership coach helps leaders see their world in a new way—because it’s hard to fully see the picture when you’re inside the frame.

More specifically, leadership coaches support growth and effectiveness in three key areas:

1. Leading Self
   Leadership starts with self-awareness. A coach helps leaders identify blind spots, clarify priorities, and overcome limiting beliefs that may be holding them back. This kind of internal work is foundational to everything else.
   

2. Leading Others
   A coach helps leaders improve how they lead their teams—developing clearer communication, building accountability, moving past people-pleasing tendencies, and creating stronger relationships based on trust. This often leads to greater engagement and improved team dynamics.
   

3. Leading the Organization
   Beyond individual and team leadership, coaches help leaders think strategically about the organization as a whole—establishing aligned systems, setting a clear direction, and ensuring consistent follow-through.
   

Leadership coaching can be delivered in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of the leader or organization. Common formats include:

• 1:1 executive coaching, which provides personalized guidance, accountability, and space for reflection.

• Leadership team retreats, where teams come together to build essential leadership skills, align around vision and strategy, strengthen communication, and develop deeper trust.

• Facilitated workshops or ongoing advisory, where teams work on specific areas such as collaboration, decision-making, or cross-functional alignment.

At Potential 2 Results, we offer all of these services to help leaders and leadership teams grow with purpose, clarity, and confidence.

If you or your team are feeling stuck, stretched, or ready to grow in a new direction, let’s talk.
You can book a time to chat here — we’d love to hear what you’re navigating and see how we can support you.