How to Coach People to Build Confidence (Episode 11 of “How Do I Lead Now?”)

Posted in Coaching as a way of life

Episode 11 of our video coaching series is here! In this episode, Cylient CEO Dianna Anderson talks through ways you can, as a leader, coach people to build confidence in times of uncertainty.

There are many ways you can help others build confidence in times of uncertainty. Here are three to get you started.

Help Others Cultivate Centeredness

Cultivating a sense of centeredness means that your body and mind are in a calm place you feel comfortable returning to when things feel shaky. Helping others cultivate a sense of centeredness is a great gift you can give as a leader that helps others remain steady in uncertainty.

Help Others Have Conversations They’re Avoiding

Often, the things that we need to address the most are the things that we are least willing to talk about. As a leader, role-modeling having these types of conversations is a great place to start. You can also ask the other person a question like, “Is there something we need to talk about that we’re not talking about right now?” which will give them a starting place to bring up any topic.

Help Others Get Comfortable Taking Risks

When someone isn’t taking an action or making a decision that you’re expecting them to, it can be a clue that they aren’t comfortable taking risks. Rather than getting angry or upset, this is a place to have a coaching conversation. Use your coaching skills to identify an action that could help them feel more comfortable. It may be that they need to build their skills in an area, or perhaps they need reassurance from you that they won’t get punished if the action doesn’t turn out as expected.

Reflection Questions

Watch the video to get a more in-depth look about how to coach people to build confidence. Then, reflect on the following:

Consider how you are doing at these three areas of coaching. Is there anything you could be doing differently?
Notice where you might be of greatest service to the people you serve through one of these kinds of coaching conversations.
Practice having one of these coaching conversations with someone.

Comment below with your reflections, insights, observations or questions, and Dianna will respond to them.

Other Episodes of “How Do I Lead Now?”

Watch other episodes with the links below.

Episode 1: The difference between traditional leadership approaches and coaching-based leadership
Episode 2: What kind of leader do I need to be now?
Episode 3: How to meet people where they are
Episode 4: How to coach someone through fear
Episode 5: How to make friends with fear
Episode 6: Why the questions we ask and answer for ourselves really matter
Episode 7: Why intentions work better than goals now
Episode 8: Understanding and appreciating worldviews
Episode 9: What to say when you don’t know what to say
Episode 10: Using traditional and coaching-based leadership together
Episode 11: How to coach people to build confidence
Episode 12: Discerning patterns as a leadership skill
Episode 13: How to create change in complex situations
Episode 14: The problem with perfection