Coaching Skills for Leaders

An Autoris Masterclass

Learn from the science and practice of professional coaching - and master when and how to apply coaching skills as a leader.

Coaching Skills for Leaders teaches you core coaching competencies drawn from professional practice and research - and develops your ability to discern when coaching serves best and when you need to lead differently.

This Masterclass consists of four 2-hour live online sessions, complemented by learning teams and self-paced learning between sessions.

Why This Matters

Build capability, not dependence. Coaching skills help people develop their own solutions and judgment.

Scale your impact. When you coach effectively, the people you develop can develop others.

Know when coaching serves. Leaders who understand the distinction get better results and avoid common mistakes.

Create lasting change. Coaching competencies help people grow in ways that endure.

What You'll Learn

  • Coaching vs. Leading: Knowing the Difference

    • When to coach: building capability, unlocking insight, developing judgment
    • When to lead differently: making decisions, providing direction, solving urgent problems
    • How to recognize which approach serves best in any moment
    • Why some leaders over-coach and others under-coach
    • A clear framework for matching your approach to the situation

  • Professional Coaching Competencies

    • Deep listening that creates psychological safety and unlocks potential
    • Powerful questioning frameworks that generate insight
    • Helping people discover and own their own solutions
    • Creating accountability without micromanaging
    • Navigating resistance and breakthrough moments
    • Holding space for another person’s growth

  • Advanced Feedback & Development Conversations

    • Feedback that drives real behavior change, not just awareness
    • Using real-time coaching in the flow of work
    • Creating conditions where people actively seek feedback
    • Handling difficult conversations with confidence and clarity
    • Using feedback to build capability, not just fix immediate problems
    • Strengthening the ability to receive feedback for self-reflection and growth

  • The ACE it! Method for Coaching Conversations

    • Address – Frame development needs as powerful questions
    • Create – Co-create solutions the person truly owns
    • Execute – Build sustainable habits and measure progress
    • Applying structure without becoming rigid
    • Knowing when to adapt the framework to the situation

  • The Science of Adult Development

    • How expertise develops and what accelerates it
    • The psychology of motivation and sustained behavior change
    • Why some development efforts succeed and others fail
    • Evidence-based insights into lasting capability building
    • Neuroscience perspectives relevant to effective coaching

  • Structured Development Conversations

    • Short, focused coaching conversations that build momentum
    • Adapting your approach to different people and contexts
    • Moving from problem-solving to capability-building
    • Creating development between conversations
    • Knowing when to mentor versus coach versus advise

  • Assessment Tools from Professional Coaching

    • Strength identification frameworks used in professional coaching
    • Motivation and engagement assessments
    • Development planning tools
    • Progress tracking and reflection methods
    • Interpreting assessment insights effectively
    • Applying assessment results in real coaching conversations

What You’ll Gain

  • Clarity on When to Coach and When to Lead

    • A clear understanding of the distinction between coaching and leading
    • The ability to recognize which approach serves best in any situation
    • Avoiding common leadership mistakes caused by over- or under-coaching
    • Confidence in choosing direction, decision-making, or development

  • Professional Coaching Competencies

    • Core coaching skills grounded in professional practice and research
    • Deep listening that creates psychological safety and trust
    • Powerful questioning methods that unlock insight and ownership
    • Advanced feedback approaches that drive real behavior change
    • The ability to build capability rather than dependence

  • Application, Tools, and Real Practice

    • Real practice with challenging coaching scenarios from your own work
    • Assessment tools used by professional coaches
    • Structured development and feedback conversations you can reuse
    • The ability to apply coaching skills immediately and effectively

  • Certificate, Network, and Ongoing Development

    • Coaching Skills for Leaders Masterclass Certificate from the Autoris Leadership Institute
    • A global peer network committed to excellence in leadership and development
    • Access to the Autoris Alumni community and ongoing practitioner exchange
    • Continued access to Autoris tools, resources, and learning platform
    • A strong foundation for further Autoris Masterclasses and advanced programs

Program Structure CSL

  • Live Online Sessions

    • Four 2-hour live online sessions via Zoom
    • Sessions take place every two weeks over eight weeks
    • Intensive practice with real coaching scenarios
    • Challenges drawn directly from your actual leadership context

  • Between Sessions

    • Apply coaching methods with your own team or context
    • Work on real development challenges between sessions
    • Bring concrete examples back for discussion and refinement

  • Advanced Competency Modules (Self-Paced)

    • Advanced coaching techniques from professional practice
    • Psychology of behavior change
    • Assessment tools and interpretation
    • Measuring development impact and progress

  • Peer Learning Groups

    • Work in small peer groups throughout the program
    • Solve real development challenges together
    • Learn from diverse perspectives and approaches
    • Build accountability and shared learning momentum

Who Participates

Leaders, business owners, professionals who guide others, and anyone committed to mastering coaching skills. 

Past participants include senior executives, team leaders, entrepreneurs preparing successors, partners from PE and VC firms, family business owners, board members, HR experts, and professional coaches deepening their practice.

Resources & Ongoing Support CSL

  • Autoris Learning Platform Access

    • Advanced coaching tools and conversation templates
    • Latest research in professional coaching and adult learning
    • Case studies from real coaching practice
    • Implementation guides and updates

  • Autoris Signature Assessments

    • You at Your Best – strengths identification and development planning
    • ACE Preferences – understanding how people approach learning and development
    • Guidance on administering, interpreting, and applying assessments
    • Using assessment insights in coaching conversations

  • Ati – Your Virtual Coach

    • Continued access to Ati for assessment interpretation
    • Support for ongoing development journeys across your team

Dates & Fees

Next Program: March 2026

Final dates will be communicated in January 2026

4 Live Online Sessions: Sessions run every two weeks over 8 weeks. Learning teams schedule their practice session individually.

Pre-Program: You'll receive pre-work and Zoom links before the first session.

Fees

USD 2400
EUR 2100

Scholarships available

Special Option: Groups of 12 or more can book their own exclusive Coaching Skills for Leaders Masterclass. Available in English and German.

Prerequisites

The Autoris Growth Essentials Program is the foundation for all Masterclasses.

Growth Essentials teaches the ACE it! Method and core leadership skills. Coaching Skills for Leaders builds on that foundation with advanced coaching competencies.

If you haven't completed Growth Essentials, we recommend starting there. It ensures you have the foundational method and mindset to get the most from this advanced program.

Already completed Growth Essentials? You're ready for this Masterclass.

Apply to Coaching Skills for Leaders

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Alumni Community Benefits

• Access to the global Autoris Alumni network

• Invitations to advanced practitioner sessions and events

• Priority access to new tools, research, and frameworks

• Ongoing professional development opportunities

• Continued access to Autoris Sprints