Integrating psychotherapy into business coaching helps leaders develop their emotional intelligence and promote overall growth. This combined approach enables leaders to better understand their professional goals and personal challenges, which in turn enhances team dynamics and conflict resolution. By creating personalized growth plans, leaders can empower their teams to handle difficulties effectively. This leads to greater job satisfaction and employee retention, all while keeping a clear vision and purpose.
Dr. Melinda Fouts, Global Executive Coach, author, speaker, and founder of Success Starts With You, is a notable leader in this industry. With a Ph.D. and over 25 years of experience, she specializes in helping leaders think differently and evolve consciously. The mind is naturally curious, and when it becomes aware of its own thought processes, it tends to explore new ways of thinking.
Dr. Melinda takes a comprehensive approach, encouraging leaders to consider bold ideas. She works with individuals in transition, acting as a thought partner who brings fresh perspectives and strategies. Like a chief of staff, she supports discussions and decision-making by refining strategies to ensure long-term success. Dr. Fouts believes that the mind is often restricted by its own beliefs, and making the right choices can lead to new possibilities.
The Transition from Psychotherapy to Coaching
Dr. Melinda Fouts was working as a psychotherapist in private practice when she was approached by a global Chief Information Officer (CIO) for assistance. Through their collaboration, she discovered several blind spots and limiting beliefs that were holding the CIO back from achieving her full potential. At the end of their engagement, the CIO shared, “Despite working with many executive coaches, no one had helped me like you did.” She encouraged Dr. Melinda to consider a role in executive coaching.
This feedback came at a perfect time, as Dr. Melinda was feeling somewhat burnt out in her psychotherapy practice. She realized that she could use the skills and tools she had developed over 20 years in a new setting. Understanding that executive coaching would be different from psychotherapy, she decided to take an executive coaching course and opened her own practice.
Dr. Melinda Fouts firmly believes that “success starts with you.” Individuals need to reflect on themselves, just as the CIO did. She worked with the CIO to help her identify her blind spots, recognize her automatic reactions when triggered, and challenge her perspectives and beliefs. Dr. Melinda understands that ‘our worldview is shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and culture, which affects how we perceive and process information.’ Her role is to challenge these belief systems as they may not always represent reality.
Discovering Success Within
Success Starts With You was founded on the idea that everyone has the potential to be successful and that success begins from within. Even when individuals achieve success, there are still aspects to explore that may be holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Success Starts With You encourages a deep exploration of self-discovery, helping individuals identify their limiting beliefs and blind spots. It addresses reactionary behaviors that arise when someone is triggered, as well as challenges in managing emotions during stressful situations. The program emphasizes the importance of having a thought partner, as individuals often view situations and seek solutions through a lens shaped by their beliefs, culture, and experiences.
Key Coaching Techniques at Success Starts With You
Brainstorming Strategies: Learn powerful techniques to find answers and avoid getting stuck.
Emotional Intelligence: Enhance skills to improve interpersonal relationships.
Positive Leadership: Develop effective leadership qualities.
Areas of Focus: Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Emotional Intelligence
Challenges and Boosting Self-Awareness in Executives
“One of the biggest challenges executives face today is a lack of self-awareness and an inability to see the bigger picture,” Dr. Melinda says. “Often, they become too attached to their work.” For example, when she works with startups, she finds that the founders are deeply invested in their technology. A significant hurdle for these entrepreneurs is delivering a pitch to investors that captures their attention.
Dr. Melinda Fouts advises her clients that an emotional element is crucial in their pitch. Many entrepreneurs tend to focus too much on technical details, trying to convince investors by bombarding them with information. Instead, they should create a pitch that helps investors connect with and understand their vision. For instance, she worked with a client who developed a technology interface for patients and doctors. He shared a personal story that explained why this project was important to him, showing investors that if it mattered to him, it could also resonate with them.
In established businesses, another common challenge is the lack of diversity in leadership styles. Many experienced executives do not consistently develop new skills and may overly rely on their strengths, which can sometimes turn into weaknesses. Dr. Melinda emphasizes the importance of recognizing when strength has become a limitation and encourages executives to develop new skills. By expanding their skill set, executives can adapt to different situations and improve their effectiveness.
Coaching with Care
As an executive coach, Dr. Melinda’s tagline is “coaching with an iron fist in a velvet glove.” She often hears clients say, “You just pulled the glove off, didn’t you?” This approach means that she encourages clients to step outside their comfort zones while holding them accountable for learning and using new tools.
For example, one client had difficulty recognizing when they were triggered. Over time, they learned to identify these moments and put strategies in place to manage them. As their coach, Dr. Melinda Fouts closely observed their progress and noted how they began to handle situations differently. Instead of facing challenges defensively, they started approaching them with curiosity, which led to healthier outcomes for themselves and their team.
Dr. Melinda holds her clients accountable not through traditional key performance indicators (KPIs) but by gathering feedback from their team members and C-suite peers. In one instance, a COO who used to become defensive received positive feedback from the CEO, who noted significant improvements in their communication. Therefore, Dr. Melinda Fouts measures success through the observable changes reported by those around her clients.
Helping Clients Achieve Their Goals
“First, I want to clarify that my title as an executive coach does not limit my clientele. I don’t turn anyone away; if someone seeks my services, I’m here to help,” Dr. Melinda says. For instance, she once coached a young man who, after passing the bar exam, struggled to get job interviews. After just four sessions with her, he received two job offers. When he called to share his success, she reminded him that executives know what they know and who to contact for help—just like he did after reading one of her Forbes articles on interview tips.
Dr. Melinda Fouts works with motivated individuals but acknowledges that not everyone is coachable. In the very first session, she assesses the individual’s needs and openness to coaching. She supports clients in achieving their goals and serves as a consultant, helping them address the unique challenges of leadership, a task she finds personally rewarding.
Her Ph.D. in psychology and decades of experience working with individuals and couples give her a unique edge. This background allows her to provide insights into what may be holding people back, distinguishing her from other coaches. Her coaching journey began early, as her father taught her to observe body language and engage in conversations, shaping her approach in the coaching field.
The Role of Ego in Conflict Resolution
When Dr. Melinda Fouts works with clients, she often notices that they approach difficult situations or negotiations driven by their egos. Her psychology training has taught her that while it’s important to acknowledge the ego, it shouldn’t take control during negotiations. Leading with ego can limit one’s perspective and create a mindset focused solely on winning.
Instead, she encourages her clients to set their egos aside and enter discussions with an open mind, letting go of the need for a specific outcome. “Since we rarely have control over results, relieving that pressure can lead to more effective negotiations and conflict resolution. When you stop focusing on being right or winning, you can engage more constructively,” she says.
Dr. Melinda also uses Jungian archetypes in her coaching. For example, she might tell a client that they are embodying the Superman archetype, which symbolizes confidence and strength. However, she reminds them that even Superman has his kryptonite, representing the vulnerabilities that can bring him down. She helps clients recognize this energy while also being aware of their limitations. This way, when challenges arise, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed.
The Limitations of AI in Coaching
Dr. Melinda Fouts firmly believes in the importance of human interaction in coaching. While technology can be helpful, especially in cognitive behavioral therapy, she finds that effective coaching requires a personal connection. In her work, she uses platforms like Zoom or Teams to engage with clients, which allows her to observe their body language and expressions. She pays close attention to cues such as eye contact, nodding, or signs of confusion.
She also incorporates PowerPoint presentations for her keynotes and online training sessions. However, many clients share that while virtual interactions are helpful, meeting face-to-face has a much greater impact. “For this reason, I feel there is limited room for AI in the coaching field, as the personal connection is paramount,” she explains.
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
“The most in-demand leadership skill that leaders and entrepreneurs seek training for today is emotional intelligence,” Dr. Melinda says. Everyone can feel emotionally overwhelmed and struggle with their feelings. Enhancing emotional intelligence and self-confidence is vital, especially because of the common issue of impostor syndrome, where many individuals appear confident but internally face self-doubt.
For leaders dealing with feelings of inadequacy, executive coaching can help build self-confidence and lead to greater fulfillment. Dr. Melinda had a client who struggled with impostor syndrome. Despite receiving praise for his work, he often felt unworthy. After a board presentation, he self-criticized rather than accepting the compliment.
Dr. Melinda emphasized the importance of acknowledging his achievements, which are crucial for overcoming impostor syndrome—accepting that one is capable and deserving of success. Many people do not recognize their struggle until someone helps them see it. She believes, “If I can help one person find inner peace, we are one step closer to world peace.” She also reminds clients to respond with gratitude, as failing to do so can create a ripple effect of unacknowledged emotions that affect others.
Compassionate Leadership
One of the key leadership principles that Dr. Melinda Fouts follows is the importance of empathy, which she prefers to call compassion. She believes that empathy and compassion are not just words; they should be seen as active actions.
Empathy in action means truly listening to others and reflecting on what they say, even if you don’t necessarily agree with them. Compassion enhances empathy by helping one understand and connect with others on a deeper level. When these two qualities are combined, individuals are often respected as leaders, regardless of their official titles.
Dr. Melinda strongly believes that anyone can be a leader; it doesn’t require an official position. A true leader listens, reaches out, and asks questions like, “I’ve noticed this mistake keeps happening; how can I help?” This approach embodies empathy and compassion instead of merely pointing out faults.
“If we shift our communication toward empathy and compassion, we can significantly enhance productivity, performance, and employee retention,” she says.
Making a Difference
Recently, Dr. Melinda was honored to receive the Business Excellence Award in International Executive Coaching at the House of Lords. This recognition was a significant achievement for her.
Looking ahead, her goal is to continue her current work while reaching more people. Writing for Forbes and publishing her book, Cognitive Enlightenment, are part of this effort. Her legacy aims to promote self-awareness and consciousness, ultimately working toward inner peace and, ideally, world peace. She aspires to collaborate with leaders who share these values.
In the next five years, Dr. Melinda Fouts hopes to maintain her impact and influence in the coaching industry. By changing the energy and dynamics of leadership at the top, she believes we can improve the experiences of everyone within organizations. She envisions continuing to do what she loves while striving to improve and make a meaningful difference.
5 Key Takeaways from Dr. Melinda’s Inspiring Career
- Emotional intelligence is crucial for leadership success. Dr. Melinda emphasizes that understanding and managing emotions, both your own and those of others, is essential for effective leadership. This includes being self-aware, recognizing your blind spots, and learning to handle stressful situations with composure.
- Combining psychotherapy with coaching provides a unique advantage. Dr. Melinda’s background in psychotherapy allows her to help leaders understand the root causes of their behaviors and beliefs. This deeper understanding enables them to make lasting changes and achieve greater personal and professional growth.
- Self-awareness and challenging limiting beliefs are key to unlocking potential. Everyone has blind spots and limiting beliefs that can hold them back. Dr. Melinda helps individuals identify these and encourages them to challenge their perspectives, leading to new possibilities and greater success.
- Effective coaching requires a strong personal connection and empathy. Dr. Melinda Fouts believes that human interaction is essential for effective coaching. She focuses on building trust and rapport with her clients and providing personalized support and guidance. She prioritizes compassion over just empathy.
- Leadership is about more than just skills; it’s about making a positive impact. Dr. Melinda Fouts aims to help leaders create a more compassionate and empathetic work environment. By focusing on self-awareness and emotional intelligence, leaders can improve team dynamics, enhance employee satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to a more peaceful and productive world.
