The Power of Coaching

Shifting Mindsets, Building Habits, Strengthening Resilience

We’ve all heard it many times: change is constant. We say it, we nod along, but when it arrives at our doorstep, it often feels unsettling. Whether it’s a new system at work, a shift in leadership, or a change in how our organization does business, the challenge isn’t just learning something new. The real challenge is
how we think, how we behave, and how we keep showing up.

That’s where coaching can make all the difference. Coaching isn’t just for executives in the spotlight or athletes chasing medals. It’s a powerful tool for leaders and change professionals at every level. Coaching helps us shift our thinking, create habits that last, and build the resilience we need to stay strong through any change.

Coaching Helps Us See Differently

When change shows up, many people instinctively resist it. That doesn’t mean they’re being difficult. It means their brain is doing what it’s designed to do: look for safety and predictability. Coaching gives us a way to pause and examine how we’re reacting.

A good coach asks thoughtful questions like: What story are you telling yourself about this change? What if you looked at it from another angle? How would someone else view this situation? These conversations aren’t about sugarcoating reality. They’re about helping us reframe challenges into possibilities. Instead of thinking “this will never work,” coaching invites us to ask, “what would make this work?” That small shift in
mindset can completely change how we respond.

For example, a leader introducing new technology might naturally focus on checklists, deadlines, and training sessions. With coaching, they also reflect on their own feelings about the change and how their mindset influences their team. When they show curiosity instead of frustration, the team follows their lead.

Coaching Helps Habits Stick

Mindset is the starting point, but habits are what carry us through. Big goals and lofty intentions are easy to set. Sticking to them is another story. That’s where coaching provides structure and accountability. Think about how many times we’ve promised ourselves to exercise more, journal, or communicate better at
work. Without support, those promises fade quickly. Coaching helps break intentions down into small, realistic steps and then follows up to make sure they stick. One of my favorite books is Atomic Habits by James Clear, this book is by far my favorite guide to working on the building or “stacking” of habits. Habit
stacking is identifying existing habits and then “stacking” the desired new habit on to the existing habit. This makes sense if I imagine a change professional who wants to improve stakeholder communication. With a coach, they commit to weekly check-ins. Together they decide the best day and time, how to measure success, and how to work around obstacles. Before long, they add a stakeholder
communication habit and those conversations become a natural rhythm, not a forced task.

Coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. One person may need reminders to delegate, while another needs encouragement to slow down and listen. By tailoring the approach, coaching helps everyone form the habits that matter most to their growth.

Coaching Strengthens Resilience

We often talk about resilience like it’s something you either have, or you don’t. The truth is that resilience is more like a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it becomes. Coaching prepares the growth of the muscle by preparing a workout for strengthening. Resilience isn’t about pretending things are fine. It’s about recognizing difficulties, learning from them, and moving forward with greater strength. Coaches encourage reflection when challenges come up. Questions like: What did you learn? How can you apply that learning? What strengths helped you push through?

This reflection shifts the focus away from failure and onto growth. It normalizes the bumps and hurdles of change while equipping people to handle whatever comes next. Imagine a project that suddenly faces a budget cut or technical setback. Without resilience, the team might spiral into frustration. With resilience,
they regroup, adapt, and keep momentum alive. Coaching gives leaders and professionals the tools to respond in a constructive way and bounce forward, not just back.

Coaching for Leaders

Leaders carry enormous responsibility during change. The way they show up sets the tone for everyone else. Coaching provides them with a safe space to process their own reactions, test ideas, and prepare to lead with confidence.

Through coaching, leaders learn to communicate clearly even when they don’t have all the answers. They learn to balance the drive for results with genuine care for their people. They also practice modeling resilience by staying flexible and open. When leaders grow through coaching, the benefits ripple outward.
Teams see them walk the talk, which builds trust and inspires others to step forward as well.

Coaching for Change Professionals

Change professionals are often at the heart of transformation, guiding others through uncertainty while managing their own. They navigate resistance, questions, and complex dynamics every day. Coaching helps them stay centered, confident, and effective. For change professionals, coaching can strengthen confidence to influence, help manage stress and avoid burnout, provide feedback and support, assist in keeping energy and enthusiasm alive through long projects. By staying grounded and supported, change professionals are better equipped to help entire organizations adapt successfully.

The Ripple Effect

The beauty of coaching is that it doesn’t stop with one person. When a leader shifts their mindset, the team shifts with them. When someone builds a positive habit, others notice and adopt it too. When resilience grows, it becomes part of the culture. Each coaching conversation plants a seed. Over time, those seeds take root and grow into stronger, healthier organizations that are better able to sustain change.

Keeping Change Alive

The real challenge of change isn’t starting, it’s sustaining. Anyone can rally excitement for a launch day. But what happens when the spotlight fades? Coaching helps maintain focus, energy, and learning long after the initial push by continuing strengthen habits, provide reflection and make resilience a daily
practice.

Change often feels hard, but it doesn’t have to break us down. Coaching gives leaders and change professionals the space, tools, and encouragement to grow stronger through it. With coaching, we can shift our mindsets, form lasting habits, and build resilience that not only gets us through change but helps us thrive because of it. Use the power of coaching to provide the steady support to help your team, organization and yourself navigate the challenging terrain of the future state, where we will experience the benefit of the change.