Marcus was recently promoted to a senior management role in a growing business with 20 employees. As part of his new position, he inherited a challenging team member - an outspoken but demotivated employee. Under pressure to prove himself in his new leadership role, he considered placing the employee on a personal improvement plan but felt uncertain about how to handle the situation effectively and focus on building leadership skills.
The Challenge
New to Leadership – Marcus had no prior leadership or management training and felt unprepared for handling team dynamics, impacting his ability to start building leadership skills.
Difficult Employee Situation – He needed to address performance and motivation issues with a former colleague while maintaining professionalism and authority, further testing his developing leadership skills.
High Expectations & Pressure – The company owners expected him to demonstrate strong leadership abilities, but he felt overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure of the best course of action.
The Solution
To equip Marcus with the confidence, skills and strategies needed for his new role, we implemented a structured mentoring and training approach focused on building leadership skills:
Aligning Expectations – We met with the company owners to clarify their goals and expectations for Marcus' development and leadership growth.
Skills Gap Analysis & Training Plan – A detailed analysis of his strengths and development areas helped us create a tailored training program to focus on building leadership skills for both the short and long term.
Addressing the Immediate Challenge – We role-played difficult conversations and explored different approaches for managing the demotivated employee, ensuring Marcus felt prepared and focused on the desired outcome.
Using DBT Techniques for Clarity – By applying Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) methods, Marcus learned to separate facts from emotions, allowing him to approach performance concerns rationally and strengthen his leadership skills.
Ongoing Mentoring & Support – Continued coaching sessions helped Marcus build resilience, improve decision-making, and develop a strong leadership presence.
The Outcome
Marcus gained confidence in handling difficult conversations and effectively addressed the employee’s performance concerns.
He established clear boundaries and expectations, improving the team dynamic and reinforcing his leadership skills.
The business owners recognised his proactive leadership, boosting their trust in his ability to manage at a senior level.
With ongoing mentoring, Marcus continued to focus on building leadership skills, improving self-awareness and decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Building leadership skills isn’t always easy, especially for new managers stepping into high-pressure roles. But with the right support, strategies, and mentoring, anyone can develop the skills needed to succeed and lead with impact.
Need support in your leadership journey? Book a Discovery Call Today!
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