The Performance Coaching Model – OLD
This course isn’t about theory—it’s about action.
The Performance Coaching Model is a digital course equipping leaders with a proven framework for initiating conversations that gets results. This model provides a foundation to understand leadership clarity, and a systematic approach for preparing for conversations using the Leadership Clarity Tool.
Created by Marlene Chism, a seasoned LinkedIn Learning Instructor with over 500,000 learners and a recognized expert in leadership communication, this course is grounded in the same proven methods trusted by thousands of leaders.
You’ll learn a simple, repeatable process to approach tough conversations with clarity and confidence.
With bite-sized lessons (5 minutes or less), downloadable learning guides, and nine essential coaching skills, this course makes it easy to apply what you learn in the real world.
While The Performance Coaching Model is a key component of The Courageous Leader Ecosystem, it’s also available separately for individual leaders investing in personal and professional growth.
Courage Over Comfort: Why Leaders Hold Back
Why do your leaders struggle with tough conversations? It’s not just about discomfort—it’s about fear of failure, lack of confidence, and corporate politics.
Leaders hesitate because they don’t feel supported, don’t want to look incompetent, or they’re trying to keep the peace with their team. But avoiding conflict doesn’t keep the peace—it makes things worse.
Avoiding Conflict Isn’t Keeping the Peace—It’s Costing You
Every big problem in an organization can be traced back to a conversation that should have happened but didn’t. The reason: Most of us have been conditioned to avoid conflict, we unconsciously see conflict as a problem to avoid at all costs.
But conflict itself isn’t the problem—mismanagement is.
Mismanagement costs companies millions in lost productivity, customer complaints, safety, lawsuits, and turnover.
A Quick Snapshot of Conflict Mismanagement
- Delaying the conversation and suffering in silence.
- Aligning downward instead of building collaboration.
- Keeping problems from higher-ups.
- Walking on eggshells with peers.
- Ignoring complaints to keep the peace.
- Blaming upper management instead of owning corporate.
- Moving the problem employee instead of addressing the issue.
- Sugarcoating instead of setting clear expectations.
- Resorting to aggression when backed into a corner.
At the core, mismanagement is a habit-based coping mechanism to mitigate immediate stress and manage the internal conflict of people versus productivity. Over time, these coping mechanisms turn into bad-habits and blind spots that create workplace drama.
What We Know from Neuroscience
The brain learns what it practices. Avoidance strengthens the habit of dodging discomfort.
The good news: Habits can be rewired!
Your leaders can learn the skill of initiating difficult conversations, while promoting trust and increasing engagement.
The Performance Coaching Model helps leaders retrain their brains to navigate tough conversations with confidence—turning avoidance into action and stress into solutions.
As a leader, you don’t have to wait for an organization-wide rollout. The Performance Coaching Model—part of The Courageous Leader Ecosystem—is also available for individual leaders ready to take responsibility for their development.