Coaching Real Leaders

He’s been at his company for many years and has worked his way up from an entry-level position to a director role. Now, he wants to get to the next level in his career, but he feels stuck and unsure of himself. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader on how to regain his confidence so that he can move forward. Further reading: To Strengthen Your Confidence, Look to Your Past Mojo: How to Get It, H...

No matter how hard you work and how good you are at executing tasks, there are always less tangible reasons people get tapped for more senior roles. Executive presence matters, as does finding the right sponsors. Host Muriel Wilkins speaks with a rising leader who understands the importance of sponsorship but doesn’t know how to get there – starting with learning to tell her own story. Further rea...

There are all different kinds of leadership styles, but it’s hard to know what is authentic to you, or how much you should try to adapt to your environment. In this episode, host Muriel Wilkins speaks with a senior leader who is having trouble drawing a line between what is expected of her, and what feels true to her core. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

We check in with three guests from Season 1 to see what they took with them from their coaching meetings and where they are now. First, we hear from a leader who had been struggling to communicate effectively, especially in high-level management meetings. Then we get an update from a leader who had been on the brink of burnout. Finally, we catch up with a leader who had been managing racial tensio...

She’s recently been promoted to a senior role, after working her way up in the industry from an entry level position. But she’s become a leader at a time when there’s also a lot of change. Now she’s the legacy person on her new team, and she feels constantly questioned and defensive about the way things work and the culture she helped build. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader on how to figure...

In his most recent role, he excelled as a hands-on manager, jumping in to solve the hardest problems. But now he’s moving up a level to take on a new leadership position. He’s managing other managers for the first time and realizing that it’s a big leap to go from managing individual contributors to managing other managers. Host Muriel Wilkins helps this leader understand how to approach his new r...

She made it to a coveted senior role, but she isn’t feeling excited about her future career path. And now she’s wondering how to balance all the competing commitments in her life – children, spouse, elderly parents, and work – while still pursuing what she really cares about. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through discovering what’s important to her, so that she can figure out what’s next...

He’s a senior leader in a hospital, who has long seen himself as an advocate for equality for his female colleagues. But in the past few years, he’s faced a few instances where women he works with have been offended by exchanges with him. While there is much talk about gender equity at the organizational level, there’s still a lot of discomfort around how it actually plays out interpersonally at w...

She’s a C-suite-level executive with 20 years of experience working in corporate finance. Earlier in her career, she stayed at companies for long periods of time. But in her last few roles, she’s been jumping ship as soon as the going gets tough. Is she leaving too quickly, or has she not yet found the right role? Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through her discomfort and toward strategies...

Coaching Real Leaders returns October 6 to tackle new leadership challenges – from when to quit your job to communicating across differences, navigating imposter syndrome, and more. Listen in on coaching sessions with real leaders from all walks of life, as they work out the challenges they face at work, with host and longtime executive coach Muriel Wilkins . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...

She’s worked her way up from an administrative assistant to a leadership position. But she still struggles to come across as confident, especially in high-level management meetings. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader on how to communicate more effectively. Further Reading: “ To Strengthen Your Confidence, Look to Your Past ” “ Will You Ever Be Taken Seriously? ” “ Make Yourself Heard ” “ Own...

She’s relatively new to the organization and more junior than most of her stakeholders. But her success hinges on her ability to lead initiatives cross-functionally. Host  Muriel Wilkins  coaches this emerging leader through how to cultivate strategic relationships and increase her influence without the formal power of a senior title or position. Further Reading:  “ How to Increase Your Influence...

He’s spent much of his career successfully solving complex problems. Now, as he works his way up, he’s realizing that always trying to fix everything won’t let him focus on leading – or help his team succeed. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through adapting his approach to lead more effectively. For more on this topic: “ Leading by Letting Go ” “ How Leaders Can Let Go Without Losing Contr...

As a leader, she has always tried to find a balance between being directive and collaborative. But she has also struggled to bridge the gap between how she sees herself – and how her team experienced her as a leader. Now she’s building her own start-up and wants to make sure she is seen as a strong, effective leader in that new venture. Host  Muriel Wilkins  coaches this leader through how to unde...

He’s been successful in his industry but feels like he’s been typecast in his role. Now he’s hoping for a change and wants to make sure his next position helps him redirect his career. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through figuring out what he really wants before he commits to a new company. Further Reading: “ You Don’t Have to Be CEO to Be a Visionary Leader” “ Finding Direction When Yo...

She’s demonstrated her leadership ability throughout her career, advancing to some of the most senior leadership roles. But her C-suite peers haven’t always valued what she brings to the table. Host  Muriel Wilkins  coaches this leader through how to demonstrate her value as an executive as she joins a new organization. For more on this topic: “ Stepping into a Leadership Role? Be Ready to Tell Yo...

She’s ambitious and has always leaned into opportunities to lead. But in her current leadership role, her responsibilities just keep growing, which makes her feel like she can’t keep up. If this is what leadership is all about, she questions whether she even wants to lead anymore. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through her burnout toward strategies she can take to focus her energy and sca...

He’s a senior executive leading a division made up of professionals who are much younger than him and come from different racial backgrounds. He’s committed to helping his team members grow professionally, while generating positive results for the company. But he’s struggling with how to engage and motivate them. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through bridging those generational and racia...

Her boss is white. Her staff are people of color. She’s been walking a tightrope between addressing her boss’s microaggressions and making her team feel safe. But so far, it’s not working. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through this tension and toward the actions she can take to improve the situation and build a healthier culture at her organization. Further Reading: “ When and How to Res...

Her out-of-the-box approach to solving business problems has made her successful in her current role – and she surpassed all her performance goals, despite the challenges of leading during a pandemic. But she’s been passed over for a promotion that would put her on track to the C-suite. Host Muriel Wilkins talks this leader through how she can reposition herself for a top leadership role at her co...

New from the HBR Presents podcast network: a show that takes you inside real-life coaching sessions with leaders working to overcome professional challenges. We all want to get to the next level of our career, but so many of us get stuck. Host and longtime executive coach Muriel Wilkins has helped successful professionals – from team leaders to CEOs – get unstuck and grow as leaders. That work is...