Building leadership confidence and mastering difficult conversations

Challenges 

James approached coaching with a clear goal: to improve his ability to navigate difficult conversations effectively, whether with his team or higher management.

Examples included addressing performance issues and handling sensitive topics, areas where he felt unprepared and sometimes overly casual, which he worried might undermine his credibility. 

Goals

• Gain practical tools and strategies for managing difficult conversations.
• Develop greater confidence and adaptability in addressing tense situations.
• Enhance his leadership presence while staying authentic and approachable. 

Coaching approach 

Through our sessions, we focused on self-reflection and building James's confidence in his leadership interactions. Using a combined structured frameworks like CLEAR and GROW we focused on active listening and insightful questioning and explored his tendencies to overthink and catastrophise before challenging conversations. Together, we developed strategies to: 

• Shift his mindset from fear of failure to viewing these moments as opportunities for growth.
• Practice preparing for discussions while remaining adaptable and open to dialogue.
• Emphasise his genuine desire to support and develop his team members as a foundation for his leadership approach. 

By encouraging self-reflection and fostering a safe space to try new approaches, we focused on helping James prepare effectively while staying flexible and authentic in his delivery. 

We also worked on shifting his mindset from perfectionism to progress—helping him understand that engaging in these conversations, even imperfectly, was a key step toward growth. The process gave James clarity and the tools he needed to navigate sensitive topics with confidence and empathy. 

Breakthrough moments 

James put his learning into practice in two key moments. 

First, he had a one-on-one conversation with a team member about their growth and development. While the team member initially seemed apprehensive, James reassured them the discussion was about their future potential, not performance issues. His genuine intent set the tone for an open and constructive dialogue. 

Later, James facilitated a collective feedback session with his entire team—a first for him. He guided a group reflection that encouraged everyone to rethink their approaches and align better as a team. James was struck by the power of creating a space for collective self-reflection, which led to a renewed sense of collaboration among his team. 

James experienced a key shift in perspective, realising that his overthinking often created unnecessary stress. He adopted the mantra of “giving it a go,” focusing on preparation without rigid expectations. This helped him to: 

• Approach conversations with curiosity and a willingness to engage.
• Create a space for open, honest dialogue.
• Lead with authenticity, making his intentions to help others learn and grow more evident.

Results

By applying these strategies, James developed a more natural and confident approach to difficult conversations. He reported feeling more self-assured and adaptable, with a greater ability to engage in meaningful discussions that aligned with his leadership values. 

James’s leadership style also evolved. He embraced self-reflection and genuine intent as cornerstones of his communication, empowering his team and fostering a culture of growth. As James himself said, “By trying, I now know that I can do it. It feels more natural because I come from a genuine place of wanting to help people learn and grow.” 

Key Takeaways

This coaching experience highlighted the transformative power of self-awareness and intentional leadership. By focusing on adaptability, authenticity, and creating a space for engagement, James unlocked greater confidence and skill in navigating challenging conversations, ultimately enhancing his leadership capacity. 

"It was a fantastic experience being linked with Mariana—her immense capacity for insight, perceptiveness, and mentoring was gratefully received and highly appreciated. Mariana has encouraged me to grow as a leader and be more confident and self-reflective in my leadership style and interactions. I really enjoyed my time with Mariana and would highly recommend her to any public or private sector”.