• About

What is Executive Leadership Coaching?
A goal-driven partnership in which a leader works closely with a trained coach to help improve their leadership skills, enhance performance, and their ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve their strategic mission and goals. It is increasingly recognized as beneficial for those new to their roles, going through transitions, or seeking continuous improvement.

The coaching process combines various elements, including assessments, feedback, goal-setting, skill-building exercises, and ongoing support and accountability. Through collaboration with the coach, leaders pinpoint areas that need enhancement, establish specific goals, and develop an actionable coaching plan tailored to their unique needs and objectives. The coach offers continuous support, guidance, and feedback throughout the coaching journey. Executive leadership coaching serves as a potent tool for executives to unlock their full leadership potential and drive organizational success.

What does a leadership coach actually do?

  • Helps professionals and businesses clarify their goals and focus on their needs, values and vision
  • Guides the clients to better understand their strengths, gaps, and potential blind spots
  • Works closely with the clients to consider various options and generate strategies for action
  • Holds the clients accountable to what they commit to do, thereby generating momentum
  • Supports clients in maintaining a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives
Who Benefits from Leadership Coaching? Leaders who are:
  • New to a company or organization
  • Taking on new assignment or a broader more complex role
  • Looking to build trust, inspire others and connect more authentically with their teams
  • Already high-performing but want to take it to the next level
  • Looking to define their legacy or shape succession planning for an organization

Measurable Benefits of Leadership Coaching
Leadership coaching is increasingly recognized worldwide as an effective approach for developing leaders at all organizational levels, especially during periods of change such as assuming new roles, adapting to evolving work environments, hiring new leaders, or unlocking the potential of plateaued leaders. Studies have shown that leadership coaching yields measurable performance enhancements, with stakeholders for leaders who have undergone leadership coaching reporting some level of improvement to significant improvement.

John Burt

Owner | Managing Partner

Meet John Burt
With over 38 years of experience in technology, manufacturing, and management consulting, John is a trusted business leader who has worked extensively with executives and leaders worldwide—including many Fortune 500 companies. His people-centered leadership approach consistently drives measureable improvements in performance, culture and business outcomes.

John has served in key leadership roles equipping him with a strategic, real-world understanding of what it takes to lead high-performing teams and create measurable value.  He is both a Master Certified Intelligent Leadership Coach and an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through teh International Coaching Federation—credentials that reflect his commitment to excellence and continuous development in the coaching profession.  

John is passionate about helping leaders clarify their vision, take purposeful action, and achieve transformational results.  His mission is to empower others to unlock their full potential and create lasting impact across their organizations, teams, and lives.

My philosophy:

Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a genuine openness to change are foundational qualities of great leadership. These traits allow leaders to recognize their strengths, identify areas for growth, and challenge limiting beliefs. When leaders are willing to look inward, they accelerate their own development and become more effective in guiding others.

Authentic leadership is built on emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and empathy. These essential soft skills foster trust, deepen connections, and inspire commitment. Leaders who acknowledge their imperfections are seen as real and relatable—qualities that enhance their ability to lead with impact.

In today’s ever-changing world, the ability to embrace and navigate change is not optional—it’s critical. Leading through uncertainty with resilience and optimism can be one of a leader’s most powerful tools.

My role as coach is to be your partner and catalyst as you strengthen these vital leadership capabilities. Together, we’ll unlock your full leadership potential—and I look forward to beginning that journey with you soon.

3Cs of Leadership

Leadership is about mobilizing people toward shared goals—regardless of one’s title or position. At its core, effective leadership is built on three essential pillars: Character, Competence, and Communication—the 3Cs.

Character is the foundation of leadership. It reflects integrity, selflessness, and personal responsibility—the values that shape a leader’s behavior and inspire trust. Integrity, in particular, is marked by honesty, authenticity, loyalty, and a steadfast commitment to doing what’s right. It’s the glue that holds teams together and aligns them around a shared purpose. Without integrity, leaders struggle to earn true buy-in, and as a result, the collective energy and creativity of the team remain untapped.

Competence is a leader’s ability to deliver results. Early in one’s career, this is typically demonstrated through technical or domain-specific skills—whether in engineering, medicine, finance, or another field. Through focused effort and practice, individuals build the confidence to learn and apply new skills. As leaders rise through the ranks, however, it is the development of soft skills—such as emotional intelligence, influence, and strategic thinking—that becomes essential. These are the skills that distinguish great leaders and keep them effective in an ever-evolving world.

Communication may be the most powerful tool a leader possesses. Reaching shared goals requires clarity of message and alignment of understanding. Great leaders communicate with precision, simplicity, and purpose. But communication is not just about speaking—it’s about listening deeply, observing carefully, and sensing how messages are received. The best leaders continually hone their ability to connect, adapt, and clarify, ensuring that their message lands with impact and intention.

Mastering the 3Cs is not about checking boxes—it’s about embodying the mindset and behaviors that elevate leadership from functional to transformational.

Client Results

I have taken many leadership courses, but something clicked for me in this one. The word “must”. Who must I be? What leader must I be? It really challenged me to examine my core purpose in a clear and actionable way. John was always highly prepared and supremely organized and had a seamless grasp and confidence with the material which made you at home with processing their expertise. This program was life-changing. Thank You. — Robin H., Director of Development

Our School of Pharmacy is in the initial phases of updating our strategic plan.  This was a perfect time for us to bring in an expert in leadership development, and John Burt was the perfect prescription for us.  Our leadership team benefited from the workshop and exercises that John designed and brought to us, and he incorporated personal assessments for understanding our personal strengths and how they will contribute to a more dynamic and effective team.  John brought a wealth of experience from industry and coupled that with his in-depth understanding and experience with higher education, which was the perfect mix for us and what we needed to kick start our process.  I highly recommend John!  — Dr. Russ Melchert, Dean UMKC School of Pharmacy

Client Testimonial Executive Coaching
I have had the pleasure of being coached by John Burt.  John has helped me develop successful strategies to improve my commercial real estate brokerage and consulting team become productive, efficient and more profitable.  John is a good listener, asks important questions and gives compelling ideas and advice to improve my team. I highly recommend John as a Coach for individuals and teams.
— Bill Ukropina, Commercial Real Estate Broker

© John Burt Leadership