Originally Posted on The Coaching Tools Company as Mastering Executive and Leadership Coaching: Practical Insights for Coaches
“Coaching is coaching.”
That simple phrase—shared by Emma-Louise Elsey during a recent executive and leadership coaching webinar—was originally passed down to her by master coach Fran Fisher. It shaped the tone for a powerful and insightful discussion with leadership expert Dr Steve Jeffs (MCC).
At its core, coaching remains the same no matter who’s in the chair. Whether you’re working with a stay-at-home parent or a CEO, the process is still client-led, reflective, and transformational. But the context? That’s what changes everything.
Executive and leadership coaching takes place in high-pressure environments, often involving multiple stakeholders, political complexities, and clients who may not have chosen to be coached. These elements shift the coaching dynamic—and raise the stakes for coaches operating in this space.
In this high-value webinar, Dr Steve and Emma-Louise unpacked the nuances of coaching leaders, offering grounded insights and strategies for meeting complexity with presence and clarity.
Missed the live session? You can watch the replay here.
Executive and Leadership Coaching: A Different Game
Executive coaching isn’t just about personal development. It’s about helping individuals lead more effectively within complex systems—managing change, aligning with stakeholders, and holding space for strategic reflection.
Unlike traditional coaching relationships, leaders often don’t initiate coaching themselves. Instead, they’re referred or assigned, making psychological safety and trust-building the coach’s top priorities.
“What leaders really value is having a safe space to reflect, gain clarity, and hear a powerful question that changes how they show up.”
—Emma-Louise Elsey
When coaches create that kind of reflective space with care and skill, their impact becomes both measurable and indispensable.
Executive and Leadership Coaching: What Leaders Truly Value
Today’s leaders face constant demands—remote teams, digital transformation, market volatility, and shrinking margins for error. Amid this, they rarely have time to pause or reflect.
Executive and leadership coaching offers that much-needed pause. It helps leaders step back from the noise, reconnect with their values, and think strategically.
“Helping clients step back out of the busyness—to reflect, think strategically, and take a breath—is one of the things they value most.”
—Dr Steve Jeffs
Through intentional presence, coaches can model the kind of leadership that many executives are being asked to demonstrate.
Executive & Leadership Coaching Toolkit
Coaching Tools That Enhance Transformation
Executive clients move quickly. They want structure, clarity, and results. Coaching tools—when used with precision—can elevate the coaching experience.
Whether you’re mapping visibility, exploring leadership presence, or clarifying values, the right tools offer depth and direction to sessions.
“Coaching tools make conversations more tangible—especially for leaders who live in very left-brained worlds.”
—Emma-Louise Elsey
While tools don’t replace the coach, they can significantly amplify impact—especially when paired with curiosity, presence, and strategic intent.
Leadership Is a Relationship
One of the most profound insights from the webinar was this: leadership is not a position—it’s a relationship.
It’s how someone connects to their people, values, and vision. And coaching plays a critical role in helping leaders refine how they lead—not by providing answers, but by uncovering what already exists within them.
“There’s no single way to lead—but countless ways to help leaders show up more authentically.”
—Dr Steve Jeffs
Coaching in leadership contexts is not about instruction. It’s about evoking transformation—from the inside out.
Watch the Executive and Leadership Coaching Webinar Replay
This wasn’t a sales pitch. It was a thoughtful, practical, and inspiring conversation between two respected voices in the coaching world.
If you’re a coach who wants to:
- Navigate organisational complexity with greater ease
- Support senior leaders with measurable, meaningful impact
- Reflect on how you show up in high-stakes coaching environments
- Explore coaching tools specifically designed for leaders
…then this replay is for you.
Ready to Expand Your Coaching Perspective
Whether you’re new to executive and leadership coaching or already established, this conversation will deepen your understanding and broaden your impact.
Sometimes, one great insight is all it takes to transform how you coach—forever.
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- Executive & Leadership Toolkit Launch
