Case Study. 3.Reclaiming Confidence and Influence
- Iain Patton
- Jun 2
- 3 min read

How Coaching Helped One Professional Redefine Their Role and Voice
When this individual began coaching with me, they were navigating one of the most destabilising periods of their professional life. Having recently returned from a period of sick leave caused by workplace conflict, they found themselves back in a team where the dynamics remained unresolved and support was conspicuously absent. Their confidence, once a quiet strength, had been eroded by months of toxic communication, marginalisation, and systemic failings in organisational leadership.
But what began as a survival exercise became something else entirely. Coaching offered the time, space, and structured support to stop reacting—and start rebuilding.
Before Coaching: Silenced and Scapegoated
Their return to work was met not with empathy, but with silence. Key figures in the team—those responsible for workload, communication and wellbeing—failed to acknowledge what they had been through. They felt scapegoated, deskilled, and unsure of their standing. Attempts to advocate for themselves were met with resistance or apathy.
They described feeling in “limbo”: uncertain whether to stay, yet reluctant to walk away from the meaningful elements of their role. Their confidence, understandably, had plummeted. They knew they had more to offer—but couldn’t see how or where to begin reclaiming their voice.
After Coaching: Confident, Strategic, and Empowered
Over a series of sessions, this professional made an extraordinary shift—not just in mindset, but in behaviour. They transitioned from feeling powerless and reactive to becoming proactive, thoughtful, and strategically influential within their organisation.
One of the clearest markers of this change was their decision to actively shape a new role within a team that welcomed their voice. Rather than wait for permission, they began identifying inefficiencies, proposing systemic changes, and initiating discussions around planning, workload, and cultural dynamics. Their focus turned outward—from personal survival to structural contribution.
They started designing and leading proposals to improve project planning and team operations. They initiated conversations about training, funder alignment, and long-term team development. Crucially, they began asking not if their role could change, but how they could lead that change.
Why This Change Was So Powerful
Their return to confidence didn’t mean ignoring the past—it meant no longer letting it define them. With coaching, they came to see that their self-worth wasn’t dictated by how others treated them. They could hold a clear mirror to poor leadership without internalising it.
This shift allowed them to move from a place of emotional exhaustion to one of thoughtful engagement. They didn’t just stay—they started shaping the very structures that had once excluded them. Their impact became clear not through a louder voice, but through a more strategic one.
What I Did as a Coach
My role was to offer a space where their story could be fully heard—and then gently challenged. Early sessions were focused on validation, helping them untangle the hurt and fear that had built up. We explored their values, strengths, and the emotional cost of the status quo.
But coaching is not therapy. Where counselling helped them process pain, coaching helped them take purposeful steps. I asked tough questions. I prompted them to envision what an empowered version of their role could look like—and then supported them in taking that vision forward.
We explored how to engage senior leadership without being undermined, how to propose changes that balanced honesty with political savviness, and how to build influence without needing a formal title. I simply held the map while they chose the route.
What Other Leaders Can Learn
This story is a powerful reminder that confidence is not about being the loudest in the room—it’s about being clear on your value, even when others aren’t.
Leadership isn’t just about job titles or visibility. It’s about contribution, influence, and the courage to speak when it's easier to stay silent. If you're feeling stuck, sidelined, or uncertain of your path, coaching can help you clarify your worth and step into your leadership.
Their transformation wasn’t linear, but it was lasting. And if coaching helped them navigate the storm and shape something new from it, it can do the same for others.
If you’re ready to find your voice again, to build from uncertainty rather than shrink within it—get in touch. I’m here to help.
*All identifying details have been removed to protect my coachee
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