Why Coaching Comes Naturally to True Leaders: The Hidden Resemblance
- Dilek Süzal
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
Lately, my coaching work with BetterUP has connected me with leaders and senior managers from the Fiji Islands to Brazil, from the USA to the UK, from Türkiye to across Europe. Different countries, different time zones, but one shared reality: every leader I meet wants to first tap into their next level of personal growth, to strengthen executive presence, and most importantly, empower their people.
This made me reflect on my own leadership experience... leadership and coaching are not so different by nature.
At their best, they have the same mission: helping others grow into the best version of themselves, mentally, emotionally, and productively.
Problem: Leadership Without Coaching
Too often, leadership is reduced to strategy, reporting, and performance targets. But when leaders only measure output, something essential gets lost. People comply, but they don’t grow. Teams deliver, but they don’t thrive.
It’s like building a house with strong walls but leaving the inside unfinished. The structure stands, but the space doesn’t inspire.
Solution: Leaders as Coaches
Coaches don’t just give answers, they ask questions, unlock potential, and create a safe space for discovery.
And isn’t that exactly what great leaders do?
Just as an architect designs the foundation and structure, and an interior designer brings out the life and character of a space, leaders and coaches share the same blueprint: Structure + Inspiration.
Monty Moran's Teachings on Transformational Leadership
I am currently taking the Transformational Leadership course by Monty Moran on Mindvalley, and my learnings are directly shaping how I view the connection between leadership and coaching.
When Monty Moran led nearly 75,000 people at Chipotle, he didn’t succeed by issuing commands from the top. Instead, he created a culture where each person, from restaurant crews to managers, was treated as a unique individual with untapped potential.
Some of the practical tools he used:
“Restaurateurs” instead of Managers: He gave store leaders ownership, not just titles. Each leader was trusted to build and mentor their team, like a coach developing players.
One-to-One Development: Moran insisted that every manager should know the personal goals of their team members and actively help them grow, whether that meant a promotion, a new skill, or even preparing them for roles outside Chipotle.
Culture of Recognition: He made celebrating progress a daily practice. Not through formal awards, but by recognizing real contributions in real time. This built trust and motivation more effectively than bonuses or rigid incentives.
This isn’t about being “a nice boss.” It’s about deliberately creating an environment where people grow because they are trusted, challenged, and supported. That is coaching at scale.
What struck me most is how research backs this up: studies in organizational psychology show that employees who feel individually recognized and coached are 2.8 times more likely to be engaged at work (Gallup).
3 Ways Leaders Can Coach Every Day
Here are three practices inspired by Moran’s approach, and by what I see working with leaders globally:
🔹 #1 - Design for Growth
Ask each team member about their personal goals and commit to supporting at least one step forward each quarter. Your vision as a leader might be different from their vision as an employee.
🔹 #2 - Coach Through Questions
Instead of giving instructions, ask: “What would you try if you had full freedom?” This opens creativity and builds ownership. The best solutions often come from those closest to the work.
🔹 #3 - Recognize Progress as You Build
Don’t wait for milestones or annual reviews. Recognize small wins and experiments in the moment.
Coaching leaders comes naturally to me because my coachees and I share the same mission: we both want others to succeed. That’s also the real work of leadership. If you’re leading a team, you are already a coach, whether you realize it or not. The question is: are you doing it with intention?
I’d love to explore this with you, whether in your team, company events, or leadership seminars. Because the best leaders, like the best coaches, build people who can stand tall on their own.
Warmly,
Dilek
Official Collaboration Partners:
★ Lead Coach at the global coaching platform BetterUp based in USA.
★ Executive Coach and Trainer at SparkUs based in Turkey and Netherlands.
★ Impact Partner for coaching, training & facilitation projects at leadership experts Think Beyond Group based in Austria.
★ Leadership Coach at Percoms AG, based in Switzerland.
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