How The Situational Coach Works

Breaking the Traditional Development Mould

The Situational Coach represents a fundamental shift in management development. Born from the frontline experiences of co-founders Sonia Moore and Will Trout, who witnessed first-hand how conventional training programs consistently failed to translate classroom theory into behavioural change, this platform was designed with a singular focus: developing managers in the context of their actual day-to-day challenges.

Our Core Methodology: Learning Through Realistic Situations

At the heart of The Situational Coach is a simple but powerful premise: managers learn best when faced with realistic situations that mirror their everyday challenges. This approach is supported by extensive research on adult learning theory.

The Power of Situational Learning

At its heart, The Situational Coach uses gamified, scenario-based learning to immerse managers in the very situations they face every day. Instead of passive theory, participants engage with dilemmas that demand critical thinking and contextual decision-making. This approach draws from adult learning theory, which highlights the importance of relevance and experience in effective knowledge acquisition (Merriam & Bierema, 2018). The Situational Coach puts this research into practice by presenting managers with authentic workplace challenges that demand thoughtful responses.

Each scenario is carefully crafted to reflect the nuanced realities of management.

When managers select their preferred approach to each scenario, they receive immediate, contextual feedback.

In the Flow of Work: Learning That Sticks

A key component of The Situational Coach is its integration into the flow of work, a practice increasingly recognised as essential for modern learning. Research by Deloitte (2020) found that is delivered in the context of a colleague’s daily activities significantly improves retention and application.

In fact, microlearning (delivered in short, focused bursts) is well regarded as one of the best ways to combat the “forgetting curve”. This is a phenomenon identified by Hermann Ebbinghaus that suggests that within 20 minutes of a learning event concluding, 50% of the delivered content is forgotten, and after 31 days only 24% is retained without it being revisited or reinforced.

Our approach not only addresses the downfalls of traditional learning and the forgetting curve, it also respects the time constraints of busy managers while maximising the opportunity for reflection and behavioural change.

Coaching That Reinforces and Reflects

Where many platforms stop at content delivery, The Situational Coach goes further. Every learning pathway is supported by human-led coaching conversations, creating space for reflection, group discussion, and shared insights. This model is aligned with social learning theory, which emphasises that people learn not just from content, but from observing and engaging with others.

Regular coaching conversations facilitated by experienced coaches bring managers together to:

Reflect on scenarios they've encountered
Share insights and challenges with peers
Deepen understanding through guided discussion
Apply learning to their specific team contexts

Group coaching in particular has proven benefits, fostering peer accountability, increasing psychological safety, and significantly enhancing the transfer of learning into practice.

Measurable Impact, Built-In

The outcomes of better management for the organisation speak for themselves. There are many examples that show management approach has a large influence on colleague engagement, and research by Gallup (2024) shows that organisation where there are highly engaged teams (typically led by skilled, confident managers) see:

a 23% increase in profitability
a 78% reduction in absenteeism
and a 51% drop in staff turnover
Plus many more benefits

A Better Way to Build Better Managers

In a world where 71% of HR leaders admit their current development efforts aren’t working (Gartner, 2025), The Situational Coach offers a proven, scalable, and human-centric alternative. It transforms management development from a box-ticking exercise into a practical, reflective, and performance-driven journey.

By combining technology with human coaching expertise, The Situational Coach creates a learning experience that doesn't just inform managers; it transforms them into confident, capable leaders who drive organisational success.

Managers don’t need more theory. They need support in the moments that matter.

The Situational Coach delivers just that—one situation, one conversation at a time.