The missing link for successful social investment and funding for social entrepreneurs
Since training as a coach, I started looking at who else was out there coaching for social impact and coaching social impact leaders and social entrepreneurs - the area I was keen to specialise in due to my background in the third sector, 8 years as a social entrepreneur, and 5 years training and mentoring other social entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and social impact.
I trained as a coach to deepen my skills in supporting others to unlock their full potential as leaders for social and environmental change - fully recognising I don’t always have the answer, and will rarely have the right answer for someone who is pursuing something which by it’s very purpose of existing has never been done before. Coaching (when done well) allows for this variety of thought, background (identity), perspective, and opportunity/creativity. It allows for the unknown to unfold.
(Mentoring on the other hand by it’s very nature has an in built paternalism and dare I say paternalism - this is an isn’t what has worked before. Which is never the best approach to create real innovation, transformation and systemic change).
Leadership for a radically different tomorrow, is not an easy path to follow and is often unchartered, so it feels coaching has a HUGE part to play in nurturing such leaders to pursue their unique visions for changing the status quo.
I was quite surprised therefore to find very few coaches specialising in working with and for social impact leaders and social or environmental change. Or in fact any leaders specifically committed to creating an equitable society, fair economy and sustainable planet - which of course is now an exponentially increasing number of people.
Alongside this, it got me thinking why is coaching so often ignored by social investors of training, mentoring and incubation programmes for social entrepreneurs, when the power of (real, professional) coaching is so well documented for emerging and established leaders?
I still need to research it more, but from my own experience of being part of or asked to promote hundreds of funded support programmes, incubators, fellowships and more for social entrepreneurs and enterprises (at all stages of their journey) I have rarely seen coaching as a significant part of any funded support package.
Why is that?
Why is coaching not seen as a hugely valuable part of evolving and investing in the changemakers creating a better future (for people, planet & society)?
Why is coaching not encouraged as a way to support the personal development, natural strengths and unique leadership potential of these incredible trailblazers?
Why is there so much emphasis on training and mentoring?
Here’s why I see a problem (and HUGE opportunity) with this…
First of all I’m not bashing the significant contribution training and mentoring plays in the sector, this isn’t an either or, both are needed and have important roles to play in increasing knowledge and sharing experience, as well ensuring familiar mistakes are not repeatedly made.
But coaching is different and could add significantly to the pace of change required globally by the sector, if its leaders regularly accessed this support.
Coaching helps unlock peoples’ full potential and can amplify their strengths for systemic change and transformation, allowing for diversity of thought, lived-experience and bacmground. It can also help them identify and overcome blocks; gain confidence in their own unique abilities; develop new habits; step outside their comfort zone and do things they previously thought weren’t for them.
In the “new normal” post-pandemic, with the ongoing climate emergency the pace of change is fast, leaders dealing with complex social and environmental challenges need to have resilience, a growth mindset and be able to draw on their inner resources and strengths to respond and develop solutions. Coaching can help them discover the strategies that work best for them, as well as their natural abilities, strengths and areas they may need to bring in support.
Developing truly transformational organisations delivering innovative change that also generate their own sustainable income streams are unlikely to occur just through training and mentoring, this isn’t a time for just instilling existing knowledge and experience but to allow the full expansion of all those operating in the sector to fulfi their wildest potential.
These experiences are unlikely to be well guided by mentors who have “gone before”. These leaders will have to find ways to navigate their own paths to the unique barriers they face and are the best placed to do so with support that’s based in giving them time to think, reflect and explore the right ways for them.
It is my argument therefore that investment should be made in providing coaching (alongside training and mentoring where needed) to existing and emerging social entrepreneurs and social impact leaders so they can find their own ways to flourish and fulfil their potential as changemakers, influencers and movement builders for a better tomorrow.