Leadership Development Coaching

You’ve built a strong reputation as a problem-solver, a safe pair of hands, the person who always delivers. But if you want to progress into a more senior role, those same habits can hold you back. At this level, leadership isn’t about fixing everything yourself. It’s about upgrading how you think, act, and lead.

What got you here won’t get you there.

Many mid-career leaders reach a point where the strategies that made them successful start to work against them. They are still too close to the detail, trying to solve every problem themselves, which turns them into bottlenecks rather than leaders. They smooth over conflict or avoid it altogether, thinking they’re protecting relationships, but in reality they’re letting accountability slip. They keep over-delivering to prove themselves, which leaves them depleted instead of resilient. And they sense it’s time to be more values-led, but aren’t yet clear on what those values are.

This isn’t something HR guidance can solve. Policies are written to protect institutions, not to help you grow. Senior managers are watching closely, and if they don’t see you handling these challenges with authority, they won’t see you as ready for progression.

The Stakes

Without change, it’s easy to get stuck:

Credibility stalls – you’re still the problem-solver, not the leader.
Team culture drifts – without strong boundaries, accountability slips.
Stress builds – doing too much detail yourself leaves you depleted.
Progression slows – panels and senior leaders want to see evidence of leadership at scale, not firefighting.

What got you here won’t get you there. If you want to move forward, you need to show you can lead with clarity, courage, and conviction.

Introducing Leadership Development Coaching

This coaching is about upgrading from “trusted doer” to “credible leader.” Over six months, we’ll work together to reorganise your mental space, so you’re no longer bottlenecked by detail. You’ll reconnect with your personal values and use them as a compass for decision-making. We’ll strengthen your resilience so you can handle conflict and uncertainty without being thrown off course. And we’ll sharpen how you delegate, prioritise, and position yourself as someone who can lead at scale.

Along the way, you’ll practise showing up differently in your role — less firefighting, more fortitude. The result is not just confidence, but visible evidence of leadership readiness that senior managers and panels can see.

How it works

Here’s how it works:

Apply today – we’ll make sure this is the right fit for your stage and goals.
Ten coaching sessions over six months – practical, reflective, and personalised.
Optional 360 feedback add-on – to gather insights from colleagues and stakeholders.
Between-session reflection tools – so change sticks in the way you work, not just in theory.

By the end of six months, you won’t just feel ready for the next grade, you’ll be demonstrating it.

What you'll achieve

Before coaching, you may be avoiding conflict, overworking to cover gaps, or feeling unsure whether the next grade is even right for you. You might be caught in habits that once made you valuable but now limit your credibility.

After coaching, you will feel clear and brave. You’ll understand your leadership values, know how to hold boundaries, and have the resilience to handle conflict without losing balance. You’ll be confident in delegating and leading at scale, fortified for the next step in your career. And others will see it too: your team, your senior colleagues, and the panels who decide progression.

How It Fits in the Pathway

This is the Competence Phase for senior managers.

If you’re still figuring out your readiness, start with the Career Progression Clarity Session.
If you’re confident in your skills but need help with applications, use the Cover Letter Course.
If you’ve already been promoted, the First Hundred will support your first 100 days in post.

But if you’re at G8 and above and know you need to upgrade how you think, act, and lead this is the bridge.

Your investment

£2,000 for six months of 1:1 coaching (10 sessions).
Optional 360 feedback available at additional cost.

About your coach

I’m Fiona Bicket, the founder of The Hidden Curriculum of Progression and a specialist self-belief coach for Higher Education professionals.

I spent 13 years as a Professional Services manager in UK Higher Education, working across multiple institutions and functions. I know what it feels like to be certain of your management capability but uncertain of your leadership credibility.

For the past four years, I've coached over 200 HE professionals through career transitions, promotions, and leadership challenges. I understand the hidden curriculum of HE leadership because I've lived it, learned it, and now I help others navigate it.

I get the sector because I've been in the sector.

What got you here won't get you there.

If you’re ready to stop doing so much and start leading with clarity and courage, apply today.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Or book a call with me.