Leadership coaching in Manchester for managers, leaders and people stepping into bigger roles

Leadership can be rewarding, but it can also feel lonely, pressured and difficult to make sense of.

You may be stepping into a new role, managing a challenging team situation, preparing for a difficult conversation, or trying to lead well while feeling pulled in several directions.

Leadership coaching gives you space to think properly.

It is a confidential, focused conversation where you can step back, explore what is happening and decide what you want to do next.

I am based in Manchester and provide leadership coaching for managers, leaders and professionals across the UK. You can also read more about my wider coaching services if you are exploring different types of support.

Leadership coaching that feels practical, human and useful

Leadership coaching is not about giving you a script or pretending there is one perfect way to lead.

It is about helping you understand yourself, your situation and the choices available to you.

In coaching, we can look at what is working, what feels difficult and what may need to change. Sometimes that means exploring confidence, boundaries or communication. Sometimes it means working through a specific leadership challenge, such as managing performance, leading through change or handling a sensitive conversation.

If your challenge involves a wider team, you may also find it useful to explore my [facilitation work], particularly where a group needs to step back, reset or work through something together.

The aim is always to help you leave with more clarity, confidence and practical next steps.

Who leadership coaching is for

Leadership coaching can be helpful if you are:

• A new manager finding your feet

• An experienced leader who needs space to think

• Stepping into a bigger or more visible role

• Managing a team through change

• Preparing for a difficult conversation

• Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of leadership

• Trying to set better boundaries

• Working with complex relationships or team dynamics

• Wanting to lead with more confidence and self-awareness

• Unsure how to balance being supportive with being clear

You do not need to arrive with everything neatly worked out. Often, coaching is most useful when things feel messy, stuck or hard to untangle.

If you are moving into a new role or thinking about a bigger career shift, you may also find my career change coaching blog useful.

What we might work on

Every coaching conversation is shaped around you, but common themes include:

• Building confidence in your leadership role

• Handling difficult conversations

• Managing performance concerns

• Setting boundaries without feeling guilty

• Leading through uncertainty or change

• Making sense of team dynamics

• Preparing for meetings or important conversations

• Developing your leadership style

• Managing pressure and overwhelm

• Improving communication

• Moving from operational busyness to strategic thinking

• Supporting your own wellbeing while leading others

Coaching gives you time to slow the thinking down, look at the situation from different angles and decide what action feels right.

If communication is one of the areas you want to improve across a wider team, my workshops and training may also be useful.

How leadership coaching works

I offer one-to-one leadership coaching sessions online or in person, depending on what works best.

Each session lasts 90 minutes. This gives enough time to explore the issue properly, without feeling rushed.

A typical coaching conversation might involve:

• Clarifying what you want to focus on

• Exploring what is happening now

• Identifying what may be getting in the way

• Looking at your options

• Testing assumptions

• Thinking through possible conversations or actions

• Agreeing practical next steps

After each session, I provide a short written summary of what we discussed, including any key reflections, actions or resources.

This means you have something useful to return to, rather than trying to remember everything afterwards.

You can also see more about how I work with clients on my how I work page.

My approach

My coaching style is calm, honest and down to earth.

I will listen carefully, ask useful questions and help you make sense of what is going on. I will not tell you what to do, but I will help you think clearly about the options in front of you.

Where appropriate, I may offer observations, frameworks or practical tools. The focus will always be on what is useful for you and your situation.

I bring experience from many years working in learning, organisational development, coaching and facilitation. I have supported leaders and managers across universities, public sector organisations, charities and professional teams.

You can read more about my background on my who I am page.

My role is to create a confidential space where you can think openly, without judgement, and leave with something you can actually use.

What leadership coaching can help you leave with

Depending on what we work on, leadership coaching can help you leave with:

• A clearer sense of what is happening

• More confidence in your own judgement

• Practical next steps

• A better understanding of your leadership style

• A plan for a difficult conversation

• Stronger boundaries

• More confidence in managing performance or behaviour

• A clearer sense of your priorities

• Better ways of handling pressure

• More honest reflection on what you need from yourself and others

Coaching does not remove the complexity of leadership, but it can help you feel less alone with it.

You may also want to read what other clients have said on my testimonials page.

Leadership coaching for new managers

Moving into management can feel like a big shift.

You may be expected to lead people who were previously your peers. You may need to give feedback, chair meetings, make decisions, manage performance or hold people to account

That can feel uncomfortable at first.

Leadership coaching can help you build confidence in the role, understand what kind of leader you want to be and develop practical ways of handling the situations you are now facing.

Leadership coaching for experienced leaders

Coaching is not only for people who are new to leadership.

Experienced leaders also need space to think.

You may be dealing with organisational change, complex relationships, difficult decisions or a role that has grown around you over time.

Coaching gives you protected time to step away from the noise and look at what is really going on. It can help you reconnect with your own judgement, challenge patterns that are no longer serving you and think through what needs to happen next.

If some of the challenge sits within the wider team, a facilitated session or [team away day] may also help create space for shared discussion and action.

Confidential and focused on you

Leadership coaching gives you a private space to speak openly.

That matters, particularly when you are working through sensitive issues, difficult relationships or decisions that affect other people.

The conversation is confidential and centred on your development, your thinking and your next steps.

If coaching is being funded by your organisation, we can agree clear boundaries at the start so everyone understands what will and will not be shared.

Pricing

A 90-minute leadership coaching session is £150.

If you book six sessions, you only pay for five. That means six 90-minute sessions cost £750.

Each session includes:

• A 90-minute confidential coaching conversation

• A written summary after the session

• Any useful resources we discuss

• Clear actions or reflections to take away

• You can book one session to work through a specific issue, or a series of sessions if you want more structured support over time

You can also view my wider pricing information if you are comparing different types of support.

Based in Manchester, working across the UK

I am based in Manchester and work with coaching clients across Greater Manchester, the North West and the wider UK.

Most leadership coaching can be delivered online, which makes it easy to fit around a busy diary. In-person coaching may also be possible depending on location and availability.

If you are looking for wider support for a team, you may also want to look at my facilitation and team away day facilitation pages.

Frequently asked questions

What is leadership coaching?

Leadership coaching is a confidential conversation that helps you think through your role, your challenges and your development as a leader. It can help with confidence, communication, decision-making, difficult conversations, boundaries and leading through change.

Who is leadership coaching for?

Leadership coaching is for new managers, experienced leaders, senior professionals and anyone with responsibility for leading others. It can be useful when you are stepping into a new role, facing a challenge or wanting to lead with more confidence and clarity.

Do you offer leadership coaching in Manchester?

Yes. I am based in Manchester and offer leadership coaching across Greater Manchester and the wider UK. Coaching can take place online or in person where practical.

How long is a coaching session?

Each coaching session lasts 90 minutes. I find this gives enough time to explore the issue properly and leave with clear next steps.

How many coaching sessions will I need?

That depends on what you want to work on. Some people book one session to think through a specific issue. Others book a series of sessions to support them through a transition, a new role or a longer-term leadership challenge.

Is leadership coaching confidential?

Yes. Coaching is confidential. If your organisation is funding the coaching, we can agree clear boundaries at the start so everyone understands what will and will not be shared.

Can coaching help with difficult conversations?

Yes. Difficult conversations are a common focus in leadership coaching. We can work through what needs to be said, how to say it clearly and how to manage the conversation in a way that feels fair and constructive.

Is leadership coaching the same as executive coaching?

There is overlap. Executive coaching is often used for senior leaders or people in more strategic roles. Leadership coaching can support people at different levels, from new managers to experienced leaders. The focus is always shaped around the person and the situation.

Can my organisation pay for the coaching?

Yes. Many organisations fund coaching for managers and leaders as part of their development. I can provide information about the coaching offer, pricing and invoicing if this is needed.

Thinking about leadership coaching?

If you are looking for leadership coaching in Manchester, or want to explore whether coaching would be useful for you or someone in your organisation, I would be happy to have an initial conversation.

We can talk through what is happening, what support might be useful and whether I am the right person to help.

You can arrange a conversation or read more about my wider coaching services first if you are still exploring the options.

Read my blog on Leadership Coaching : When Work Starts To Feel Overwhelming