Solomojo Coaching

Elementor #9402

Developing the Inner Life of Leaders

The foundation

My coaching approach is grounded in both professional practice and academic research. As part of my Master of Arts in Executive & Organizational Coaching at Royal Roads University, I explored a question that sits at the heart of my work:

What personal groundwork helps leaders develop greater self-awareness and, ultimately, become more effective human beings and leaders?

What emerged was a deeper understanding of something I had already been noticing in my work with clients: meaningful change rarely begins with tactics alone. It begins with understanding ourselves.

What the research revealed

The literature and leader interviews consistently pointed to one central theme:

Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership.

Leaders who better understand their thoughts, emotions, values, patterns, strengths, and limitations are more able to:

  • Navigate complexity with clarity

  • Regulate emotions under pressure

  • Build stronger relationships

  • Make better decisions

  • Lead with authenticity and integrity

  • Create healthier team cultures

These findings echoed both the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework and the LEADS Leadership Framework, which place self-awareness at the centre of effective leadership development

Influence on my coaching

When clients bring workplace challenges into a session, I am often listening beyond the immediate problem.
In the background, I am gently exploring:
  • What part of their identity is influencing this situation?
  • What health or well-being factors are at play?
  • How are they relating to themselves and others?
  • What growth edge is trying to emerge?
Rather than simply fixing problems, I help clients understand the deeper patterns shaping their experience so that change becomes more sustainable.

The inner development model

The outcome of my research was a practical framework organized around four interconnected domains.
At the centre of these four domains sits self-awareness, the capacity that helps us integrate learning and take meaningful action.

Identity – understanding who you are.

  • Personality

  • Personal story

  • Values

  • Environment and influences

  • Strengths and biases

Health – supporting the whole person.

  • Mental well-being

  • Emotional well-being

  • Physical well-being

  • Social well-being

  • Spiritual well-being

Connection – improving relationships with self and others.

  • Self-reflection

  • Self-compassion

  • Communication

  • Empathy

  • Trust and belonging

Growth – expanding how we think and lead.

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Growth mindset

  • Vertical development

  • Adaptability

  • Conscious leadership

Oak tree metaphor

 
An oak tree is an image I often use to represent development.
  • Roots represent identity and values.
  • Soil represents health and well-being.
  • Trunk represents connection to self and others.
  • Branches represent growth and leadership impact.
  • The whole tree reflects self-awareness in action.
Strong leadership is not built from the branches down. It grows from the roots up.
 

For potential clients

If you work with me, you are not just exploring goals, challenges, or performance.
You are developing the internal capacity that shapes how you lead, relate, decide, communicate, and grow.
That is the intersection between my research and my coaching practice: inner development that creates meaningful outer impact.

Based on Jo Bennett’s MA research project, “Cultivating a Leader’s Inner Life Through Coaching: Groundwork for Increased Self-Awareness” (Royal Roads University, 2025). 

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