Coaching has become one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth. In one of the episodes of Delenta Activate, Dr. Naeema Pasha speaks with award-winning coach and business mentor Sharon Lawton about the rising importance of coaching, why accreditation matters, and how coaching helps leaders unlock their full potential.
Over the last few decades, coaching has gone from being a niche service to a mainstream industry. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the global coaching industry grew by 54% between 2015 and 2019, and there are now over 71,000 professional coaches worldwide.
The pandemic further fueled this growth, as people took the opportunity to reflect on their careers, redefine success, and seek out coaching to navigate change. Sharon, a senior leader at The Coaching Academy, highlights that coaching is no longer just for executives; it has now become a mainstream development tool accessible to anyone looking to enhance their personal or professional life. Organizations worldwide are embedding coaching cultures to drive business growth and employee engagement.
A coaching approach to leadership is proving to be the key to increased engagement and productivity. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, only 23% of employees worldwide feel engaged at work. This lack of engagement costs businesses billions in lost productivity.
Sharon emphasizes that many leaders still rely on outdated ‘command and control’ leadership models, which limit employee creativity and motivation. By adopting a coaching mindset, leaders can create more inclusive, empowering workplaces where employees feel valued, inspired, and supported.
Sharon references John Whitmore’s Performance Curve, which illustrates how coaching enables teams to transition from dependency to high-performance interdependence—a state where individuals collaborate effectively, take ownership of their work, and strive for excellence.
Despite its rapid growth, coaching remains an unregulated industry, meaning that anyone can call themselves a coach without proper training. Sharon highlights the importance of working with accredited coaches who follow ethical guidelines and industry best practices.
Organizations like the ICF, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), and the Association for Coaching set professional standards to ensure that coaching is done ethically and effectively. Properly trained coaches understand essential skills like active listening, powerful questioning, and ethical coaching boundaries, making them better equipped to help clients achieve their goals.
Sharon also highlights the DISC Personality Profiling Model, a tool that helps leaders understand different communication styles and motivations. By recognizing personality traits, leaders can better engage with their teams and create stronger working relationships.
Sharon explains how understanding personality types can transform leadership and team dynamics:
A Gallup study found that employees who receive strengths-based coaching are 7.8% more productive and 23% more engaged. This proves that when leaders understand their teams’ strengths, they can create a more motivated and high-performing workforce.
With the rise of AI-powered coaching tools, some question whether technology can replace human coaches. Sharon believes that while AI can assist with basic coaching tasks, it lacks the human connection, emotional intelligence, and deep listening skills that make coaching truly transformative.
Coaching is about building trust, providing a safe space, and guiding people toward breakthroughs. AI might offer some level of support, but it cannot replace the authentic, human-to-human experience that coaching provides.
Looking ahead, coaching will continue to evolve to address not just career growth but also work-life balance, mental well-being, and personal fulfillment. With Gen Z entering the workforce, organizations will need to adopt a more people-focused leadership approach to attract and retain top talent.
Coaching is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for organizations that want to stay competitive. Leaders who invest in coaching will see higher productivity, stronger teams, and greater long-term success.
If you’re looking to integrate coaching into your leadership or organization, Delenta provides an all-in-one coaching platform designed to help coaches and businesses thrive. Visit Delenta today to learn more.
