Today, leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about self-awareness, trust, and driving meaningful change.
One of the most potent yet underutilised leadership tools is Stakeholder Coaching. Unlike traditional executive coaching, which occurs in isolation, Stakeholder Coaching invites direct feedback from your team, colleagues, and clients, creating an open loop of accountability and growth.
But let’s be honest: not every leader can handle it. Some struggle with feedback because their ego is too fragile, or they take things too personally. However, the best leaders embrace it because they know that leadership isn’t about how they see themselves but how their team experiences them.
Stakeholder Coaching is different because many leaders have blind spots. They think they’re being transparent, inspiring, or supportive, but their teams experience them differently.
Here’s how it can transform your leadership:
✅ Your team provides direct, ongoing feedback, helping you adjust your behaviour there and then.
✅ When they openly ask for feedback and act on it, they foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and growth.
✅ Your direct reports feel heard, valued, and involved, leading to better relationships, communication and performance.
✅ Progress is visible, measurable and can be seen and experienced by everyone
How to Apply Stakeholder Coaching in Your Leadership
If you want to make a difference and be an impactful leader, here’s what you could do:
🔹 Identify Key Stakeholders – Engage direct reports, peers, and clients whom you trust and are open to giving you candid feedback and most of all you are open to receiving it.
🔹 Ask for Constructive Feedback – Use direct but straightforward questions like, “How can I listen better to improve my communication?”
🔹 Track & Implement Changes – Set measurable actions to track and implement the changes based on feedback and with your team monitor your Progress.
I’m reminded of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The best leaders don’t grow alone—they grow with their teams.
Stakeholder Coaching shifts leadership from a solo effort to a shared experience, making it one of the most practical, results-driven leadership tools available.
I’ve seen this work in several ways:
🔹 The leader has the right intention, starts, becomes frustrated and stops the process
🔹 The leader who does not entertain it at all
🔹 The leader who has a growth mindset embraces this as an opportunity; they flourish, and the team performs ten times better
Develop a culture of transparency and open feedback, where giving feedback is encouraged, and feedback is received without any defensive behaviour.
If you’re ready to lead with clarity, accountability, and impact.
✅ Book a strategy session with me to walk through this process in real-time—so you can make confident leadership decisions.
