Puzzled looks, awkward silences, decisions that aren't followed up with action... Since becoming the manager of this small team of senior staff, Julie has come up against a hidden double bind : age and gender. ‘Why are they all against me?’, ‘Am I really qualified for this job?’, ‘How can I get them to respect me?’... She is so distressed by the situation that she is even considering resigning. Finally, after several discussions with her HR manager, she is offered coaching sessions.

When we first meet, I see a young woman who questions herself deeply and is plagued by doubt.  ‘I should never have accepted this promotion,’ she confides in me. 

My role? To help her achieve the three goals she has set herself for her coaching programme :

• Assert her authority while preserving her unique style
• Create a new dynamic within her team
• Regain confidence in herself

Identifying strategies to change team dynamics

During our sessions, spanning three months, we begin by identifying her areas of discomfort: the difficulty in asserting herself, the imposter syndrome, the fear of not being liked, etc. Then, we identify ways in which she can be more impactful (through non-violent and assertive communication, her interpersonal intelligence) and define concrete steps to move forward such as implementing an alliances strategy, introducing teambuilding activities and developing a support network. All this was done in order that she may establish her credibility and cultivate a climate of trust within her team.

Session after session, Julie proves to be committed and determined to find solutions. Gradually, she learns to value her colleagues' expertise, assert herself in her managerial role and regain her confidence. The result? Tensions ease, attitudes change... ‘I'm happy to come to work again,’ she says.

She succeeded in asserting herself and bringing people together.

What is the outcome of this coaching journey ? Julie now embodies a confident and unifying leadership style, where mutual listening and intergenerational synergy drive collective performance. As for me, I’m deeply impressed by her commitment throughout the process. Thanks to her investment, her willingness to question herself and her curiosity, she is able to put her ideas to the test and achieve her goals.

Bravo to her!