Leadership Skills: How Coaching & Mentoring Drives Leadership Development

A case for the Advanced Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring in Educational Settings

As a coach & mentor trainer, I work with Citizens School in Dubai, training their leaders to be more effective coaches and mentors. I developed the course – Advanced Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring in Educational Settings – which has been accredited by the IAPC&M.

Leadership Skills Development

Alongside developing leaders as coaches and mentors, the course also supports participants’ broader leadership development. This is achieved by giving participants hands-on experience coaching and mentoring each other in relation to leadership capabilities. 

How Does This Course Get Results?

To understand this, we need to explore the underpinning model and conceptualisation of leadership effectiveness we use.

Boyatzis’s model of experiential learning, which underpins the approach. 

One conceptualisation of leadership effectiveness is related to Daniel Goleman’s model of leadership Styles.

Individual Learning Agendas

Participants use a 360-feedback tool to self-assess their leadership styles and gather feedback from those they lead on their perceptions of their leadership styles. The self-evaluation and feedback identify the gap between the working definition of leadership effectiveness and participants’ current behaviours.

This leads to the formulation of individual learning agendas.

Coaching / Mentoring

Coaching/mentoring is the starting point for moving participants forward, developing new behaviours, thinking and establishing new neural pathways.  

We use a solution-focused model – applied to directive coaching (mentoring) and non-directive coaching. We explore barriers to moving forward and how to overcome them. We also examine available resources and how to draw on them.

This process enables the simultaneous development of each participant’s coaching and mentoring skills as well as their leadership effectiveness.

The Johari Window

We use the Johari Window as a powerful model to think about the impact of coaching as they experience it through the above process and to consider what leadership development means.

Johari

Some participant reflections/feedback

“The program has been an incredibly effective and transformative experience. It has not only allowed me to gain deeper insights into my own leadership style but also introduced me to diverse coaching approaches that have empowered me to better motivate and develop my team. The sessions have been a great reminder of best practices, reinforcing the importance of strategic coaching in fostering growth and engagement. This program has truly enhanced my ability to lead with confidence, adaptability, and purpose. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to refine their coaching skills and drive meaningful progress within their teams.” ~ Ursula Zeitouny  – Managing Director of Operations 

“What stood out the most was howpractical and applicable the course was. Every strategy and technique I learned could be put into practice immediately, whether in conversations with learners, colleagues, or in my own personal development. The course also reinforced the importance of a growth mindset; both for myself and those I mentor.

Overall, this experience has strengthened my passion for coaching as a tool for transformation, and I feel more equipped than ever to support, motivate, and make a real difference in education.” ~ Hanan Amaneddine – Data and Assessment Lead

“This experience has reinforced my commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that I approach professional interactions with greater clarity, confidence, and effectiveness. The knowledge and skills gained will continue to shape my leadership and mentoring practice, fostering a positive, growth-oriented culture within the school community.” ~Róisín Casey – EYFS Leader

“The programme challenged our MLT and SLT to reflect deeply on their leadership styles, question their approaches, and push themselves to operate at the highest level possible. This 12-month journey is more than just a course—it is a transformative experience that fosters personal and professional growth. On completion, you leave not just as a better leader, but as a better person.” ~ Shane Daly – Senior Teacher

This blog is contributed by Stephen Hopkins, Accredited Senior Coach (ASC), Accredited Senior Mentor (ASM), Training Provider – Advanced Diploma in Coaching & Mentoring in Educational Settings