Leadership is often presented as a complex discipline, layered with strategic models, performance metrics, and competency frameworks. Yet, at its heart, leadership is deeply human. It is about self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to inspire and empower others.
While traditional leadership development has focused on skills acquisition and hierarchical authority, there is a growing recognition that true leadership is an evolving, self-reflective process.
This is where coaching—particularly positive psychology coaching—plays a transformative role. It offers a structured yet flexible approach to developing one’s personal leadership style in an authentic and emotionally intelligent way.
Drawing from Daniel Goleman’s research on leadership styles and Soren Kaplan’s insights on experiential intelligence, this article explores how coaching, emotional intelligence, and positive psychology intersect to help leaders craft their own leadership identity—not as a formula, but as an intentional and evolving journey.
Beyond Strategy: The Human Factor in Leadership
Many leadership models focus on external factors—strategic decision-making, corporate structures, and productivity frameworks. However, research consistently shows that a leader’s self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and adaptability are far stronger predictors of success than any technical skill (Goleman, 2000).
Goleman identifies six key leadership styles, each with its strengths and challenges:
- Coercive (Command-and-Control) – Direct and decisive, useful in crises but demotivating in the long term.
- Authoritative (Visionary) – Inspires with a compelling vision and clear direction.
- Affiliative (Harmoniser) – Focuses on building strong relationships and emotional bonds.
- Democratic (Collaborative) – Encourages participation, fostering engagement and innovation.
- Pacesetting (High-Performance) – Leads by example but can overwhelm teams with high expectations.
- Coaching (Development-Focused) – Prioritises growth, learning, and long-term development.
Of these, coaching leadership is often the most underutilised yet highly effective, especially for long-term impact. Coaching not only enhances personal leadership development but also empowers others, fostering an environment of trust, accountability, and growth.
The Power of Coaching in Leadership Development
The coaching leadership style is distinct because it emphasises personal and professional development rather than just immediate results. A coaching leader:
- Encourages self-reflection rather than prescribing solutions.
- Focuses on long-term growth, helping individuals build confidence and competence.
- Supports autonomy by empowering others to make informed decisions.
- Recognises and nurtures individual strengths, adapting leadership to each person’s unique journey.
Soren Kaplan’s research on experiential intelligence (Kaplan, 2024) further reinforces this idea.
Leadership is not simply learned in a classroom—it is honed through experience, reflection, and intentional development. Coaching serves as a structured, reflective space where leaders can:
- Explore their leadership identity in a way that aligns with their values and strengths.
- Identify blind spots and reframe limiting beliefs about their leadership potential.
- Develop emotional agility, responding flexibly to challenges rather than reacting impulsively.
- Foster resilience, ensuring that setbacks become learning opportunities rather than failures.
At Dr Sophie Coaching, I work with women, leaders in their lives, entrepreneurs, and professionals to hone their leadership through coaching conversations, grounded in positive psychology principles.
This same philosophy extends to Flourish Financially, where we explore financial well-being as a gateway to self-leadership and personal transformation.
PERMA-Powered Coaching: Leadership Through the Lens of Positive Psychology
If coaching is the vehicle, then positive psychology provides the roadmap. One of the most well-established models in positive psychology coaching is Martin Seligman’s PERMA framework, which outlines five core dimensions of flourishing (Seligman, 2011).
At Dr Sophie Coaching, I integrate PERMA-powered coaching to help my clients develop their self-awareness, adaptability, and emotional intelligence – critical qualities for thriving so they can embrace their own unique version of leadership—in their varied life roles. Here’s how:
P – Positive Emotion: Cultivating Emotional Resilience
Leaders set the emotional tone for their teams. A leader who embodies optimism, emotional balance, and psychological safety creates a workplace where people feel motivated and supported.
Coaching application: We explore emotional regulation strategies, gratitude practices, and strengths-based leadership to foster a positive outlook.
E – Engagement: Finding Flow in Leadership
Great leaders operate in a state of flow, where their skills and challenges are in harmony. Engagement fosters deep focus, purpose-driven leadership, and intrinsic motivation.
Coaching application: I guide leaders in identifying their strengths, aligning tasks with passions, and fostering engagement in their teams through purpose-driven work.
R – Relationships: Leading with Trust & Connection
Leadership is fundamentally relational. Whether guiding a team or making strategic decisions, leaders must prioritise trust, communication, and empathy.
Coaching application: We work on developing high-quality connections, active listening skills, and emotional intelligence to build lasting, authentic relationships.
M – Meaning: Aligning Leadership with Purpose
Leaders who lead with purpose create more engaged, inspired, and mission-driven teams. Meaningful leadership is about understanding one’s values and aligning actions with a broader purpose.
Coaching application: Through values clarification and purpose-driven coaching, leaders develop a leadership philosophy that resonates with their personal mission.
A – Accomplishment: Sustaining Success with a Growth Mindset
Success in leadership is not just about short-term wins but about sustained progress, resilience, and personal growth. Leaders must learn to balance ambition with well-being.
Coaching application: I support clients in setting meaningful goals, tracking progress, and embracing setbacks as part of growth.
The PERMA framework offers a science-backed, holistic approach to leadership development—one that goes beyond performance metrics to focus on long-term flourishing.
Final Thoughts: Leadership as a Personal Journey
Leadership is not about fitting into a pre-defined mould. It is about cultivating self-awareness, developing emotional agility, and leading with authenticity. Coaching, especially through the lens of positive psychology, provides a powerful, personalised approach to leadership development—one that fosters clarity, confidence, and meaningful impact.
At Dr Sophie Coaching, I help individuals craft their unique leadership style, integrating coaching and positive psychology tools to navigate their journey with confidence and self-awareness. This philosophy also extends to Flourish Financially, where financial health serves as a foundation for self-leadership and empowerment.
If you’re interested in exploring leadership, personal growth, or financial well-being through coaching, I invite you to join my mailing list for exclusive evidence-based insights, coaching strategies, and special events.
Join the Coaching Philo-Sophie community & stay connected: https://bit.ly/join-coaching-philo-sophie
Sincerely Yours,
Dr Sophie
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Inspired by:
Falecki, D., Leach, C., & Green, S. (2019). PERMA-powered coaching: Building Foundations for a Flourishing Life. In S. Green & S. Palmer, Positive psychology coaching in practice (pp. 103–120). Routledge.
Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership That Gets Results. Harvard Business Review, March-April.
Kaplan, S. (2024). Unlocking Leadership: Get Back to the Basics for Success. Psychology Today.
Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being. Free Press.
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