Case Study: 2.From Firefighting to Forward-Thinking: How Coaching Helped Ben Evolve as a Leader

Not Ben's true likeness

Ben, Country Manager for India at BioGrow—a French B Corp specialising in plant growing substrates—arrived at coaching with a challenge common among high-performing leaders: “How do I step back so my managers can step up?”

With a background in the military and a relentless work ethic, Ben was used to being the go-to person for everything. From authorising payments and resolving factory mishaps to catching errors before they reached clients, he was the cornerstone of the operation—but it came at a cost. High stress, health issues, and a work-life balance that barely existed.

Ben wasn’t just seeking efficiency. He was seeking sustainability—for his business, his team, and himself.

Before Coaching: Caught in the Chaos

When Ben began his coaching journey, his leadership style was intensive and highly hands-on. He was the safety net for every major task, constantly solving problems, correcting errors, and stepping in where others fell short. While this made him dependable, it also made him a bottleneck. His team lacked the space—and sometimes the motivation—to truly own their roles.

His stress response was immediate and intense. Problems often triggered anger or frustration, and his digital dependency made it nearly impossible to switch off. Even holidays were laced with email threads and WhatsApp alerts. He cared deeply about quality and standards, but the pressure was building.

After Coaching: From Controller to Coach

Through a series of coaching sessions with Iain, Ben began to make meaningful shifts. One of the most powerful was learning to lead through others instead of for them.

He started delegating more intentionally—passing key responsibilities like pricing to his CFO, and setting expectations with his managers so they could take more ownership. He began one-on-one check-ins not to micromanage, but to understand what motivated his team and how best to support them.

Ben also worked on breaking his addiction to his phone, carving out protected time to rest and refocus. Holidays became opportunities to test the systems and people he’d put in place, and each successful week without emergency intervention grew his confidence—and theirs.

Most significantly, Ben shifted from a “checking” mindset to a “guiding” one. He became more focused on mentoring, developing his top people for future leadership, and stepping into a more strategic role that allowed him to look at broader growth opportunities across India, Brazil, and beyond.

What Changed and Why It Mattered

This wasn’t just a behaviour tweak—it was a mindset shift. Ben realised that being in control wasn’t the same as being effective. By trusting his team and investing in their growth, he started to build something more scalable, resilient, and future-proof.

Stress decreased, his health improved, and for the first time in a long while, Ben was able to imagine a business that could thrive even in his absence. That’s real leadership growth.

Iain’s Role: The Catalyst for Change

What made the difference? Iain’s coaching was grounded, relational, and direct. He held space for Ben to reflect on patterns that were no longer serving him, while offering strategies tailored to his reality on the ground in India.

From practising tough conversations and reframing expectations to role-playing strategic presentations, Iain helped Ben see both the immediate impact of change and the longer-term vision he could build towards. His coaching brought clarity, challenge, and a genuine sense of partnership.

What Other Leaders Can Learn

Ben’s story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about doing it all—it’s about enabling others to do their best work. If you’re stuck in the grind, overwhelmed by the weight of your role, or unsure how to get your team to the next level, coaching can create the shift you need.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions—and having someone like Iain to help you navigate them.

If you're ready to step into a more empowered, effective version of leadership, Iain can help. Just as Ben moved from firefighting to future-building, so can you.