It might surprise you to know that the best leaders ask more questions than they answer.

During my early days as a manager on the graduate programme at John Lewis, I believed leadership meant knowing all the answers. I thought that asking questions would make me seem incompetent. Sadly, I wasn't a great manager.

Coaching unlocked something for me: the realisation that great leadership is all about trusting people to come up with solutions themselves. Later, in 2017, I told my first coach that I hated my job and wanted to leave. He asked me to imagine what would be true in a job where I felt fulfilled. A few months later, I joined Monzo in the first job I'd ever really loved.

Taking a coaching approach as a leader has helped me hugely. Summarising someone's thoughts and giving them space to reflect offers a lightbulb of clarity, even though it's really their own brilliance shining through. Asking "what options do you have now?" works like magic, freeing someone up to imagine new possibilities.

In 2019, I made a conscious decision to pursue a coaching qualification because I wanted to extend this support beyond the confines of being a colleague or manager. Since then, I've had the privilege of coaching a diverse range of professionals, from directors to social media managers, recruiters to CEOs. What feels amazing is that anyone can benefit from the tools and skills I've learnt, as long as they approach it with a curious mindset and a willingness to tackle their challenges head-on.

I'll be the first to admit that no-one's a fantastic coach when they start, and I was no exception. It's taken perseverance, patience, and a genuine commitment to keep learning. And with each coaching session, I've become better at guiding clients towards their own insights and encouraging them to explore possibilities. Today, I'm a coach in every aspect of my work and I get huge satisfaction in seeing my clients grow in confidence and clarity before me.

If any of this resonates with you, let's talk. Whether you're new to coaching or looking for someone new to help you through the next phase of your growth, I'm listening!