Coaching in Action:
Leadership Skills Series

Adapting and Mastering a Current Situation What does it truly mean to lead? For many, leadership is about making decisions, setting direction, and ensuring execution. But what happens when leaders find themselves caught between inspiring action and maintaining team cohesion? In this coaching session, Dr. Marcia Reynolds supports her client in navigating the complexities of fostering engagement, encouraging initiative, and sustaining participation—without falling into micromanagement or overburdening themselves. Through a reflective and empowering conversation, the client shifts from a mindset of assumptions and expectations to one grounded in inquiry, empowerment, and clarity.

1. Create Space for Discovery: Notice how the coach patiently allows space for the client to uncover what they truly desire, leading to a clearer agreement on the desired outcome.

2. Tune into Hidden Assumptions: Observe how the coach listens for and challenges assumptions framing the client’s goals, opening up new possibilities and perspectives.

3. Stay Present-Focused: Identify how the coach skillfully redirects the conversation from past events to the present moment to drive action and clarity.

Dr. Marcia Reynolds is a globally recognized thought leader in leadership coaching, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), and the author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem. With extensive experience working with multinational corporations, non-profits, and government agencies, she has been a pioneer in the coaching industry, serving as the 5th global president of the International Coaching Federation and one of the first 25 coaches worldwide to achieve MCC status. Marcia has taught coaching and leadership in over 50 countries and is recognized as one of the top executive coaches by Global Gurus. Her work has been featured in Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, and CNN.com. With a background in organizational psychology and behavioral science, her coaching approach helps leaders expand awareness, navigate complexity, and create lasting change. 

Navigating Stakeholder Relationships with Confidence In this coaching session, David Goldsmith supports the client in navigating the complexities of stakeholder management, particularly within B2B relationships. The conversation focuses on engaging senior stakeholders, balancing persistence with patience, and refining communication strategies to strengthen partnerships. Through clarifying questions and iterative exercises, the client gains clarity on how to maintain momentum without pushing too hard, position themselves as a subject-matter expert, and step back from daily operations to take on a more strategic leadership role.

1. The "Try It Again" Approach: Observe how this method helps the client quickly uncover valuable insights and solutions.

2. Generating Results Quickly: See how meaningful insights and action steps are created in under 45 minutes, even with minimal background information.

3. Avoiding the "Tell Me How" Trap: Notice how the coach keeps the focus on generating outcomes rather than getting caught in how-to explanations.

David Goldsmith is a leader in the coaching industry, dedicated to developing world-class coaches and supporting organizational growth. As the former Chief Operating Officer of CoachInc.com and past President of CoachU, he has played a key role in shaping the field of coaching. David co-founded the Foundation for Coaching, which later evolved into the Institute of Coaching at Harvard, supporting global coaching research. With decades of experience, he has organized innovative coaching conferences, introduced groundbreaking research, and worked with senior leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Specializing in executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic coaching program design, David’s mission is to expand the impact of coaching by equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to create meaningful change.

Receiving Feedback with Openness and Curiosity Feedback is essential for growth, but receiving it can be challenging—especially when it feels personal. In this coaching session, Lyssa DeHart helps a client explore the emotional barriers to receiving feedback with an open heart and mind. The session delves into reactivity, self-protection, and the internal dialogue that can shut down curiosity. Through this transformative conversation, the client gains a new framework for engaging with feedback in a way that fosters learning rather than defensiveness.

1. Agency and Choice: Observe and identify how the coach supports the client’s sense of agency and choice throughout the session.

2. Partnership in Action: Recognize key moments that demonstrate partnership and mutual engagement between coach and client.

3. Feedback as a Mirror: Reflect on how the client's response to feedback informs your own approach to offering and receiving feedback in coaching practice.

Lyssa DeHart, MCC, is a leadership and executive coach with a specialization in narrative coaching and personal development. With over two decades of coaching experience, Lyssa has worked with leaders and organizations worldwide, helping them develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and communication mastery. She is the author of StoryJacking, a book focused on reshaping personal narratives to unlock growth and potential.

Delegating Effectively with Clarity and Compassion As leaders advance in their careers, one of the greatest challenges they face is transitioning from hands-on execution to high-level strategic leadership. In this coaching session, Nihar Chhaya supports the client in exploring the complexities of delegation, empowerment, and mindset shifts required to lead more effectively. Through a reflective and thought-provoking conversation, the client identifies both organizational and personal roadblocks, gains clarity on the transition from tactical to strategic thinking, and uncovers a powerful insight: embracing vulnerability and transparency with their team could be the key to unlocking greater strategic success.

1. Create Space for Discovery: Notice how the coach invites the client to explore deeper layers of the session, especially when navigating conflicting perspectives.

2.  Clarify Through Metaphor: Observe the use of imagery, such as the "player-coach" metaphor, to help the client reframe challenges and open new perspectives.

3. Explore Strengths and Stretch Zones: See how the coach highlights areas where the client can lean into strengths and stretch into discomfort to foster growth and vulnerability.

Nihar Chhaya is an executive coach and leadership strategist with over 20 years of experience coaching CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, and high-performing leaders. As the founder of PartnerExec, he specializes in helping leaders navigate high-stakes transitions, develop strategic influence, and lead with confidence. Nihar’s coaching blends behavioral science, leadership best practices, and real-world business strategy to drive powerful results.

Delegating Effectively with Clarity and Compassion As leaders advance in their careers, one of the greatest challenges they face is transitioning from hands-on execution to high-level strategic leadership. In this coaching session, Nihar Chhaya supports the client in exploring the complexities of delegation, empowerment, and mindset shifts required to lead more effectively. Through a reflective and thought-provoking conversation, the client identifies both organizational and personal roadblocks, gains clarity on the transition from tactical to strategic thinking, and uncovers a powerful insight: embracing vulnerability and transparency with their team could be the key to unlocking greater strategic success.

1. Create Space for Discovery: Notice how the coach invites the client to explore deeper layers of the session, especially when navigating conflicting perspectives.

2.  Clarify Through Metaphor: Observe the use of imagery, such as the "player-coach" metaphor, to help the client reframe challenges and open new perspectives.

3. Explore Strengths and Stretch Zones: See how the coach highlights areas where the client can lean into strengths and stretch into discomfort to foster growth and vulnerability.

Nihar Chhaya is an executive coach and leadership strategist with over 20 years of experience coaching CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, and high-performing leaders. As the founder of PartnerExec, he specializes in helping leaders navigate high-stakes transitions, develop strategic influence, and lead with confidence. Nihar’s coaching blends behavioral science, leadership best practices, and real-world business strategy to drive powerful results.