Indian Firms Push Coaching Beyond Corner Office for Talent
Overview
Indian corporations are extending executive coaching to high-potential managers, moving beyond CXOs. This strategic shift aims to retain talent amid moderating salary growth, evolving leadership demands, and rapid technological disruption, with firms like Hinduja Group, RPG Group, and Aditya Birla Group investing heavily in this development tool.
Indian Companies Expand Executive Coaching Beyond Top Brass
Indian conglomerates are expanding executive coaching initiatives, typically reserved for top brass, to groom high-potential managers. This move signifies a strategic pivot to retain talent amidst persistent leadership challenges, moderating salary increments, and the pervasive influence of AI and rapid digital transformation.
Evolving Leadership Imperatives
Boards and shareholders now demand leaders adept at navigating uncertainty, managing diverse workforces, and adapting to swift digital transformations. Amit Chincholikar, group president–HR at Hinduja Group, stated the focus has shifted towards leaders exhibiting self-awareness, authenticity, and empathy, not just outcome-driven performance.
Coaching as a Retention Tool
Historically a CXO privilege, often corrective, executive coaching is now integrated into broader leadership development and succession planning. Unlike traditional training, coaches facilitate self-discovery through questioning and challenging assumptions, fostering deeper insights and decision-making capabilities.
Response to Economic Headwinds
Companies face retention challenges as salary growth slows, prompting a shift from direct compensation to other benefits. Stock-linked compensation and contract-based controls are replacing immediate cash payouts, positioning coaching as an investment in an employee's career trajectory. A Mint analysis revealed employee costs at Nifty 500 firms reached 15% of net sales in the September quarter of 2025, a slight decrease from 15.4% reported in the same period last year. This moderation occurred despite an increase from the 14.4% seen in the March 2025 quarter, signaling continued pressure on corporate margins.
Institutionalizing Development
Major groups like RPG Group and Aditya Birla Group have established robust coaching programs, some running for nearly a decade. Aditya Birla Group reported significant improvements in goal clarity, problem-solving, and job satisfaction among employees who received coaching, with over 4,300 individuals participating. The trend indicates a strategic view of coaching as an essential investment for building resilient leadership in complex business environments.
