At Fairwinds, we believe that good leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about building strong relationships and helping others find the answers themselves.
Lately, Alain and I have spent a lot of time one-on-one with clients. Every time we do, it reminds us why coaching is such a powerful tool for real growth — for leaders and their teams.
Here’s what we keep seeing:
When leaders coach instead of just giving instructions, they get better results. Their people grow. Their teams get stronger.
Stop Solving All the Problems
A lot of leaders think they’re being helpful when they solve problems for their team.
And hey, we get it. It feels faster and easier in the moment.
But here’s the problem:
-
It drains the leader’s time.
-
It stops the team from learning and getting better.
Example:
One client told me he always steps in when something goes wrong with a delivery.
When I asked him what his team learned from that, he realized the answer was… nothing.
Next time, they’ll still need him to fix it.
They won’t know how to handle it themselves.
Throw the Ball Back
One simple shift we teach is something we call throwing the ball back.
Instead of jumping in with the answer, ask the person:
-
“What do you think we should do?”
-
“Have you handled something like this before?”
-
“What are a couple of options you see?”
It feels slower at first.
But over time, it actually saves you hours — and it builds stronger team members who can think and solve problems on their own.
Facing the Tough Stuff
Sometimes, coaching means helping a leader see a blind spot.
That’s not always easy. It can be uncomfortable.
But when trust is there, real growth can happen.
Example:
In one session, I had to gently show a leader that their expectations weren’t clear enough.
At first, they didn’t love hearing it.
But by the end of the conversation, they saw it — and they were excited to fix it before their big team meeting.
That’s the power of honest coaching in a safe space.
Why Coaching Works So Well
Our coaching sessions work because they connect the dots.
We build on what people learn in the classroom and apply it to real life.
Example:
After a session on motivation and accountability, I asked a leader:
-
“Are your team’s expectations clear?”
-
“Are they measurable?”
-
“Does everyone know exactly what’s expected?”
Those questions opened up a big, important conversation he needed to have with his team.
It’s moments like that that make coaching so effective.
Coaching Helps Learning Stick
Whether it’s about leadership, time management, or dealing with tough conversations, coaching gives people the space to work through real challenges.
And here’s the best part:
Over time, we see people open up.
They stop giving “perfect” answers and start sharing what’s really happening.
That’s when real change begins.
If You’re Ready to Grow…
You don’t need to be part of a big team to work with us.
If you’re one person looking to lead better, we’re here for you too.
Want to learn more?
Check out www.fairwindstraining.com and let’s start a conversation.
We’d love to help you become the kind of leader people are excited to follow.