Self-Coaching: The Reality You're Leading In (Part 2)

In the second part of our self-coaching series, the lens shifts from past to present. This week is about noticing the emotions that sit underneath your leadership right now — they're powerful coaching data, and like any data, they need interpretation.

Reading your emotions as data

Your emotions reflect what's important to you, highlight where you feel drawn in or pushed away, and offer clues about what needs attention. As you reflect, ask yourself: do these emotions reflect the truth of what's happening, or simply the story I'm telling myself? Making sense of them, in context, is what lets you respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically.

Questions for the reality you're leading in

• If your leadership had a dashboard this week, what warning lights or green lights would be flashing?

• What are you feeling most strongly right now — energised, stretched, flat, optimistic, conflicted — and what might that be pointing to?

• How are your current relationships with your team, peers and stakeholders shaping the way you lead?

Leaders often override their inner signals. This is an invitation to tune in rather than push through.

Frequently asked questions

How do emotions help with self-coaching?

They're data. Noticing what you feel — and questioning whether it reflects reality or a story you're telling — helps you respond thoughtfully rather than react.

What does the second stage of self-coaching focus on?

The present: tuning into the emotions and relationships shaping how you're leading right now, rather than pushing through them.