Coaching Skills Training for Today's Leaders
Great managers know the work. Great leaders know how to develop people.
Most organizations promote employees because they excel in their roles. Then they ask those same employees to lead others.
The challenge? Technical expertise and people leadership are not the same skill.
Today's leaders are expected to build trust, develop talent, navigate change, foster engagement, and create meaningful workplace conversations. Yet many have never been taught how.
That's where coaching skills make a difference.
The training program ICF Leaders Using Coaching Skills helps organizations strengthen leadership capability by equipping managers and leaders with practical coaching-informed skills they can apply immediately. Through guided practice and real-world application, participants learn how to lead conversations that foster growth, accountability, and stronger employee performance.
Why Organizations Are Investing in Coaching Skills
Organizations today face constant change while working to grow employee engagement, improve retention, and develop future leaders.
At the same time, employees increasingly expect leaders who can:
- Build trust.
- Communicate clearly.
- Support growth and development.
- Lead difficult conversations with confidence.
- Create more human-centered workplace experiences.
Research consistently shows that coaching skills help leaders meet these expectations. When managers use coaching-informed approaches, organizations create cultures where employees take greater ownership, contribute more confidently, and remain engaged in their work.
The Business Impact of Coaching Skills
According to research conducted by ICF and the Human Capital Institute, business outcomes include:
Increased Engagement
69% of respondents agree that coaching has increased employee engagement within their organization.
Improved Commitment & Productivity
60% agree that coaching improves commitment and productivity from their employees.
Stronger Leadership Development
73% agree that coaching accelerates leadership development, where high-potential employees grow faster and are more likely to stay.
How Coach-Based Learning Changes Leadership
Most managers are expected to lead people, but few receive formal training in how to develop them.
Coaching skills help leaders move beyond directing work and toward developing talent. Instead of solving every problem themselves, leaders create conversations that encourage employees to think more independently, take greater ownership, and contribute more effectively.
- This coach-based learning approach equips leaders to:
- Ask better questions that encourage insight and problem-solving.
- Listen in ways that build trust, clarity, and stronger workplace relationships.
- Guide conversations instead of controlling them.
- Deliver feedback more effectively.
- Navigate difficult conversations with confidence.
- Encourage growth, learning, and development across teams.
The results for your organization? Stronger leadership. More engaged employees. Teams that are better equipped to adapt, learn, and perform.
Why ICF Leaders Using Coaching Skills?
Leadership development programs are everywhere.
What makes ICF Leaders Using Coaching Skills different is that it’s grounded in the same coaching principles and standards that have helped establish coaching as a trusted profession worldwide.
As the leading global authority in coaching, ICF brings decades of experience advancing coaching excellence across individuals, organizations, and communities.
This program translates those proven coaching principles into practical leadership skills for today's workplace.
What Sets This Program Apart
Facilitated by ICF-Credentialed Coaches
Every cohort is led by a facilitator who holds an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC), ensuring participants learn from professionals who have demonstrated coaching expertise and a commitment to high standards.
Built on Practice, Not Theory
Participants focus on real workplace conversations and leadership challenges they encounter every day.
Coaching-Informed Leadership Approaches
Leaders cultivate communication, listening, feedback, and employee-development skills designed specifically for organizational settings.
Active, Cohort-Based Learning
Facilitated learning experiences encourage practice, reflection, and skill application.
Immediate Workplace Relevance
Participants leave with practical approaches they can use immediately with employees and teams.
Ready-to-Implement Solution
Organizations can launch high-quality leadership development without building a program from scratch.
What's Included
Everything your organization needs to deliver a consistent, high-quality learning experience.
Pre-Work
Before training begins, participants complete a short module designed to build a shared foundation across the cohort.
Participant Materials
Participants receive resources designed to support learning before, during, and after training, including a participant guide and post-training knowledge check.
8-Hour Synchronous Training Experience
Choose the format that works best for your organization:
- One full-day session or two half-day sessions.
- Virtual or in-person delivery.
All training is cohort-based to maximize engagement and learning.
Certificate of Completion
Every participant receives a certificate of completion that can be shared on LinkedIn and included in professional development records.
Facilitation & Delivery
An impactful learning experience starts with great facilitation. Organizations select their own facilitator, allowing you to choose someone who aligns with your culture, industry, and leadership development goals. While ICF does not provide facilitators directly, we help ensure a consistent, high-quality experience by requiring all facilitators to meet specific qualifications.
To facilitate an ICF Leaders Using Coaching Skills cohort, individuals must have:
- An active ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC).
- Prior facilitation experience.
Finding a Facilitator
ICF's Credentialed Coach Finder is a great starting place to find qualified facilitators. Within this directory, you can filter by:
- Credential level.
- Language.
- Geographic location.
- Industry experience.
- Coaching specialty.
From there, you can build a shortlist, submit requests for proposals (RFP) and connect directly with coaches.
Need additional support? The ICF Coaching in Organizations team can help you identify qualified facilitators for your program. Contact us for personalized assistance.
Facilitator Guide
Your facilitator plays a critical role in the success of each cohort. Set them up for success with the Facilitator Guide, which is an optional resource designed to create a more consistent learning experience.
What’s included in the guide:
- High-level overview of the training program from the facilitator’s perspective.
- Full facilitator slide deck.
- Tips, tricks, checklists, and other best practices.
- Tailored guidance for session type (full day or two half-days), including timing breakdowns, engagement prompts, and more.
Pricing
- First Facilitator Guide: $595 USD
- Additional Facilitator Guides: $395 USD each
Pricing Packages for ICF Leaders Using Coaching Skills
Volume pricing is designed to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes.
Number of Learners | Price (USD) |
5-10 | $495 / person |
11-25 | $445 / person |
26-50 | $425 / person |
51+ | $395 / person |