A bigger glass

“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself.
It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.” 
– Warren Bennis

Think of your mind—or your leadership capacity—as a glass.

Traditional development fills that glass. It pours in knowledge, frameworks, and skills. It adds substance. Over time, the glass fills up —sometimes to the brim—with techniques, tools, and insights.

Coaching, however, doesn’t just pour in more content. Instead, it reshapes the glass. It challenges the assumptions of what the glass can be. Through introspection and mindset shifts, coaching expands the capacity of the leader. It makes the glass bigger.

This is why coaching can be transformative.  It creates space for new thinking, broader empathy, deeper influence, and greater self-awareness.

Leaders today face constant change and disruption, unprecedented global dynamics, and pressure to deliver more with fewer resources. The old approach of filling their glass isn’t enough. Coaching enables leaders to become bigger, more capable people who are able to more effectively handle uncertainty, perspective, and possibility.

In essence:

• Development answers, “What more do I need to know?”

• Coaching asks, “Who do I need to become?

The impact? It’s measurable—and massive. A recent ICF study found that 86% of companies saw a positive ROI from coaching. Even more striking: Organizations with strong coaching cultures report 61% higher employee engagement and 52% higher productivity. A Metrix Global study found that executive coaching has an ROI of up to 788% when factoring in benefits like employee retention, productivity, and engagement.

Contact us or talk to your Advantage partner about the ICF-accredited leadership and executive coaching opportunities we can offer your organization’s leaders.

One great thing for 04.29.25 – Crossing the River: A Coach Becoming – Our president & CEO Jonathan Hodge reflects on the quiet power of becoming, the co-creative work of leadership, and the journeys ahead.