Double the revenue, half the stress - the incredible transformation of our leading client after coaching
The secret of successful leaders: how can a coaching process change the future of your business?
Introduction: the challenges of modern leadership
It's always true, but today it's especially true that in a dynamically changing business environment, leaders face unprecedented pressures. The expectation is for continuous growth, innovative thinking and motivating the team - all in an increasingly competitive environment. Not surprisingly, according to the International Coaching Federation (ICF) 2023 Global Survey, 76% of leaders experience significant stress in their position and 63% feel they are not adequately supported to overcome their challenges.
But what happens when a Manager recognise these barriers and seek professional help? This is exactly what our case study demonstrates, documenting the remarkable transformation of a manager of a medium-sized domestic company.
A guide from the brink of burnout to conscious success
Peter (name changed for anonymity) is a 43-year-old entrepreneur who founded his IT services company 15 years ago. The business grew gradually and by 2022 it had 28 employees. Although the financial indicators were stable, Peter struggled with increasing stress and dissatisfaction.
"I was constantly tense. I felt like a prisoner in my own business. I was working 12-14 hours a day, including weekends, and I couldn't get ahead. Revenues were stagnating, my team's motivation was declining and I felt that something was fundamentally wrong," Peter recalls.
He first heard about executive coaching at a conference and, although initially sceptical, he decided to embark on a six-month coaching process.
Key elements of the coaching process
A during coaching covered many areas, but focused on three main pillars:
- Redefining leadership identity: Moving from a "do it all" approach to strategic leadership
- Effective delegation and team building: Building trust and abandoning micro-management
- Redesigning work-life balance: Stress management techniques and setting boundaries
Methods used in the process included 360-degree leadership assessment, weekly coaching sessions, and the development of concrete action plans with measurable results.
Shocking results of the transformation
By the end of the sixth month, Peter's business was undergoing dramatic changes. According to a 2023 study published by the Harvard Business Review, coaching leads to an average performance increase of 21% for managers - but in Peter's case, the rate was much higher.
Quantifiable results:
IndicatorCoaching beforeCoaching after (1 year)ChangeAnnual revenue280 million HUF546 million HUF+951TP3Daily working hours12-14 hours8-9 hours-35%Sstress level (on a scale of 1-10)8.74.2-521TP3Number of employees2836+291TP3Employee turnover24%8%-67%Party satisfaction7.4/109.1/10+23%
The numbers speak for themselves: with revenue nearly doubling, Peter's stress levels have halved, in line with the findings of the McKinsey & Company 2024 Leadership Transformation Report, which found that coaching-supported leadership transformation increases business effectiveness by an average of 63%.
The methodology behind success
What made this dramatic change possible? Several key breakthroughs have occurred during the coaching process:
1. Delegation master plan
Peter's biggest realisation was that he did not allow his staff to develop. With the help of coaching, they developed a phased delegation plan:
- First, they identified the tasks that Peter was doing
- Assess the skills and development potential of team members
- A three-month handover process has been developed
- Checkpoints and support mechanisms built in
This methodology is in line with Gallup's State of the Global Workplace 2023 report, which showed that effective delegation increases employee engagement by 44%.
2. Rethinking time management
Peter used to attend all the meetings and make all the decisions. A radically new approach to coaching was introduced:
- The 25-50-25 rule of daily tasks: 25% strategic planning, 50% high value execution, 25% mentoring leadership
- Introducing "untouchable timelines" for deep work
- Implement a decision matrix for the team
According to the International Journal of Leadership Studies 2023 study, managers spend on average 47% of their working time on tasks they should delegate - in Peter's case, the figure was initially 70%.
3. Develop a stress management protocol
"Before, stress was my default state. I didn't even know there was another mode," says Peter.
During the coaching, a personalised stress management protocol was developed:
- Introducing 20-minute daily mindfulness exercises
- Weekly digital detox (24 hours tech-free)
- Quarterly strategic retreat (2 days, in nature)
- Physical activity replanning (3×45 minutes of high intensity exercise per week)
According to the American Psychological Association's Stress in America 2023 report, conscious stress management strategies improve managers' mental health by 62% and increase their decision-making ability by 49%.
Sustainability of change
One year after the coaching process has ended, Peter continues to operate in the new way. In fact, the business has continued to grow and is now planning regional expansion.
"The key was not just the introduction of new systems, but a fundamental change in my mindset. Today, I no longer work on maximising my own performance, but on optimising the system, of which I am only a part."
What can we learn from this success story?
The story of Peter is an example, but the principles it applies are universal. According to research by the Center for Creative Leadership, leaders who receive coaching support are 86% more likely to achieve outstanding business results in the long term.
Executive coaching can be effective if:
- A leader open to change and willing to face his blind spots
- The process supports the achievement of specific business objectives
- Measurable results are defined
- Organisational culture supports the new way of working
- Changes will be introduced at system level
Conclusion
Peter's story is not unique. Executive coaching is now proven to be one of the most effective tools for developing leadership skills and improving business performance. The IBM Global C-suite Study (2023) showed that companies that regularly use executive coaching achieve 321T$3T higher revenue growth and 271T$3T higher profitability compared to their competitors.
If you also feel that your business and leadership performance has more potential, you should consider starting a structured coaching process. As Peter's example shows, the investment can pay off many times over - not just financially, but also in terms of quality of life.
This article is based on a real case study, but personal data has been changed at the request of the client.
Sources:
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) Global Coaching Study, 2023
- Harvard Business Review: "The ROI of Leadership Development", 2023
- McKinsey & Company: "Leadership Transformation Report", 2024
- Gallup: "State of the Global Workplace", 2023
- International Journal of Leadership Studies, Vol 17, Issue 2, 2023
- American Psychological Association: "Stress in America Report", 2023
- Center for Creative Leadership: "Leadership Development Impact Study", 2023
- IBM Global C-suite Study, 2023
