Hello,

Picture this: Your organization invests significantly in a comprehensive executive development program. Leaders emerge energized and equipped with new frameworks, but within months, old patterns resurface. Sound familiar? The missing ingredient is often executive coaching—the bridge between learning and lasting change.

We absolutely believe coaching is essential. But why does coaching make such a difference?

Three Pillars of Coaching-Enhanced Development

1. Personalization That Drives Relevance: According to Harvard Business Review’s “The Future of Leadership Development,” organizations waste resources on “too many programs that are one-size-fits-all, but executives thrive when programs align with their unique goals and leadership context.” A skilled executive coach transforms generic concepts into personally relevant insights, helping leaders connect program content to their specific challenges, team dynamics, and organizational context.

2. Application Through Intentional Experimentation: Learning without application is merely expensive entertainment. Our coaching approach grounds leaders in what researcher Richard Boyatzis calls Intentional Change Theory—his landmark research demonstrates that sustainable leadership growth occurs when leaders personally commit to change and experiment with new behaviors toward their vision. In Boyatzis’s study on coaching effectiveness, leaders who received coaching alongside training showed 25% to 50% improvement in leadership competencies, compared to just 5% to 15% improvement from training alone. Effective coaches ensure leaders move beyond passive consumption of development content to active experimentation in their daily leadership practice, creating measurable behavior change and business results.

3. Accountability That Sustains Progress: Research from the International Coach Federation shows that 86% of organizations recouped their investment in coaching programs, with many citing accountability as the key differentiator. This aligns with Boyatzis’s findings that coaching-based leadership programs delivered ROI between 500% and 700%—significantly higher than traditional training-only approaches. Unlike training programs that end with a certificate, coaching creates ongoing touchpoints where leaders reflect on progress, navigate real-time challenges, and adjust their approach based on results. This continuous cycle of action and reflection embeds new behaviors into leadership muscle memory.

Executive development without coaching is like a gym membership without a personal trainer—the tools are available, but sustainable results require personalized guidance, consistent application, and ongoing accountability. As you design or refine your executive development programs, consider how coaching can transform your investment from a learning event into a leadership transformation.

We hope you find this month’s insights helpful and as always, please do not hesitate to reach out it we can be helpful partners.

Sincerely,

Your BTS Executive Coaching Team