Coaching Isn’t [Just] For Senior Leaders
When most people hear the word coaching, they often picture executives at the top of an organizational chart, managing lots of people and making big-picture decisions. Coaching is often perceived as a resource for those in the “top seat”, a way to navigate overwhelming responsibilities, complex relationships, and the weight of leadership.
And while that’s true, it’s not the whole story.
Leadership happens at every level. Second-chair leaders, associates, program directors, coordinators, and staff members are making daily decisions that ripple out into the lives of communities and organizations. Their influence is real, even if their role isn’t the one most visible on the organizational chart.
Yet too often, these leaders are overlooked when it comes to support. Coaching is assumed to be set aside for someone else.
The Two Myths About Coaching
I hear two misconceptions again and again:
“Coaching isn’t for me.”
Coaching is for “big” leaders, people making “big” decisions. But the truth is, coaching creates space for clarity and confidence, no matter your role. Whether you’re supporting someone else’s vision, navigating complexity in your role, or figuring out how to thrive in your personal and professional life, you deserve that kind of space, too.“Coaching is too expensive.”
Coaching can feel like a luxury reserved for leaders at the top, but it shouldn’t be. It is most powerful when it’s accessible to people at every level of leadership. From group coaching models to focused, short-term engagements, there are creative and sustainable ways to experience the benefits without breaking your budget. Coaching is an investment, yes, but it’s one your employer should support, both with time and resources, because your growth strengthens the whole organization.
Why Coaching Matters for Every Leader
Here’s what I know: coaching makes leaders better. Not just the ones with titles that stand out, but also those who keep an organization moving: organizing volunteers, managing the details no one sees, and showing up, doing the work, over and over again.
These leaders are carrying weight that is just as real, and often just as lonely. Coaching offers them:
Clarity about what matters most in their role.
Confidence in decision-making, even when they don’t have the final say.
Courage to lead authentically, with their gifts and values at the center.
Leadership isn’t about where you sit, it’s about how you show up. And everyone deserves support in showing up well.
A Different Vision of Coaching
What if we stopped thinking of coaching as a perk for the “highest” leaders and started seeing it as a resource for everyone in leadership? What if coaching were accessible, not exclusive?
That’s the vision I’m working toward in my practice: coaching that is for the whole ecosystem of leadership, not just the top. Because when every leader is resourced, the whole community thrives.
Let’s talk: If you’ve ever wondered whether coaching might help you in your current role, even if you’re not “the one in charge”, I’d love to connect. The heart of coaching is about being human, holding responsibility, and aiming to do it with clarity and care.
