Tell To Go Fast; Coach To Go Far (Forbes)
Published June, 2017
Dr. Carylynn Kemp Larson explores the limitations of traditional “tell and sell” leadership and makes the case for a shift toward a coaching approach that empowers employees to think, act, and take ownership. While directing and problem-solving may deliver short-term results, she explains that these habits can ultimately create bottlenecks, limiting engagement, trust, and long-term performance.
She identifies the biggest barrier to adopting a coaching mindset not as time or skill, but as a lack of belief in employees’ ability to grow and succeed independently. By taking a “leap of faith” and trusting that team members can generate their own insights, leaders open the door to greater innovation, accountability, and development.
Dr. Larson outlines practical steps for making this shift, including cultivating curiosity, asking powerful questions, offering new perspectives, encouraging small commitments, and consistently following up. Through these conversations, leaders can unlock the potential of their teams while accelerating performance in a more sustainable and scalable way.
Ultimately, she positions coaching not as a slower alternative to directive leadership, but as a more effective path to achieving both speed and long-term success—enabling leaders to go further by empowering others to grow.
Key Takeaways
“Tell and sell” leadership creates long-term limitations.
While it may drive short-term results, it can reduce engagement, trust, and team ownership over time.Leaders often become bottlenecks.
Constantly solving problems for others limits team growth and slows overall performance.Coaching requires a leap of faith.
Leaders must विश्वास (trust) that employees are capable of thinking, learning, and succeeding independently.Belief in people unlocks their potential.
When leaders assume capability—even in struggling team members—new insights and solutions emerge.Curiosity is the starting point for coaching.
Asking open-ended questions encourages deeper thinking and exploration of new possibilities.Small commitments drive meaningful progress.
Coaching conversations don’t need big solutions—incremental steps build momentum over time.Follow-up strengthens accountability and trust.
Checking in on progress reinforces commitment and deepens relationships.Coaching accelerates performance—not slows it down.
Empowering employees leads to faster, more sustainable results and stronger long-term outcomes.
Authored by Carylynn Kemp Larson, a psychologist turned speaker and leadership coach who creates space for leaders, teams, and organizations to thrive.