Most leaders want to know: what’s the return?
In high-pressure environments like security, when it comes to executive coaching, the return is not very abstract or esoteric. It’s actually pretty measurable, and it extends beyond the individual.
Why ROI Matters in Security
Security is defined by high stakes, constant pressure, and an unforgiving workload. Burnout is more than a human issue; it is potentially an operational risk. With the presence of burnout in individuals, decision fatigue and impaired judgement may come with costs that ripple throughout the organization – unmotivated teams, increased absenteeism, attrition, and more.
The Real Cost of Burnout
Some industry studies estimate the cost of replacing a security professional can be 1.5 to 2 times their salary.When we factor in productivity losses, onboarding, and the risk gap created when key roles sit unfilled (and the potential threat vector that may form), the numbers can grow quickly.
It is also important to consider the possibilities of what burnout may be doing in the organization before someone decides to quit: increased errors, slower responses, deteriorating team morale, and disengagement. Each of these has a tangible business cost.
What Coaching has the Potential to Deliver
Investing in coaching, to some, is often dismissed as a ‘soft’ expense or that it is exclusively to be provided to executives or someone on a performance improvement plan (PIP). If you think about executive coaching as more of a focus on “executive functioning” – maybe that would shift the conversation.
In my study, not participants were executives nor people who had received PIP. And above all, the study showed those who had received coaching scored higher on emotional intelligence, and in 1:1 interviews and survey results, they reported enjoying their work more, being well-equipped to perform their job, well-supported by their leadership, and strong intentionality to advance in their career. This set them apart from the non-coached group. And it suggested the following to me: companies that invest and provide access to coaching open the door for supporting stronger capacity for hopefulness, stress regulation, and collaboration, among other benefits.
In the study, coaching didn’t solve burnout. No single intervention can. But it showed promising effects in several areas that could translate to higher ROI:
- Clearer and more thoughtful decision-making under stress: Decision clarity and velocity may lead to fewer costly mistakes.
- Improved collaboration: Team performance can improve when friction is reduced.
- Stress regulation: Greater engagement and “presenteeism” can create sustained performance and better recovery after setbacks.
These outcomes don’t simply benefit individuals; they have an exponential effect that may ripple throughout the organization.
A Broader Lens on the ROI of Coaching in Security
We need to look at ROI beyond the financial impact. In security this is also about reducing risk exposure and increasing resilience. A burned-out workforce is a vulnerable workforce. Coaching provides a structured, individualized support system that has the potential to help individuals and teams sustain performance, align with organizational goals, and remain engaged in their mission-critical roles.
The Bottom Line
Yes, coaching presents a cost to the organization. But ignoring the potential effects and impact of high-pressure environments without support for individuals and teams is also a cost that is too important to ignore. When you weigh the price of burnout against the outcomes coaching can help strengthen like resilience, adaptability, and decision making – the return is clear.
Over to you….
What do you think about the ROI of investing in people in security? As budget time is coming up for many – consider what you can do to support your security teams.
#Security, #Burnout, #ROI, #ExecutiveCoaching, #Resilience, #HR