While getting input from an outside source surely has some value, if an expert coach is assisting a manager, you want truly professional coaching from someone who has an advanced degree in social science, extensive leadership experience in numerous businesses and a methodology that has proven effective across time, positions and industries. Moreover, a great coach has developed a flexible process that helps executives make significant changes that stick throughout their career.

The premodern leader builds her credibility in part on the foundation of courage—and typically looks to an external enemy as the focus for engaging this courage (and more generally as a generator of energy and motivation among those she is leading). The modern leader builds her credibility in part on the foundation of empowerment—and typically looks to her own team …