Leaders keep asking the same question. Do I need more leadership or more management right now? The honest answer is both. The context has shifted. The Financial Times recently argued that the boss is back, with high-profile leaders pushing longer hours and stronger oversight. Read the piece here: The boss is back.
This post provides a direct map, outlining what leadership adds, what management secures, where coaching and training change behavior, and how to act this week.
Leadership and management, without jargon
- Leadership sets direction and creates movement. It answers why now, aligns people, and sparks energy.
- Management creates traction and keeps promises. It sets plans, roles, and follows through so work finishes to standard.
- Performance needs both. Ideas without delivery fail. Delivery without purpose burns out teams.
The reality leaders face now
- Pressure is rising. Many firms are tightening controls and attendance. That can raise output in the short term. It often reduces commitment if people lose autonomy.
- Engagement is fragile. Gallup reported U.S. employee engagement hit a ten-year low in 2023, dropping to just thirty-one percent. That is a warning sign for retention and quality. Source: Gallup.
- Disengagement is expensive. Gallup estimates a global productivity loss of around 8.8 trillion US dollars due to low engagement. That is roughly nine percent of global GDP. Source: Gallup analysis.
Where leadership training and coaching shift outcomes
Leadership training builds skills. Coaching builds identity and decision habits under pressure. You need both.
- Coaching culture and engagement move together. ICF research highlights positive links between a coaching culture, leadership quality, and commitment.
- ROI can be significant when behavior changes. A widely cited MetrixGlobal study reported a 529% ROI from productivity, rising to 788% when retention benefits were included. Treat this as directional, not guaranteed. Source: MetrixGlobal briefing.
A practical map for the next quarter
Use this with your direct reports, or as a weekly self-check.
- Direction: Write one sentence on where you are going and why it matters now. If you cannot say it, your team cannot feel it.
- Constraints: Name the hard limits. Budget, time, regulations. Reality creates trust.
- Focus: Pick three results that move the business this month. Everything else is noise.
- Cadence: Set a light rhythm. Weekly priorities, clear owners, and a visible board. Keep meetings short and valuable.
- Support: Ask each person what they need to succeed. Remove one obstacle for them every week. Track the before and after.
For a structured leadership sprint, review our ninety-day program: The Strategic Advantage Program.
Leader as coach: five fast questions that unlock potential
Use one of these in your next one-to-one. Keep it short. Listen fully.
- What outcome do you want here, and why does it matter?
- What have you tried, and what did you learn?
- What is one obstacle I can remove for you this week?
- What would great look like by the end of the month?
- What is the smallest next step that creates momentum today?
If you want a deeper bank of prompts, explore our question sets aligned to coaching competencies on our site, starting with the category index: Mindful Leadership.
If your company is turning up the heat
The FT piece shows a shift to stricter management. Firm standards are not the enemy. Confusion is the enemy. Pair clarity of expectations with clarity of support.
- Set the bar, make it visible, apply it fairly. People respect a clean standard. Link the standard to outcomes, not presence. The boss is back.
- Invest in real development. Coaching with targeted practice beats a one-off workshop.
- Protect autonomy where it drives results. Evidence suggests rigid office mandates do not guarantee engagement. Focus on flexibility that improves predictability and performance. Summary: Business Insider on RTO and engagement.
For leaders seeking a guided reset, consider our program, The Innovation Mandate, designed to reinvent your leadership approach.
Quick wins you can ship this week
- Clarity stand-up on Monday. Each person states one result, one risk, one ask. Fifteen minutes total.
- Thinking hour midweek. No meetings. Leaders protect the time. Teams learn to use it.
- Start a coaching loop. Pick three people. Use the five questions for four weeks. Track outcomes and stress levels.
- Retire one ritual. If it does not drive direction or traction, let it go.
When you need external support, book a short consult, and we will develop a tailored plan for your team.
Sources and further reading
- Financial Times. The boss is back. Financial Times
- Gallup. U.S. employee engagement sinks to a ten year low. Gallup.com
- Gallup. The worlds eight point eight trillion dollar workplace problem. Gallup.com
- ICF. ICF Global Coaching Study.
- MetrixGlobal. Executive coaching ROI briefing.
- Business Insider. RTO mandates and engagement.
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