One:One Coaching: Make Time for it?…. Or Gain Time from it?

Spring is here! The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and it’s the perfect time to nurture your growth as a leader. Just as nature takes its time to flourish, true leadership development requires space to learn, adapt, and thrive.

“How can I possibly fit in One:One coaching?”

“I’ve got too much on my plate!”

“I can’t afford to take time away from my work.”

“There’s never a good time.”

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Many leaders resist coaching reasoning that their schedules are too packed, that there’s always something more urgent demanding attention.

But here’s the paradox – when you feel like you have no time for coaching, that’s usually when you need it the most.

Let’s take a step back and look at why investing in One:One coaching is a strategic move, not a luxury, and how you can actually create time for it.

The Illusion of No Time

Time is one of the few things we can’t manufacture more of, yet we all have the same 24 hours each day. The difference lies in how we use it. Leadership isn’t just about doing more – it’s about doing the right things more effectively. Coaching helps you work on your leadership rather than just in your role. If you don’t make time to think through obstacles and articulate nagging thoughts, you risk being trapped in a cycle of reacting rather than proactively leading.

Think about the clocks going forward – yes, we lose an hour, but we gain longer days, more sunlight, and a fresh energy that can be harnessed. Similarly, coaching may take an hour or two out of your schedule, but the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term time investment.

Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix: A Game-Changer

One of the best ways to understand the impact of coaching on time management is through Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix. This model divides tasks into four quadrants:

The most effective leaders prioritise Quadrant 2 – important but not urgent activities – because this is where they develop skills, prevent crises, and create sustainable success. Coaching falls into this quadrant, and that’s exactly why it often gets overlooked, because it can be perceived as not urgent. However, by investing in coaching, you reduce the amount of time spent in Quadrant 1 (urgent and important crises) over time.

Shifting Your Mindset Towards Coaching

If you believe coaching is a ‘nice-to-have’ rather than a ‘must-have,’ you’ll never find time for it. But what if coaching actually gave you more time? When you engage in One:One coaching, you:

• Gain clarity – You make better decisions faster, reducing time wasted on uncertainty.
• Improve delegation – You stop micromanaging and empower your team, freeing up time.
• Enhance focus – You spend less time in distractions and more on meaningful work.
• Reduce stress – By tackling challenges proactively, you avoid last-minute crises.

How to Make Time for Coaching

• Schedule it as a non-negotiable meeting – If you treat coaching as optional, it will always be pushed aside. Block out time for coaching the same way you would for an important client meeting.
• Chunk it up – I recommend one session a month allowing time to reflect, apply and embed. The key is consistency.
• Tie coaching to goals – Align coaching with your key leadership objectives. When you see coaching as a tool to achieve your biggest goals, it feels essential rather than optional.
• Use It to gain time – During coaching, identify areas where you can delegate, streamline, or eliminate tasks that don’t serve you.
• Reframe it as an investment – See coaching as dedicated time to gain strategic insight that will save you multiple hours in the future.

Spring Forward into Leadership Growth

Spring symbolises renewal, growth, and fresh opportunities. Just as we adjust our clocks to embrace longer days, we must adjust our mindset to embrace opportunities for growth. One:One coaching isn’t about taking time away from your work – it’s about making your time work for you.

The question isn’t Do I have time for coaching? The real question is, Can I afford not to make time for it?

So, as we move the clocks forward, let this be the season where you move your leadership forward too. Book that coaching session, invest in your growth, and watch how it transforms not just your time – but your entire approach to leadership.

Because the clock never stops. But you can choose how you use the time you have. Contact Liz to see if Growth Plans® is right for you and you are right for them: [email protected]