Why Leaders Resist Coaching During Disruption—But Shouldn’t
When disruption hits, most leaders instinctively shift into execution mode. The focus turns to decisions, deadlines, and deliverables. In that high-pressure space, coaching can feel like a luxury—something to return to when the fires are out. But that’s exactly when coaching is needed most: not once the disruption is over, but right in the middle of it.
In times of uncertainty, people don’t just need direction—they need presence. They need a leader who can help them access their own clarity, courage, and resilience. That doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from listening well, asking better questions, and creating the kind of connection that allows people to think for themselves. Coaching isn’t about slowing down—it’s about sharpening your impact.
When leaders resist coaching (either receiving it or offering it), they often miss the very opportunities that can unlock movement, energy, and alignment on their teams. Coaching isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re willing to lead with intention, not just reaction.
Here are three ways to coach more during disruption—even when time is tight:
Shift from solving to sensing.
Instead of jumping in with a solution, pause and ask: What’s the real challenge here? or What do you need most right now? Giving someone a moment to name what’s really going on often opens more clarity than advice ever could.
Make space in the margins.
Coaching doesn’t always require a formal session. A five-minute hallway check-in, a thoughtful Slack message, or a follow-up question in a meeting can all create micro-moments of coaching. Look for where a simple question could invite deeper reflection.
Model what it looks like.
Let your team see you seeking coaching too. When you share that you’re working with a coach or reflecting on your own leadership, it signals that growth and support are part of how you operate—not just something for others.
The truth is, disruption doesn’t just test your leadership—it reveals it.
Coaching gives you a powerful way to lead with clarity, even when the path isn’t clear. If you or your team are navigating change and want to deepen your leadership capacity, now is the time.
Leadership Practice
Take 10 minutes this week to reflect:
When things feel uncertain or fast-moving, how do you respond—do you seek support or try to go it alone?
What might open up if you let yourself be supported when it feels hardest to slow down?
Who could be your sounding board right now, even for just one conversation?
Let this reflection be a gentle nudge toward the support you may be resisting—and actually need most.
About Athena
Athena Williams, Founder and CEO of Tenacious Leadership Institute, has been supporting leaders worldwide to become more tenacious for over 20 years. She has found that tenacity is the key to sustained leadership success in today’s ever-changing world. Through her coaching and leadership development programs, she helps leaders expertly handle change, complexity and other challenges so they can quickly get better results for themselves, their teams and their organizations.
Take the first step to becoming a tenacious leader by scheduling a call with us.
