Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

July 29, 2025

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Your Secret Career Superpower (Even If You're Not Managing Anyone)

Howdy ,

Do you remember that colleague who always seems to know exactly what to say when you're stuck? The one who asks questions that make you think differently about problems? They're not just naturally gifted – they're using coaching skills, often without even realizing it.

Recently, after reading into Deloitte's 2025 Global Human Capital Trends report, I've become convinced that coaching skills are an ultimate career differentiator. Not just for managers, but for everyone who wants to thrive in today's workplace.

The workplace is changing faster than we can keep up

Let's be honest – work doesn't look anything like it did five years ago. Technology is handling more routine tasks, which means the uniquely human skills are becoming more valuable than ever. We're collaborating across time zones, working with AI tools, and constantly adapting to new ways of doing things.

In this environment, the people who stand out aren't necessarily the ones with the most technical knowledge. They're the ones who can connect with others, ask great questions, and help people think through complex problems.

That's exactly what coaching skills do.

What coaching skills actually look like in action

Before you think "but I'm not a coach," let me paint a picture of what coaching skills look like in everyday work situations:

When a colleague is overwhelmed with a project, instead of jumping in with solutions, you ask: "What part of this feels most challenging right now?" and listen to really understand their perspective.

When someone shares an idea in a meeting, you build on it by asking: "What would success look like if we implemented this?" rather than immediately pointing out potential problems.

When a teammate is frustrated with a process, you help them think it through: "What do you think might be causing this bottleneck?" instead of just commiserating about how broken everything is.

See what's happening here? You're not fixing their problems for them. You're helping them think more clearly, explore possibilities, and find their own solutions. That's coaching.

Why this matters for your career (regardless of your title)

Here's what I've learned: people remember how you made them think and feel, not just what you delivered.

When you use coaching skills, you become someone others seek out – not because you have all the answers, but because you help them find better answers themselves.

This creates several powerful career advantages:

You become a trusted collaborator. When people know you'll listen without judgment and ask questions that help them think clearly, they want to work with you on important projects. You become known as someone who brings out the best in teams.

You build influence without authority. Coaching skills help you guide conversations and thinking without needing to be the boss. You can shape outcomes and drive results through questions and active listening, which makes you valuable regardless of your position in the hierarchy.

You develop emotional intelligence. Regular practice of coaching skills – listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, managing your own impulses to fix everything – naturally develops your emotional intelligence. This is increasingly recognized as a key predictor of career success.

You become adaptable. Coaching skills help you navigate uncertainty and change more effectively. When you're comfortable not having all the answers and instead focus on asking good questions, you become better at handling ambiguous situations.

The data backs this up

The Deloitte report highlights something fascinating: organizations are moving away from command-and-control approaches toward more collaborative, human-centric leadership. They need people at every level who can foster psychological safety, encourage innovation, and help teams adapt to constant change.

This isn't just happening at the management level. Companies are recognizing that their most valuable employees are those who can coach and develop others, regardless of their formal role.

I had a colleague like that earlier in my career. She was in the marketing team and was not the team leader. Most of us like to bring clients' issues to her. We could trust her to ask questions that would solve the problem. Yes, she was also great at delivering results. She eventually became the head of the department.

The simple framework that changes everything

Here's a coaching framework you can start using immediately in any conversation:

Listen first, suggest second. Before offering your perspective, really listen to understand theirs. Ask clarifying questions: "Help me understand..." or "What's the most important part of this for you?"

Ask before telling. Instead of jumping to solutions, ask questions that help them think: "What options do you see?" or "What would need to be true for this to work?"

Reflect back what you hear. Show you're listening by reflecting: "It sounds like the main concern is..." or "What I'm hearing is..."

End with ownership. Help them commit to next steps: "What's the one thing you want to focus on first?" or "How will you know you're making progress?"

This isn't complicated, but it's powerful. Try it in your next collaboration and watch what happens.

Your coaching opportunity starts now

The beautiful thing about developing coaching skills is that you don't need permission, a new title, or formal training to begin. Every conversation is an opportunity to practice listening more deeply, asking better questions, and helping others think more clearly.

Start small. Pick one person you work with regularly and consciously practice coaching skills in your interactions with them. Notice how the dynamic changes when you focus on helping them think rather than giving them answers.

The workplace is evolving, and the people who will thrive are those who can bring out the best in others. You already have more coaching ability than you realize – now it's time to develop it intentionally.

What conversation will you approach differently?

Keep winning at work and in life.

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor

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Want to get in on some of the lessons I have picked up in my career? Get my eBook "21 Lessons I Learned in My Career - A Primer to Help You Become Better at Work". Get it here

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