This session provided a fresh lens on leadership development—moving from instruction to empowerment, from expert-led to peer-driven.
“How can we swing the pendulum closer to coaching… to elicit wisdom instead of just transferring information?”
— Ana Bedard
That one question reframed the challenge HR leaders face: how to build leadership agility in an era where formal programs often fall short. The answer? Coaching—not just from professional coaches, but through peers practicing real-time feedback, powerful questions, and shared accountability.
The session introduced a scalable model inspired by Lead Belay—where leaders grow through structured, facilitated peer coaching circles. It’s lightweight, trust-building, and rooted in real-world challenges, not theory.
Key Takeaways:
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Coaching fosters agility, empathy, and self-awareness—more than teaching ever could.
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Peer coaching models are cost-effective and scalable across all leadership levels.
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Open-ended, clarifying questions expose blind spots and spark deeper insight.
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“Pay-it-forward” coaching builds internal capacity without new headcount.
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When leaders coach each other, they also transform their own leadership habits.
Practical Actions You Can Take Now:
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Start a small peer coaching pilot using real leadership challenges.
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Train managers in clarifying questions and active listening techniques.
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Design for “exponential learning”—today’s participants become tomorrow’s guides.
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Supplement formal leadership programs with peer coaching cohorts.
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Encourage leaders to visibly practice coaching skills in team interactions.
“The Lead Belay model is a multiplier. You’re building relationships, coaching skills, and agility all at once.”
— Jane Shlaes
This isn’t just a new method—it’s a mindset shift. For HR leaders ready to empower people instead of just informing them, peer coaching offers a clear path forward.
It’s a practical, human-centered approach that scales leadership development without scaling cost. And more importantly, it creates the kind of connected, reflective leaders we need now more than ever.
Have a takeaway, challenge, or success story to add? Share it with the community on ELE Idea Exchange.
