Tackling the Elephant in the Room: Where Real Leadership Begins

I recently wrapped up a session with one of my new executive leadership team coaching clients - one of those sessions where big conversations happen, commitments are made, and people leave both energised and clear-eyed about what comes next.

Then, I received an email that really made me smile.

A belated thank you for what was indeed, a really informative and insightful event; beautifully executed. Really grateful for your input and considerable knowledge and expertise. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and I have spread the word amongst my fellow Directors. As is always the way with these things, the hard work starts now; as part of the agreed action, we will now begin the task of implementation. When we meet again in 6 months, I expect there will be considerable movement in terms of our level of team maturity, and I look forward to you joining us in 6 months to track the improvements to team cohesion and effectiveness."

What struck me most was this line:

“The hard work starts now.”

This is what I love about coaching executive teams. The work doesn’t stop when the session ends - because real transformation begins after the room has emptied, when teams start implementing the changes they’ve committed to.

But getting there requires something essential:

Tackling the 'Elephant in the Room'

Every team has one (or several). It could be misalignment, unspoken tensions, unproductive patterns, or the need for more trust and cohesion. As a leadership team coach, my role is often to be the one who names it, to constructively bring it into the light so it can be addressed - together.

It’s not always comfortable - far from it. But when a team is willing to face the elephant in the room, that’s when real change begins. The discomfort gives way to breakthroughs: trust is rebuilt, accountability strengthens, and teams move from feeling stuck to finding real flow and shared purpose. The results then speak for themselves.

I’m always honoured to hold that space - to facilitate the tough conversations, ask the challenging questions, and remind leaders that as they care for their own teams, they must also invest in themselves as a Leadership Team.

When the elephant is tackled, what’s left is a clearer path forward - one that allows teams to align, mature, and make a lasting impact on the organisation they lead.

So yes, the hard work starts now. And I can’t wait to rejoin this team in 6 months to see just how far they’ve come.

How have you developed your team this year?