Coaching is one of the most impactful yet intricate responsibilities a leader can undertake. For the coachee, it presents a valuable opportunity to learn from someone with deeper experience and insight. For the coach, it becomes a privilege to contribute meaningfully to another person’s professional and personal growth.
On July 10, 2025, Sir Tully Moss of John Clements Consultants Inc. facilitated a Coaching Refresher session using the Zenger Folkman 360-degree methodology. The audience included esteemed leaders from the IBPAP – WIA Elevate program. Designed to sharpen leadership capabilities, the session reinforced the principles of effective coaching.
Moving Beyond Directives
Rather than issuing instructions, coaching involves guiding individuals to uncover their own strategies and decisions. This approach empowers coachees to tackle challenges with confidence and independence. They become active participants in shaping their outcomes—not passive recipients of advice.
A key takeaway was the importance of setting a clear, shared objective for every coaching engagement. Both coach and coachee must agree on the opportunity to pursue or the problem to solve. As Tully emphasized, “You cannot coach someone who sees no need for coaching.” This clarity ensures aligned expectations and measurable goals.
Effective coaching centers on the present and future, steering away from dwelling on the past. Coaches encouraged to promote self-assessment, challenge assumptions, and anchor discussions in practical realities. This forward-looking mindset helps coachees concentrate on actionable solutions rather than lingering on past mistakes or justifications.
Equally important is keeping the process participant-driven. Coachees should first explore and present their ideas. The coach steps in only to ask thought-provoking questions that broaden perspective or redirect thinking. This method fosters ownership, critical thinking, and lasting behavioral change.
As an observer supporting the facilitator, I witnessed how engaged the leaders were throughout the session. The discussion encouraged active reflection and meaningful dialogue. I felt privileged to join a room of professionals dedicated to nurturing the next generation of women leaders in the Philippines.
The experience reaffirmed that coaching, when done with intent and skill, serves as both a developmental tool and a catalyst for organizational growth.
Coaches should establish and revisit an overall goal in each session to anchor the coaching process. Agreement between both parties—on either an opportunity to seize or a problem to resolve—ensures alignment. As Tully reiterated, “You cannot coach someone who sees no need for coaching.” Clarity in direction sets the stage for productive engagement.
Staying Grounded in Action
The session also highlighted the importance of focusing on what coachees can do now and in the future. The facilitator encouraged coaches to promote self-assessment, challenge assumptions, and keep conversations grounded. Avoiding fixation on the past prevents rationalization and promotes commitment to future action.
Later in the session, the principle of participant-centered coaching was reinforced. Coachees should be the ones generating options for action. They must be allowed to exhaust their ideas before the coach intervenes with a guiding question that leads to new insight.
Throughout the session, I joined other participants in absorbing practical knowledge that can be applied to our professional journeys. I felt fortunate to be among skilled individuals who are shaping the future of women leaders across industries in the Philippines.
Turning Insights into Action
You’ve seen how the right strategies can elevate recruitment and transform business outcomes. Now, let’s make it happen. At John Clements Consultants, we combine decades of expertise with innovative talent solutions to help you find, nurture, and retain top performers. Whether you need volume staffing, executive search, or outsourced HR support, we’re here to deliver results that drive growth.
Ready to start? Contact us today and let’s bring your vision to life.
