In an era defined by complexity, uncertainty, and rapid change, the challenges we face—both as individuals and organizations—demand a new approach that cultivates resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Secure Base Coaching is a transformative and practical approach for coaches and leaders to apply to individuals, teams, and organizations to unleash potential, enhance agency, and co-create the conditions where we can all “play to thrive.”
Secure Base Coaching empowers individuals and teams to embrace their aspirations and operate in a state of high performance, which releases productive energy where courage, curiosity, playfulness, and innovation flourish. This space is distinct from the “play to dominate” mindset present in many workplaces, where fear, stress, micromanagement, and competition limit potential. Playing to thrive involves letting go of fear-based leadership and embracing a collaborative, growth-oriented approach; shifting coaching and leadership from a transactional process to a transformative one; moving from “power over” to “power with” leadership.
Leading Swiss electricity producer and energy service provider ALPIQ is choosing to put Secure Base Coaching at the core of its company culture. Says Simon Reber, head of Organizational Development and Leadership at ALPIQ, “The Care-Dare-Share philosophy is at the heart of ALPIQ. We won’t succeed in enabling a better climate and an improved security of supply just by ourselves. Which is why our company’s purpose starts with the simple word, ‘Togethe.’ Being rooted in caring, daring, and sharing helps us move past traditional notions of heroic leadership toward a much more human-centered, trust-based approach—essential in today’s increasingly complex and uncertain business environment.”
The Roots of Secure Base Coaching
Secure Base Coaching is rooted in the work of Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby, whose research on attachment theory demonstrated the critical role of secure relationships in fostering exploration, confidence, and resilience. According to their findings, when individuals feel secure, they are more willing to take risks, explore new environments, and adapt to challenges. This insight translates seamlessly into coaching and leadership: When people feel supported and safe, they are better equipped to unleash their potential.
The framework also draws on the person-centered approach of Carl Rogers, which emphasizes the importance of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. Rogers believed that when individuals feel truly understood and accepted, they naturally move toward growth and self-actualization. Secure Base Coaching integrates these humanistic principles to create an environment where people feel both valued and challenged.
3 Core Aspects of Secure Base Coaching: Caring, Daring, and Sharing
The philosophy of Secure Base Coaching is built on three interdependent aspects—caring, daring, and sharing—which serve as the foundation for unleashing potential.
- Caring: Creating Connection
At the heart of Secure Base Coaching is the principle of caring, which involves creating a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel valued, respected, and understood.
It is about inclusivity at a deep level. Caring doesn’t mean liking; instead, it is about showing interest in another person. It’s about fostering a sense of trust. In a secure base relationship, individuals know they have someone who believes in their potential and supports them through setbacks. For coaches, this means listening deeply, showing empathy, and demonstrating unwavering belief in the coachee’s abilities.
When leaders and coaches lead with care, they create the conditions where people feel safe enough to dare and share.
- Daring: Challenging Comfort Zones
While caring provides the foundation, daring is what propels growth. Secure Base Coaching is not about keeping people in their comfort zones; it’s about pushing them to stretch beyond what they believe is possible. It involves asking tough questions, encouraging bold action, and reframing fear as an opportunity for growth.
Daring requires courage—not just from the coachee but from the coach, as well—to challenge limiting beliefs, hold individuals accountable, and call out behaviors that hinder progress. A coach or leader practicing daring empowers individuals to use their own agency to embrace challenges as a pathway to high performance.
- Sharing: Co-Creating Success
The third aspect, sharing, emphasizes collaboration and the power of “we.” Far from a hierarchical relationship where the coach or leader dictates solutions, Secure Base Coaching is a partnership in which both coach and coachee contribute to the process.
Sharing involves co-creating goals, celebrating failures and successes together, and embracing feedback as a tool for growth. Here, the coach or leader empowers others to lead themselves and fosters a culture of shared responsibility. In organizations, this principle promotes trust, teamwork, and innovation—qualities that are essential for navigating today’s challenges.
The Benefits of Secure Base Coaching
In a rapidly changing world, Secure Base Coaching offers a framework that meets the needs of modern leaders and organizations. Here’s why it matters:
- Addresses burnout and stress: By creating the conditions for psychological safety, Secure Base Coaching helps individuals manage stress and build resilience.
- Fosters innovation: The emphasis on unlocking curiosity, creativity, and collaboration makes this approach ideal for organizations looking for ways to find solutions in a fast-changing environment.
- Builds trust: Caring, daring, and sharing create the foundation for trust, which is essential for high-performing teams and organizations.
- Empowers individuals and teams: Secure Base Coaching shifts the focus from directive leadership to empowering individuals and teams to take ownership of and accountability for their own growth.
More than a Framework
Secure Base Coaching is more than a framework—it’s a philosophy that redefines what it means to lead, coach, and grow. Secure Base Coaching is a timely response to the challenges of today’s world. It invites us to reimagine leadership as a partnership—a journey of mutual growth where we empower ourselves and others to thrive. Whether you’re a coach, a leader, or simply someone striving for personal and collective growth, the principles of Secure Base Coaching offer a powerful guide for unlocking potential, enhancing agency and co-creating a better future for all.
