Her Reflections
I was supporting a leader through a difficult situation – one that required both clarity and steadiness.
She was a new leader coaching one of her direct reports – someone older and experienced – on managing priorities and delegating work to meet deadlines.
The feedback was clear.
The expectations were reasonable.
But the response wasn’t openness. It was resistance.
The feedback was rejected.
Excuses followed.
And over time, the behaviour didn’t change.
What began as a coaching conversation moved into a performance improvement plan.
Even then, there was hesitation.
The plan wasn’t acknowledged or signed.
Moments like this require both courage and clarity.
The courage to have the conversation.
The clarity to hold expectations.
Not avoiding discomfort.
Not softening the message to make it easier to receive.
Not stepping back when it isn’t immediately accepted.
But staying clear.
Consistent.
Grounded.
Because accountability isn’t about control.
It’s about maintaining standards – especially when they’re challenged.
And sometimes leadership isn’t about being understood in the moment.
It’s about holding the standard – even when it isn’t received well.
Calm is not the absence of challenge.
It’s how you move through it.
For a more structured approach to conversations like this, explore coaching conversations here.