Earlier this week, I was on a chemistry call with a potential new client and they asked me a marvelous question. They were determining if they were ready to begin the coaching process. With a healthy dose of self-reflection, they asked me, “What are the characteristics you look for in a Coachable Leader?” (Fabulous question, right?)
I loved the inquiry and how the question compelled me to quantify what those qualities and characteristics might be. So, off the cuff and on the spot, below is the general gist of my response:
Coachable Leaders are careful not to worship at the altar of their own brilliance. Meaning, they understand and accept the fact that they’re best served knowing they don’t know everything or have all the answers. However, what they do have are goals, purpose, and the desire to learn. It’s hard to learn something new when you know everything, and it’s hard to listen when you’re always talking. So one of the keys to being a Coachable Leader is having a humble curiosity. Curiosity to learn what skills each member of your team has, curiosity to ask clarifying questions to ensure the strategy is clear and whoever needs to be on board the bus is, and curiosity to explore innovative solutions to common issues.
Coachable Leaders embrace a quicker pivot when they need to (not always cheerfully, but faster than most). Coachable leaders are willing to unlearn what’s not working to adapt to new situations. They are more willing to face uncomfortable truths when it becomes apparent that yesterday’s solution isn’t going to solve their problem tomorrow. And this means they are more willing to become accountability takers vs. blame shifters. Coachable leaders understand they own their own outcomes, and they’re willing to sign up for that responsibility.
Coachable Leaders have a learning machine mindset. They are more willing to ask themselves: “What am I missing?” “How can I get better?” “What can I provide?” (More willing by the way doesn’t always mean practiced – Coachable Leaders are human too – that’s why they need a Coach – to hold them accountable.) This learning machine mindset, combined with the self-awareness to reflect, becomes their superpower in navigating change and helping their teams do the same.
Bottom line, a Coachable Leader shows humility, curiosity, learning agility, and desire to achieve goals and purpose (however they choose to define those final two).
Well, how do you think I did?
(I have a new client, so technically, I suppose I didn’t flub it up too badly. 🤷🏻♀️)
But I would humbly love to learn your thoughts, and I’m curious to know which characteristics you feel make a Coachable Leader. What would you add to the list? (I’ll give you more time to respond than I had!)
