Why Coaching Is a Leadership Multiplier
You don’t avoid coaching because you dislike it. You avoid it because it feels optional. And for many, it is. But I don’t see a lot of elite athletes, performers, and executives who don’t invest in coaching. Imagine an investment that measurably boosts your performance, strengthens your resilience, and rewires how you lead. Interested?
There’s always another meeting. More stuff on the to-do list. An article you want to read or a podcast to listen to. You can figure out how to improve performance on your own, right? So, you keep your challenges private and don’t seek support.
Until one day, you realize you’re running on patterns that aren’t taking you where you want to go. Now what?
The Real Issue
You can go on a trip and come home unchanged. You can take a workshop and feel inspired for a week. But without structure, guidance, and accountability, most insights don’t stick. That’s why AdventureEDGE integrates a full arc of coaching - before, during, and after the backcountry immersion - so clarity turns into action, and action into sustained change.
And the science backs it up.
1. Coaching measurably changes how leaders act A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that executive coaching creates large, measurable shifts in behavior, as well as solid gains in self-efficacy and psychological capital (which relates to efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience). Translation: leaders don’t just talk differently after coaching - they behave differently, and it sticks. (Theeboom et al., 2023)
2. Coaching works at every level of performance When researchers pooled results from 17 workplace coaching studies, they found improvements everywhere: organizational performance, skills, attitudes, and individual results. Coaching isn’t just a personal development perk; it’s a performance accelerant. (Jones, Woods & Guillaume, 2015)
3. The ICF’s global data says it all – coaching works The International Coaching Federation’s latest global study shows 80% of coaching clients report more self-confidence, 73% improve work performance, relationships, and communication, and 86% of companies at least recoup their investment. Clients also report lasting mindset shifts that ripple beyond the office. Beyond dollars and percentages, coaching drives measurable improvement in well-being, resilience, and leadership adaptability, outcomes that fuel sustainable performance and retention long after the engagement ends. (ICF Global Coaching Study, 2024)
4. Coaching strengthens both performance and well-being A meta-analysis of 18 studies found coaching has positive, statistically significant effects not just on performance, but also on well-being, coping, work attitudes, and goal-directed self-regulation. In other words, coaching helps leaders deliver results and sustain themselves in the process, a rare combination in most development interventions. (Theeboom, Beersma & van Vianen, 2014)
5. Post-event reflection and follow-up coaching multiply results A 2023 longitudinal study found that leaders who completed an After-Event Review before each coaching session developed significantly more leadership flexibility than those who didn’t (associated with better team performance and vitality). Combine that with follow-up coaching, and performance gains can jump from 23% to 88%, an almost 4X increase. So, incorporating reflection and longitudinal coaching are keys to success. (Steffens et al., 2023; Olivero, Bane & Kopelman, 1997)
6. Adventure-based experiences create change that coaching locks in A meta-analysis of 197 adventure-based programs found gains in self-concept, leadership, and interpersonal skills. But those gains risk fading without structured follow-up. Coaching provides the reflection, goal setting, and accountability that turn “trip highs” into durable behavior change - exactly how AdventureEDGE transforms a great experience into a lasting shift. (Bowen & Neill, 2013)
TL;DR: Coaching turns AdventureEDGE into a launchpad
Without coaching, AdventureEDGE would still be an incredible experience. But coaching makes sure your goals are clear before you start, your insights are sharp while you’re on the trail, and your commitments stick when you’re back in the office.
You’ll step into Bryce Canyon with a vision. You’ll leave with momentum, and a crew that keeps you moving.
Start here:
Treat coaching as your basecamp: get clear before you set out.
Use the trail to test and refine in real time.
Keep the crew together after you return.
Show up present for coaching and do the work
Leaders who integrate coaching with adventure don’t just come back rested. They come back transformed.
💬 Want to experience this for yourself? Our next AdventureEDGE is in Bryce Canyon - a three-day backcountry hike with coaching and clarity. Learn more here or DM me.
Mike R. Sweeney
If you found this post valuable, please share it far and wide so others can benefit. If you want to think about investing in some coaching, shoot me a note @mikesweeney @sabercoaching.com. Maybe we can co-create some clarity and get you moving closer to the island you want to sail towards!