Why the pressure keeps climbing

Photo by Alina Vilchenko

Why the pressure keeps climbing

Why the pressure keeps climbing

Recent surveys paint a clear picture:

• 67 % of executives feel “more stressed” in 2025 than in 2024 because of external risks and constant uncertainty. sentry.com
• Large-company leaders are hit hardest: 82 % say their stress levels are rising, compared with 68 % at SMEs. sentry.com
• Burn-out is no longer rare; a Mercer study finds 82 % of workers are now “at risk”, with female execs especially vulnerable. Marie Claire

Add 24-hour connectivity, tight labour markets and the expectation to model flawless emotional intelligence, and it’s unsurprising that many leaders describe the job as “lonely at the top”.

Coaching skills = leadership super-skills

1. Self-awareness and authenticity

Transformational leaders start with inner work: clarifying values, noticing triggers and aligning behaviour with intention. Coaching conversations surface blind spots and replace limiting stories with empowering ones. nebocompany.comPMC

2. Strategic thinking under pressure

A coach acts as a confidential sounding board so leaders can test ideas and scenario-plan without judgement, boosting strategic agility when stakes are high. BetterUp

3. Communication that lands

Using coaching skills—powerful questions, active listening, structured feedback—leaders shift from directive talk to dialogue, building trust and engagement. Rachel Stone’s programmes explicitly teach these techniques so leaders can cascade a “coaching culture” throughout their teams. Rachel Stone Leadership Coach

4. Resilience & well-being

Regular sessions create space to decompress, reframe setbacks and design recovery rituals, guarding against the burn-out trends above. Marie ClaireForbes

The ROI is real

The International Coaching Federation collated global data showing up to 70 % gains in individual performance and 50 % in team performance when executive coaching is embedded. American UniversityBetterUp

Independent academic work echoes these numbers: leadership coaching increases authentic and change-oriented behaviours, which in turn drive measurable business results. PMC

Rachel Stone Coaching: what makes it different?

Rachel combines 20 years of cross-sector management with rigorous coach training to deliver Transformational Leadership Coaching—programmes that blend:

• Diagnostic insight: psychometrics, 360-feedback and a “pressure audit” to pinpoint the leader’s true pain points. Rachel Stone Leadership Coach
• Skill-building sprints: bite-size modules on high-impact coaching skills—deep listening, precision questioning, future-back goal-setting.
• Real-time application: each session ends with a micro-experiment leaders run in the workplace, then review with Rachel, accelerating habit change.
• Systemic view: Rachel’s background in education and manufacturing helps leaders align personal growth with organisational culture shifts.

Clients report clearer priorities, calmer decision-making and teams who “think for themselves”—hallmarks of transformational leadership.

From pressure to potential: a practical roadmap

1. Acknowledge the load – name the stressors and quantify their impact.
2. Schedule a chemistry call – a 30-minute conversation with a prospective coach clarifies fit and goals.
3. Set outcome-based objectives – e.g., “reduce weekly meeting hours by 20 % while maintaining results”.
4. Practise micro-coaching daily – start meetings with a powerful question rather than an answer.
5. Track metrics – engagement scores, turnover, customer NPS; coaching should move real needles.
6. Cascade the culture – train direct reports in foundational coaching skills to multiply the effect.

Final thought

Leadership in 2025 isn’t getting easier—but it can become more fulfilling. The combination of mounting external pressures and the internal demand to inspire others makes executive coaching not a luxury but a strategic necessity. By partnering with a coach and mastering coaching skills yourself, you transform stress into clarity, isolation into insight, and heavy responsibility into shared, sustainable success. As Rachel Stone says: “All coaches are leaders, but not all leaders are yet coaches—let’s change that.”

In summary, Rachel Stone Coaching offers a distinctive leadership development experience by combining transformational leadership principles, practical experience, comprehensive resources, and a personalized approach to coaching. Her programs are designed to equip leaders with the skills and mindset needed to inspire and lead effectively in today’s evolving business landscape.

For more information, you can visit her website: Rachel Stone Coaching.

Fancy that!  Would you like to discuss leadership coaching and training? . 

If you would like to explore a way to become an Even Better Leader with me , you can book your free consultation via a zoom session here…