Inside The Lab
Choose The Capacity to Cultivate
Leaders do not enter the Lab in the same place.
Some are depleted.
Some are reactive.
Some are carrying too much.
Some are capable but have limited confidence.
Some are ready to grow their leadership.
Some are effective, but unsustainably so.
Inside the Leadership Capacity Lab™ leaders choose the core capacity they most need to strengthen. Or, they design the unique path they want to follow, with their preferred problems of practice.
Each engagement is focused, intentional, and built around real leadership conditions.
What’s Included in the Lab
Every capacity focus includes the same structured support and follows a distinct learning arc.
The Standard
This is not passive development.
It is structured, coaching-centered capacity work designed to strengthen leaders where it matters most.
Choose the capacity that needs strengthening.
The structure remains rigorous.
Investment
Leadership capacity is a strategic investment.
Capacity strengthens performance.
Performance sustains outcomes.
Each capacity focus includes:
1:1 coaching sessions
Private, secure, online access
Tools and micro-learning
Between-session support
Monthly office hours
Continued resource access
Support for three months post-engagement
8-Session Engagement: $1,599 per leader
12-Session Engagement: $2,388 per leader
Organizational cohorts and multi-seat engagements available upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ is a structured leadership capacity-building engagement for leaders in education and nonprofits. It includes individual 1:1 coaching within a private online space to strengthen six core capacities while they are actively leading. It is designed to support leaders under real conditions.
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ is designed and led by Dr. Michelle Watson-Grant, an ICF-credentialed leadership capacity coach, educator, and former senior leader in education and mission-driven organizations. Michelle holds an ACC credential through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and practices in alignment with ICF ethics and professional standards, including confidentiality, client autonomy, and clear boundaries between coaching, supervision, and evaluation. She holds a Master of Science in teaching and learning, and Doctor of Education in instructional design and distance education.
In addition to her coaching credentials, Michelle brings decades of experience supporting senior leaders as well as emerging and mid-level leaders in complex systems, understanding firsthand the pressures both groups of leaders face, and the internal capacity required to lead effectively and sustainably. Her work integrates evidence-informed practices from leadership development and positive psychology with a calm, deliberate coaching approach focused on internal leadership capacity.
Michelle's coaching specialties include Team Development, Navigating Transitions, and Burnout Prevention & Recovery. She holds multiple professional certificates in positive psychology, team development, navigating transitions, design thinking, and agile project management.
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ begins April 2, 2026 and concludes June 22, 2026. Participants will schedule their sessions throughout this period. Participants may register each new quarter thereafter, as needed.
No. Coaching sessions are individual and confidential. Sensitive topics are discussed, and many leaders prefer to address these in private settings.
Participants engage in:
- 8 individual 60-minute coaching sessions over the course of 12 weeks OR 12 60-minute sessions for the fully integrated engagement.
- light reflection, 15-minute micro-learning, and application between sessions
- optional office hours and between-session support as needed
The Lab is designed to integrate into existing leadership roles, not add significant workload.
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ follows a clear, intentional arc across 8 sessions or 12 sessions, depending on the engagement.
- Most engagements begin with an introductory session to establish goals, context, and priorities.
- Sessions follow, with a distinct learning arc. Engagements completely designed by the client will be shaped by their specific goals for each session. Goal progress is documented so that clients can monitor and track their growth over time.
- The final session centers on integration, helping leaders consolidate learning and apply it intentionally going forward.
Each conversation connects insight to real decisions, next steps, and accountability measures, so learning translates directly into day-to-day leadership behaviors.
Senior leaders or sponsors are not asked to coach, monitor, or evaluate participants. Their role is typically limited to:
- identifying appropriate participants
- supporting participation and possibly, co-selection of one or more core capacities, in alignment with individual and organizational growth goals
- engaging in an optional kickoff or alignment conversation
The Lab is intentionally designed to reduce escalation and dependency, not increase senior leaders’ involvement.
Confidentiality is foundational to this work.
- Individual coaching conversations remain private.
- No personal content is shared with supervisors or sponsors. Your coach is ICF-credentialed and adheres to the ICF's Code of Ethics, which requires complete confidentiality.
Confidentiality boundaries are clearly established with sponsors and clients at the outset in a written, signed coaching agreement and upheld throughout and after the engagement.
Yes—only those required by professional coaching ethics and law. Confidentiality may be breached if there is a credible risk of harm to the participant or others, or if disclosure is legally required. These boundaries are explained clearly at the start of the engagement and in the written, signed coaching agreement to which all parties agree before the engagement begins.
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ addresses the breakdowns that emerge between training and sustained performance. It is designed for organizations experiencing strain such as:
- Capable leaders desiring to grow their leadership
- Capable leaders hesitating under pressure, despite strong credentials and qualifications
- Escalation increasing because issues are not addressed early
- Leaders over-functioning, absorbing too much, and becoming depleted
- Decision-making slowing due to self-doubt or approval dependency
- Inconsistent leadership behavior across teams
- Development investments failing to translate into durable, day-to-day leadership effectiveness
The Leadership Capacity Lab™ is a strong fit for leaders who:
- carry real responsibility and decision-making authority
- are open to reflection and applied learning
- want to strengthen identity, agency, and sustainability, not just performance and achievement
It is not designed for performance remediation or leaders who are unwilling to engage in reflective work.
Coaching in the Lab is:
- non-directive
- future-focused
- centered on the leader’s agenda and goals
It does not involve advice-giving, mentoring, training, supervision, or evaluation, and it does not replace organizational accountability structures.
The Lab is designed to sit alongside training, professional learning, and internal leadership programs. It strengthens leaders’ internal capacity so learning translates into behavior—reducing friction, hesitation, and escalation that often limit the impact of training alone.
Participants retain access to resources, and ongoing office hours are available for up to three months, to support continued application and integration. The goal is not dependence on coaching, but sustainable leadership capacity that leaders continue to use beyond the engagement.
The next step is a focused conversation to explore fit. We’ll discuss your leadership context, participant readiness, and whether The Leadership Capacity Lab™ aligns with your needs.
The investment for The Leadership Capacity Lab™ is $1,599 or $2,388 per leader, depending on the engagement selected. This includes all individual coaching sessions, access to the private online space, micro-learning collections, tools and resources, between-session support, and office hours.
The number of individual clients is intentionally capped at 20-30 within a given 12-Week period to protect the depth, attention, and quality of support offered to clients. Potential clients may join the wait list and be notified of as seats become available.
Participant selection is intentional. The Leadership Capacity Lab™ is designed for leaders in education and nonprofits who carry real responsibility and decision-making authority, and who are ready to engage in reflective, applied coaching.
Organizations typically nominate leaders who:
- are trusted, capable, and influential in their roles
- are navigating increasing scope, transition, complexity, or people leadership
- would benefit from strengthening agency, energy, and capacity under pressure
The Lab is not intended for performance remediation or disciplinary action. Selection guidance is provided to help organizations identify leaders for whom this engagement will be most effective. This approach protects the quality of the coaching experience and ensures the Lab is positioned as developmental, not corrective.
Invitation
If you’re responsible for leadership outcomes, or you are a leader carrying more than you should, let’s strengthen capacity before something breaks.