Leading from the Inside Out: The Coachi Framework for Transformational Coaching

As executive coaches, we often find ourselves navigating complex territory—between business outcomes, human dynamics, and the emotional terrain of leadership. One of the most clarifying and practical models I use in my coaching and supervision practice is the Three Buckets Framework, developed through years of experience with leaders and coaches alike.

At Coachi, I support leaders in holding three key perspectives—what I call the Three Buckets:

1. The Business Problem
   What is the measurable, tangible issue on the table? What are we solving for? Whether it's revenue targets, strategic alignment, or stakeholder conflict, this is the leadership context. In coaching, we must ensure the leader keeps one foot in this bucket so their development remains anchored in real-world results.

2. The Leader’s Contribution
   This bucket invites a bold and honest look at how the leader may be contributing to the issue. It’s where insight and accountability live. In supervision, this becomes a powerful lens for coaches to explore our own “contribution” to what’s happening in the coaching dynamic.

3. The Leader’s Presence
   Perhaps the most transformative of the three, this bucket explores the leader’s way of being—their emotional stance, ability to self-regulate, and capacity to stay grounded in discomfort. As coaches, this is our home base. How we manage our own presence determines the space we create for the leader to grow.

When all three buckets are balanced, the coaching conversation becomes a crucible for change. Too much in one and we lose effectiveness: we may get stuck in analysis, over-index on mindset, or chase outcomes without deep roots.

In my role as a coach and supervisor, I return to this model often. It offers not just a structure for coaching, but a mirror for reflection—for both coach and client.

Which bucket are you most comfortable in? Which one challenges you most? I’d love to hear how this model shows up in your practice.
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