Abstract
Middle management leaders play a pivotal role in organisations in bridging strategic directives from leadership and the operational execution of those objectives. In the South African banking sector with its unique challenges, such as technological advancements and competitive environments, their roles are even more crucial. As such there is an increasing need for middle management to be developed and supported in their leadership journeys and leadership coaching is emerging as a valuable tool as part of leadership development.
This qualitative case study explored the experiences of middle management leaders in a South African bank who have undergone leadership coaching as part of their leadership development. It aimed to understand how the leadership coaching influenced their leadership effectiveness overall. Semi-structured interviews with 12 middle management leaders across various business units were conducted. A purposive sampling method was applied.
Thematic analysis revealed key themes such as the reasons for the coaching, aspects within the coaching engagement, the impact as well as the outcomes of the coaching. Findings suggested that leadership coaching can be applied as a valuable development tool when used as part of leadership development. It can also play a critical role in supporting middle management leaders as they navigate through the complex banking environment. The study contributes to the limited body of research of coaching in the banking sector in a developing country.