EXECUTIVE COACHING
LEAD WITH GREATER CLARITY WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH
Senior leadership can be demanding and surprisingly isolating. You may be stepping into a larger role, navigating a difficult transition, working through a challenge that familiar approaches have not resolved, or recognizing that the way you have always led is no longer enough.
Executive coaching creates a confidential space to examine what is happening beneath the surface, recognize the patterns shaping your leadership, and develop new ways of responding. Leslie combines deep developmental coaching with practical insight, helping senior leaders turn greater self-awareness into meaningful change that holds under pressure.
WHO I WORK WITH
Leslie coaches senior executives and rising leaders across Canada and internationally. Her clients work in public, private, and non-profit organizations, including health care, financial services, government, technology, education, energy, transportation, professional services, and public safety.
The organizational context varies, but the leaders share something important: they are ready to examine how they lead and make meaningful progress on a challenge that matters.
executive COACHING is USEFUL WHEN YOU ARE:
Stepping into a larger or more visible leadership role
Building executive presence, influence, trust, and strategic impact
Communicating with greater clarity in high-stakes moments
Strengthening confidence without losing authenticity
Recognizing patterns such as the inner critic, imposter response, or over-strengths that hold you back
Navigating organizational complexity, relationships, and competing expectations
Expanding your leadership altitude and strategic enterprise perspective
Reclaiming perspective, purpose, and a more sustainable way of leading
Each coaching engagement is tailored, grounded in real business demands, and focused on lasting, embodied leadership growth.
WHAT WE WORK ON
A leadership challenge or developmental objective that deeply matters to you
The patterns, beliefs, and familiar responses that may be limiting your progress
New capabilities and practices that expand how you lead
Meaningful change that can be applied in the real situations you face
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR COACHING PROGRAM
Your coaching program is designed around your leadership context, developmental objectives, and the change you want to create. It typically includes:
A clearly defined coaching topic connected to a meaningful leadership challenge or goal
One-to-one coaching sessions every two to three weeks, usually 60 minutes
Focused coaching practices between sessions
Reflection tools, experiments, and feedback loops that support lasting change
Optional alignment conversations with your leader at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the program
Full adherence to ICF ethical standards and confidentiality
Coaching works best when you’re willing to look inward, experiment with new ways of thinking and leading, and show up with curiosity and commitment.
“I have benefited over many years from Leslie’s excellent coaching, training and mentorship. Her knowledge, experience, and calm professional delivery have influenced me to continue to grow and learn in this space.” — S.K.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
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A: Here are some specific questions to guide your reflection on your Coaching topic:
What is it that you want to make progress on, specifically? (begin your statement with: "I want to be more able to…")
Why is this important to you, and why now?
What have you tried so far? How did it work for you?
What does your 'best future state' look like? (mindset, behaviours, beliefs, abilities)
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A: If you find yourself asking the question, "Am I coachable?" you're already demonstrating a key trait of coachability – a genuine openness to self-reflection and a desire for personal and professional growth. Coachability is not about having all the answers; rather, it’s about a willingness to explore new perspectives, receive constructive feedback, and commit to the process of continuous improvement. It involves an ability to listen with an open mind, embrace change, and actively engage in coaching dialogue.
A coachable Executive is someone who recognizes the value of collaboration, is receptive to challenging assumptions, and demonstrates a proactive attitude towards implementing positive change. If you want to enhance your Leadership skills, navigate challenges, build resilience, and are open to self-discovery, you are undoubtedly coachable and will likely derive significant benefits from an executive coaching program.
Poor performers and unwilling participants are not usually appropriate for Executive Coaching (remedial Coaching is not typically effective). And individuals whose topics are too broad, undefined, not linked to business objectives, or whose topics would be better served with therapy, are not appropriate for coaching programs.
Here are nine statements that can help you determine your ‘coachability’:
1. There is something I want to work on or achieve which I will focus on in my Coaching Program.
2. I can be relied on to be on time for calls and appointments with my coach.
3. I will keep appointments with myself to work on my Coaching homework between sessions.
4. I am willing to stop or change behaviors that are interfering with my progress.
5. I will give my Coach the benefit of the doubt and I am willing to "try on" new concepts, approaches, or behaviours, to help me achieve my goals.
6. Coaching is the appropriate approach to help me accomplish my goals (as opposed to a Therapist or training).
7. I will work collaboratively with my Coach to identify goals and action steps to move forward, and I will take regular actions to help achieve my coaching goals even if I don't see immediate results.
8. I will be open with my Coach about what I like or don't like about how the Coaching is going.
9. I will allow the Coach to challenge me, and keep me focused on my goals, no matter what.
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A: Each Coaching Program is unique, and integrates a variety of activities and practices aimed at fostering professional growth and self-awareness. Throughout our Coaching journey, you can expect a dynamic blend of one-on-one Coaching sessions, Leadership assessments, and constructive feedback tailored to your unique challenges and aspirations. You’ll engage in thought-provoking exercises and reflective practices that encourage introspection, helping you identify and leverage strengths while addressing areas for development. Personalized self-observation exercises, reading assignments, podcast episodes, bold experimentation with new behaviours, will serve as practical applications of the coaching concepts we’ll discuss, allowing you to implement new insights directly into your leadership. We may also explore decision-making models, goal-setting frameworks, change Leadership tools and action plans to ensure progress. This holistic Coaching experience is designed to empower you with the tools, awareness, and mindset necessary for dynamic Executive Leadership.
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A: Confidentiality is paramount to ensuring a successful Coaching relationship. Rest assured that I hold competitively sensitive information, proprietary information, information concerning specific employees and colleagues, and any other information deemed confidential, to the highest confidentiality standards. No part of our 1:1 coaching conversations will be shared with anyone else, either in writing or verbally.
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A: Speak honestly to your Coach about what’s working and what’s not. Good Coaches want to make sure the program elements are resonating with their clients, and can make adjustments as you go. In fact, these adjustments typically happen throughout the program, as new practices are building greater awareness and skills. Sometimes, new awareness-building comes with some discomfort, so your Coach can help you determine if it’s part of the process, or the program needs some adjusting.