Coaching Real Leaders

She’s a leader who has worked hard to grow her career, but is currently feeling held back from reaching the next level. She wants to know what she needs to do to earn a promotion, especially given the challenges she faces with her team. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to manage the tension she’s feeling, and helps consider how she can keep developing even when there’s no guarantee of promotion.Vote for Coaching Real Leaders in the Signal Awards! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/advice-how-toFor Further Reading: Leadership Unblocked by Muriel Wilkins Chapter 5: LeadershipUnblocked.comConnect with Muriel:Website: murielwilkins.comLinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.comRead Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do I show my team I’m listening when I don’t agree with them?How do I project confidence when I don’t know what the future holds?How do I balance empathy with accountability?How do I influence others when I don’t have formal authority?In this episode, Muriel and communication expert Matt Abrahams, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and host of Think Fast, Talk Smart, answer listeners’ questions about some of the trickiest communication and leadership challenges. They discuss how to demonstrate that you’re listening without having to agree, how to communicate with confidence in uncertain situations, and how to hold people accountable without sacrificing empathy. For further reading: Think Fast, Talk Smart: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcastMatt’s book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Faster-Talk-Smarter-Successfully/dp/1668010305?tag=bookplease06-20&geniuslink=trueBuilding Influence Without Authority (Coaching Real Leaders): https://hbr.org/podcast/2021/03/building-influence-without-authorityExerting Influence Without Authority (Harvard Business Review): https://hbr.org/2008/02/exerting-influence-without-autConnect with Muriel:Website: murielwilkins.comLinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.comRead Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She’s a leader who’s built a reputation for being direct, confident, and decisive. But she’s recently received feedback that her communication can create tense interactions with colleagues. Host Muriel Wilkins helps her look beyond the feedback itself to understand what’s driving those moments, and how she can exude confidence without the need to always be right.  For further reading: The Right Way to Respond to Negative Feedback: https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-right-way-to-respond-to-negative-feedbackHow to Make Sense of Conflicting Feedback on Your Leadership: https://hbr.org/2022/01/how-to-make-sense-of-conflicting-feedback-on-your-leadershipHow Do I Stop Being Defensive?: https://hbr.org/podcast/2021/11/how-do-i-stop-being-defensive?What Leaders Get Wrong About Listening: https://hbr.org/podcast/2025/06/what-leaders-get-wrong-about-listeningLeadership Unblocked Chapter 5: LeadershipUnblocked.com Own the Room: https://us.amazon.com/Own-Room-Discover-Signature-Leadership-ebook/dp/B00BAH7PQY/ref=sr_1_2?_encoding=UTF8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.epwJb2QC4llONZO6YeARJmJmT5QGtcapVuFP9fuTNbE.N4ouJEbmhKVyJS8dDcnMA_s1Ieg-1Da9XjVKtTDekp8&dib_tag=se&keywords=B00BBJZX2O&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1789330493&s=digital-text&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&sr=1-2Connect with Muriel:Website: murielwilkins.comLinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.comRead Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you stay motivated in your career after years of success - and conquering so many mountains? How do you decide if taking on people management is the right move for you? How should you respond to an ambitious employee that you think needs to be more patient? In this episode, Muriel and her producer, Mary, answer listeners’ questions to help leaders of all levels navigate the challenges they are facing. For further reading: A Guide to Motivating Yourself at Work: https://hbr.org/2023/07/a-guide-to-motivating-yourself-at-workThe 7 Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back: https://www.radicalcandor.com/podcast/hidden-beliefsHow Do I Stay Motivated After Surviving Layoffs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjy_GCrZTnQShould I Become a People Manager? https://medium.com/@fun_cuddles/should-i-become-a-people-manager-the-difficulty-of-identifying-management-potential-8fbfb534f0b1Want to stay connected? You can find Muriel here:Website: murielwilkins.comLinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan WilkinsInstagram: @CoachMurielWilkinsWant to be coached by Muriel?If you’re facing a professional challenge, apply to be coached by Muriel on the Coaching Real Leaders podcast: Apply here Keep the conversation going:Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community where Muriel hosts live debriefs and Q&A sessions: coachingrealleaderscommunity.comGo deeper:Read Muriel’s newest book, Leadership Unblocked: LeadershipUnblocked.comFor executive coaches:Learn more about Evolve, Muriel’s immersive program for executive coaches: murielwilkins.com/evolveSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join host Muriel Wilkins as she unpacks last week’s Coaching Real Leaders’ episode, “Why Haven’t I Made It To The C-Suite”, where she coached  Randy - a leader who has spent years coming close to landing the most senior level executive roles, only to be passed over without clear feedback. In this special bonus and companion episode, Muriel debriefs the coaching conversation with her Coaching Real Leaders Community and provides additional context to what was really going on during the coaching session and helps listeners better understand her coaching approach.  Be sure to listen to the episode we debrief: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-of-crl-why-havent-i-made-it-to-the-c-suite/id1545444200?i=1000783849495Want to stay connected? You can find Muriel here:Website: murielwilkins.comLinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan WilkinsInstagram: @CoachMurielWilkinsWant to be coached by Muriel?If you’re facing a professional challenge, apply to be coached by Muriel on the Coaching Real Leaders podcast: Apply here Keep the conversation going:Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community where Muriel hosts live debriefs and Q&A sessions: coachingrealleaderscommunity.comGo deeper:Read Muriel’s newest book, Leadership Unblocked: LeadershipUnblocked.comFor executive coaches:Learn more about Evolve, Muriel’s immersive program for executive coaches: murielwilkins.com/evolveSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.