Leadership Coaching: Why Building Confidence Starts with Perception
Jan 07, 2026The Hidden Spectrum of Leadership: Why You’re More Confident Than You Think
Did you know that the human eye can distinguish more shades of green than any other colour?
It isn’t a conscious choice we made. It is a gift of evolution—our brains becoming hyper-sensitive to the nuances of our environment to ensure our survival. We don’t walk around marveling at this ability; we simply see the world as it is.
I’ve found this to be a powerful lens through which to view professional development, especially as we step into a new year of growth and reflection.
The Story of "Not Enough"
In my coaching practice, I often meet leaders who are convinced they lack confidence. They aren’t "faking it"—they genuinely don't see where their confidence already exists. They are trapped in a singular perspective reinforced by years of internal narrative: "I’m just not a confident person."
They aren’t deliberately ignoring the evidence of their success. They simply aren’t conscious of it yet.
In senior leadership, this "blindness" manifests in familiar, draining ways:
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Holding back in board meetings until you are 100% certain.
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Assuming your peers possess a "secret sauce" of certainty that you lack.
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Replaying conversations in your head, dwelling on what you should have said.
Coaching: Shifting the Lens
The goal of coaching isn’t to "manufacture" confidence from thin air. Instead, we slow down the reel. We look closer at the frames you usually skip over.
We begin to notice the sound judgements you made under pressure, the subtle ways you influenced a difficult stakeholder, and the moments where your quiet authority actually anchored the room.
As your awareness increases, your perception changes.
When you change how you perceive your actions, you change how you feel in the moment. At first, these shifts are microscopic. But over time, they rewrite your behaviour. You hesitate less. You decide with more ease. Your brain begins to update its expectations, reinforcing the patterns that are already working.
Evolution, Not Revolution
Confidence doesn’t typically arrive in a lightning-bolt moment of "breakthrough." It grows through the quiet, conscious recognition of a pattern that has been there all along.
As January unfolds, I am beginning work with a new cohort of clients. While their industries vary, confidence is already the recurring theme. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing observations and reflections from these sessions—not as "how-to" advice, but as a window into how genuine change actually takes root.
Sometimes, professional development isn't about trying harder or doing more.
It’s about learning to notice more shades of green.
Ready to Change Your Perspective?
If you are navigating a leadership role and considering how coaching could support your growth this year, I invite you to start a conversation.
Send me a message [email protected] to explore how we can uncover the patterns of success you might be missing.
Looking to shift how your team shows up?
Check out Elephant in the Room — our signature training programme for teams ready to build trust, speak honestly, and perform at a higher level.
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