Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Do you ever wonder if your coaching actually makes a difference to your team?
As a leadership coach, I’ve spent countless hours helping leaders understand that coaching is more than just giving advice. It’s about connection, trust, and growth. I’ve learned over the years—sometimes the hard way—that good coaching changes teams. Bad coaching breaks them.
Why Coaching Matters More Than You Think
When I first started coaching leaders, I made a common mistake. I thought coaching was all about telling people what to do. But genuine coaching isn’t about being directive. It’s about guiding people to find solutions on their own. Coaching encourages team members to think for themselves and become confident decision-makers.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned (and emphasised repeatedly in my coaching programs) is that your team doesn’t just want answers—they want understanding and empowerment. Good coaching creates psychologically safe environments, something I’ve talked extensively about in my article on next-level leadership coaching.
Listen More, Speak Less
If there’s one piece of advice I always offer, it’s this—stop talking so much and listen more. Early in my career, I found this challenging. Leaders often feel compelled to solve problems immediately. But great coaching requires patience and the ability to ask powerful questions instead of simply offering solutions.
In fact, asking better questions is at the core of effective coaching. Questions like, “What do you think the real issue here is?” or “How would you handle this differently next time?” help team members grow in self-awareness. Here’s an insightful Harvard Business Review article that explores how powerful questions transform leadership.
Embrace Empathy and Vulnerability
Coaching requires empathy. It’s about genuinely connecting with people. It involves seeing the world from their perspective. When people feel genuinely understood, coaching becomes more impactful. I’ve found vulnerability to be a strength here. Sharing my own challenges openly helps build trust and encourages team members to open up as well.
This aligns with the principles I share in my tips for meaningful leadership conversations, highlighting the need for openness and authenticity in coaching.
Practical Ways to Improve Your Coaching Skills
Here are some practical strategies that have personally improved my coaching skills and have consistently benefited the leaders I work with:
- Practice active listening: Listen to understand, not to reply. Ask follow-up questions to demonstrate genuine curiosity.
- Encourage reflection: Instead of immediately suggesting solutions, ask team members to reflect on the issue first. This often leads to more meaningful insights.
- Provide consistent feedback: Regularly offering clear and constructive feedback helps build trust. I’ve covered some effective techniques in my article on mastering coaching conversations.
These practical approaches reflect insights I’ve gathered over many years, as well as some excellent strategies outlined by the Centre for Creative Leadership in this resource on leadership coaching principles.
Learning From Others
One thing I strongly advocate is learning from others. No one becomes a great coach alone. In my own journey, I’ve benefited enormously from watching and learning from more experienced coaches. Observing different styles, picking up useful techniques, and sometimes even learning what not to do has made a significant difference.
Additionally, seeking structured professional development can boost your coaching capability. I regularly encourage leaders to explore training programs or tailored coaching workshops. If you feel like personalised coaching could make a difference for you, you can book a session with me here.
Keep Growing and Adjusting Your Style
Great coaches adapt. What works brilliantly with one team member might completely fail with another. Regularly checking in with your team and asking for their feedback on your coaching helps refine your approach.
Ultimately, effective coaching involves constant growth and adaptation. It’s something I continually strive for, and encourage other leaders to pursue as well.
If you want to talk more about improving your coaching skills or how my approach might work in your organisation, don’t hesitate to contact me directly here.
What coaching challenges have you faced?
I’d love to hear about your experiences and how you’ve overcome them. Feel free to share your stories below!
Please click the image below if you’d like to chat about what leadership means to you
If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams