1:1 Coaching
Space to think.
Confidence to act.
“Real listening is the foundation of coaching — it’s how people come to hear themselves think.”
The impact of coaching
Coaching works – and the evidence is clear.
A major meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology (2023) found that workplace coaching can deliver strong positive effects across performance, goal achievement, and well-being. That’s why organisations consistently report a 7 x return on investment according to a 2025 study by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
And the reason is simple: when leaders think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and act with greater self-awareness, the benefits cascade through their teams, culture, and results.
What coaching is at Open Space
At Open Space, coaching is a partnership built on trust, curiosity, and purposeful conversation. Our approach is engaging and practical — helping leaders uncover their own answers while drawing on our insight and experience where it adds real value.
Every coaching relationship begins with an introductory conversation to define goals and ensure the right fit. The most productive partnerships evolve over several months, allowing time for reflection, experimentation, and measurable growth.
When helpful, your primary coach may collaborate with our network of specialists — experts in communication, writing, media, and performance — to support specific development goals and ensure the coaching experience is tailored to your context.
Our programmes are led by Dan Leatherdale, founder of Open Space and a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Dan has over twenty years’ experience as a business psychologist and leadership coach, working with senior figures in global corporations, financial and professional services, and public life — including CEOs, ministers, and royalty.
All our work is aligned to the ICF’s Core Competencies, placing us within a global network of coaches committed to excellence, ethics, and continuous learning. This ensures every engagement reflects the highest professional standards.
We are a small, highly client-centred business with exceptional clients who trust us to challenge, support, and stretch their thinking. The result is lasting growth — leaders who think more clearly, communicate with confidence, and lead with authenticity and impact.
Leadership & Communication Coaching
Leadership lives or dies in communication.
We help leaders find their voice, clarify their message, and build the kind of connection that inspires belief and action.
Effective communication is what turns ideas into influence. It’s how leaders clarify purpose, align people, and inspire progress. But it goes beyond delivery — it’s about developing a clear personal narrative, learning to land key ideas with impact, and forging meaningful relationships built on trust and presence.
Our coaching strengthens these abilities by focusing on three connected dimensions of leadership: Understanding Ourselves, Expressing Ourselves, Connecting with Others. Through this model, we help leaders prepare, deliver, and reflect with clarity and confidence.
We bring deep, real-world experience to this work. Having supported leaders and teams in high-stakes situations — from major announcements and transformations to moments of crisis and opportunity — we understand the pressures of communicating when it matters most. That experience means our guidance is grounded, relevant, and tested under pressure.
Over time, we’ve also built a comprehensive bank of materials, models, and tools to provide practical support — from structures for shaping messages, to techniques for managing presence, framing stories, and handling challenge.
The result is communication that feels natural, credible, and human — the kind that builds influence and creates real connection.
Elements in a
Coaching Programme
6 or 12-month programmes
Complimentary chemistry conversation to align on goals and expectations
90-minute monthly sessions, online or in person
Tripartite meetings (e.g. with line manager) to share objectives and feedback
360 feedback: OSA 360 Survey plus stakeholder interviews
Psychometric report: MBTi, DiSC, Five Behaviors, Leadership Performance Inventory (LPI)
Ongoing flow of materials such as session notes, practical models and tools, recommended reading, links to videos and podcasts
Access to wider Open Space Associates team for specialist input (e.g. voice or media coach)
Sample Coaching Objectives
Transitioning to a new role
Increasing gravitas and presence
Maintaining psychological wellbeing
Influencing and motivating others
Articulating a vision and strategy
Delivering difficult messages
Building a network of great relationships
Defeating the imposter syndrome
Managing senior stakeholders
Developing thought leadership
Talking to the media