A reflection on three Decades of Leading and Learning
By Mark Proctor, C4C Associate
Leadership is a journey of evolution, adaptation, and, perhaps most importantly, self-discovery. Looking back over three decades of leading hundreds of men and women in the British Army and beyond, I can now see a common thread that wove through my leadership style. Without fully appreciating it at the time, I was leading through coaching.
Like many young leaders, my early years were a blur. I bounced between copying well-known leaders and figuring out how to be myself. Some moments felt clear; others were full of doubt. Leadership, I realised, is just as much about learning as it is about leading.
As I matured and reflected on my successes and failures, a pattern emerged.
I began to understand that the real power of leadership wasn’t in having all the answers, it was in leveraging the collective intelligence of those around me. Regardless of age, position, or rank, everyone had something valuable to contribute. When I started listening more, asking better questions, and encouraging people to find their own solutions, everything changed.
Harnessing the power of the whole team led to faster decision-making, more creative solutions, and an undeniable increase in ownership and commitment. Not only did the quality of our decisions improve, but the sense of camaraderie and trust deepened. People flourished because they were given space to think, grow, and grasp their own potential.
Only years later, when I formally studied leadership and coaching, did I recognise the approach I had instinctively used Coaching Leadership. This comprehension resonated deeply, reminding me of the words of John Buchan, the Scottish novelist and statesman: “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”
Now, as a leadership coach and advisor, I have the privilege of helping others unlock their potential in the same way. Reflecting on my past, I can confidently say that my leadership successes were not about commanding but about facilitating, helping others believe in themselves and their capabilities.
Leadership is not about having followers. It is about developing more leaders. And a coaching style of leadership, I have found, is one of the most powerful ways to achieve that.