Something’s changed.
You used to wake up with drive. Purpose. Clarity.
Now? It’s harder to concentrate. Your fuse is shorter. Your confidence wobbles in ways it never used to. Even the gym sessions you used to rely on to keep you sharp leave you feeling flat.
You’re not broken. And you’re not alone.
There’s a silent shift happening in many men’s lives in their 40s and 50s — and most don’t even know it has a name.
What is Andropause?
Andropause – sometimes called “male menopause” – refers to the gradual decline in testosterone levels in men, usually beginning in their late 30s or 40s. Unlike menopause, this shift is slower and less abrupt. But it’s no less real.
As testosterone levels drop, they can take a man’s energy, motivation, focus, sex drive, and even his sense of identity with them. Many men describe it as a fog — one they can’t quite explain, shake, or even name.
And because most men weren’t taught to talk about hormones — or admit to any dip in vitality — this change often gets masked as burnout, laziness, or a midlife crisis.
But make no mistake: the shift is real — with physiological roots that often ripple into psychological and emotional wellbeing. And for high-performing men in leadership, the stakes are even higher.
How It Shows Up in Purpose, Relationships, and Leadership
I see this regularly in the men I coach — men who have achieved a great deal but suddenly find themselves misaligned, unsure, and low on fire. Often, they’re battling on multiple fronts:
What makes this worse is the cultural silence around it. The men I work with are not lacking courage — they’re often just lacking language. Once we name it, things begin to shift.
Andropause vs. Midlife Crisis
It’s important to draw a distinction here.
A midlife crisis is often existential — it’s about questioning who we are, what we’ve built, and whether it matters.
Andropause is hormonal — a physiological shift in the body.
But here’s the twist: they often arrive at the same time. One amplifies the other. That’s why it can feel so disorienting, even to the strongest of men.
Understanding both is key to navigating either.
A Personal Note
In my forties, I noticed how my energy levels began to wane dramatically. A significant part of my identity had always been tied to being a sportsman — I played multiple sports, took part in triathlons, and even completed full Ironman and multi-day races. That drive, that hunger to train and push hard, was central to who I thought I was.
Then, quite suddenly, it disappeared. I no longer wanted to train, and I found myself declining invitations to events I’d once jumped at. At first, it was disorienting. But with time and honest reflection, I began to recalibrate. I realised those events and that intensity didn’t define me — they never did.
Today, I still enjoy many of the same activities — but the motivation is different. It’s no longer about proving anything. It’s about presence, gratitude, and the sheer joy of movement and fresh air. This was just one part of the broader recalibration I’ve experienced — and it unlocked a new level of enjoyment and meaning that I couldn’t see before.
So, What Can You Do?
You don’t have to suffer in silence — and this isn’t about “managing decline.” It’s about regaining clarity and direction.
Here’s where to start:
That’s where I come in.
I specialise in helping men in midlife realign their identity, leadership, relationships, and purpose — with courage and honesty. Because it’s not just about fixing a dip in energy. It’s about reawakening the man underneath it all.
You’re Not the Only One
If any part of this landed for you, take a breath.
This isn’t weakness. It’s a call to pay attention.
Men weren’t made to walk these seasons alone. And what you’re facing might not be failure — it might simply be andropause… and a moment that matters more than you realise.
💭 Want to talk this through?
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and feeling the shift, let’s talk. No pressure — just a conversation to explore what might be going on for you.
📩 Message me directly to set up a confidential, obligation-free chat.
🔁 And if this made you think of someone in your life — a friend, colleague or loved one — send it their way. You could be giving them the language they didn’t know they needed.
Let’s normalise this conversation. Because what’s been ignored for too long is costing too many men too much.
📷 StockCake
Many men ask me how coaching actually helps—and what it’s really like to face change when you feel stuck. Toward the end of this article, I share a piece of my own story—because I believe lived experience speaks louder than theory. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the climb ahead, keep reading.🧠
⛰️ Standing at the Base of the Mountain
Recognising the mountain is a courageous act in itself. Many men never admit—either to themselves or others—that something needs to change. They carry on as if the terrain is flat, even as their internal world becomes heavier with every step.
So if you’ve seen the mountain—if you've acknowledged that something in your life is out of alignment—then you’ve already taken the first brave step. Even if you're stuck right now, even if you haven’t moved yet, that recognition is powerful. It’s the start of every meaningful climb. Have you ever looked at your life and felt completely overwhelmed by the change you know needs to happen?
You might know something is off—whether it’s your career, your marriage, your motivation, or your sense of purpose—but the sheer size of the shift required leaves you frozen. Sometimes, it’s not just the scale that intimidates—it’s the uncertainty. The mountain is often shrouded in cloud, its path unclear. You may not even know how far it goes or what the next steps look like, only that something big stands between you and the life you’re meant to live. It’s like standing at the base of a mountain with no clear path, no guide, and no belief that you can make the climb.
This is where many men find themselves in midlife. They’ve achieved a version of success, but feel increasingly misaligned with the life they’ve built. And when they finally realise that something needs to change... they don’t know where to begin.
🧑💼 The Weight of Doing It Alone
Most men I coach have spent their entire lives believing they need to figure things out on their own. It’s a message we’ve internalised since boyhood: real men don’t ask for help.
But here’s the truth: this mindset isn’t noble—it’s exhausting. And more than that, it’s limiting. It not only holds the man back—it also impacts those around him. When a man is stuck in silence or avoidance, his loved ones feel the disconnect. His team at work notices the hesitance. His partner senses the emotional distance. The cost isn’t isolated—it’s relational, emotional, and sometimes generational.
Trying to navigate major life change alone can lead to stagnation, burnout, and quiet despair. You stay at the base of the mountain, staring at the summit, not because you’re lazy—but because no one ever taught you how to climb it with someone beside you—like a Sherpa on Everest, a guide who knows how to navigate the climb, adjust the pace, and encourage you when you falter.
🧭 Coaching as a Guide: What It Unlocks
Coaching doesn’t make the mountain smaller—but it can make the climb more achievable. The climb is possible without a coach—some make it on their own. But for others, the support of a coach offers something valuable: insight, perspective, and encouragement at critical moments. Not to carry you, but to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Here’s what a skilled coach helps unlock:
🔍 Clarity – Identifying what truly matters, sorting signal from noise.
📈 Confidence – Helping you recognise hidden thought patterns that may be holding you back—even ones you don’t realise are there. These beliefs often operate quietly in the background, shaping decisions and feeding self-doubt. A coach helps bring these into the light and replaces hesitation with healthy momentum. 📆 Accountability – Someone walking beside you, keeping you on track.
🔮 Strategy – Turning abstract desire into concrete, aligned action.
A coach isn’t there to rescue you. They don’t carry you—but they walk with you, attuned to your pace, your terrain, and your strength. Their role is to help you remember your own capability—and guide you to use it with purpose.
🔄 The Shift in Identity: Becoming Your Own Climber
Perhaps the biggest change isn’t what you do—it’s who you become.
Coaching helps men move from:
This shift may not come with applause or summit flags—but it changes everything. Eventually, the Sherpa steps back, and you continue the climb stronger, clearer, and more aligned than ever before.
🧠 My Own Mountain
Before we wrap up, I want to share a part of my own journey—because sometimes the most powerful perspective comes from lived experience. If you've been wondering whether you're the only one feeling stuck or unsure, this next section is for you.
My mountains came into view around 2019—and they didn’t appear one at a time. It was more like a mountain range: challenges in work, personal relationships, habits I wasn’t proud of, and the creeping reality that my body could no longer do what it once had. I was also facing down the weight of imposter syndrome, struggling with a version of success that no longer aligned with how I felt inside.
I’ll admit, I dipped into a mild state of depression—until I found the courage to reach out for support. For me, that came in the form of a coach and members of my faith community. They became my Sherpas—not fixing the climb, but walking with me. They helped me find perspective, encouraged me to take just the next step, and reminded me not to obsess over the summit.
I learned to appreciate the view from where I was—even if it wasn’t the peak. I began to take in what each phase of the climb had to offer: the pain of growth, yes, but also the beauty of becoming.
Am I at the summit? No. And to be honest, I’ve come to love the climb so much that I don’t want the process to end. I’m at peace with the man who is emerging—still a work in progress, but no longer stuck. And when I stumble or lose my bearings, my Sherpa is there—supporting, encouraging, and guiding me back to my path.
I know this journey, because I’ve taken it myself—and I’m still on it. I share that story not to centre myself, but to let you know you are not alone. The first step isn’t easy—but it’s powerful.
💬 Let’s Talk About the Mountain
You don’t have to stay stuck staring at the summit. The climb begins with a conversation.
🚀 If this resonates, let’s connect for an obligation-free chat.
📢 If you know someone silently facing their own mountain, share this with them. Let’s normalise these conversations—seeking support isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.
📷 StockCake
In many teams, conflict is viewed as threatening and destructive — something to be avoided, managed, or silenced. After all, “good” teams get along, right?
Not quite.
In truth, the absence of conflict often signals something far more dangerous than disagreement: conformity.
When a team goes out of its way to avoid tension, it’s often a sign that honesty, innovation, and accountability are quietly being sacrificed. People nod in agreement, but they don’t truly buy in. Decisions are made, but the best ideas stay hidden. Progress appears smooth on the surface, but under the waterline, frustration and disengagement start to build.
What do the best teams do differently?
They engage in healthy conflict — robust, respectful conversations where diverse views are welcomed, hard truths are spoken, and assumptions are challenged. Not for the sake of drama, but for the sake of growth. These teams have the psychological safety to speak up and the relational maturity to stay united while disagreeing.
This requires emotional intelligence across the board. Each team member must be self-aware enough to manage their emotions, curious enough to understand others' — and willing to allow their own perspective to evolve in light of new insight.
Healthy conflict is never personal — it’s about addressing the issue, not attacking the person. As Patrick Lencioni emphasises in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, fear of conflict is one of the key barriers to team performance, and overcoming it is essential to build real trust and commitment.
A 2017 study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that teams able to engage in task conflict — where differing ideas are debated respectfully — often outperform those that avoid it. The key distinction? They separate the issue from the individual, recognising that it’s not about ego or being right — it’s about the greater good and identifying the best solutions for the collective and the system.
They understand that cohesion doesn’t mean uniformity — it means alignment, forged through tension, not in spite of it. And they know that consensus isn’t always necessary for high performance. What matters is that every voice is heard and genuinely acknowledged, even when the final decision doesn’t reflect everyone’s individual view. This distinction between inclusion and consensus is critical — and often misunderstood.
👀 If you’re part of a team that rarely disagrees or struggles to decide, it’s worth asking:
Constant agreement isn’t always a virtue. Sometimes it’s a sign that important perspectives are being withheld.
💭 Want to help your team navigate conflict in a way that builds unity and performance?
I offer a team coaching process and solutions that help teams engage honestly, build trust, and execute in alignment and improve performance.
📩 DM me for an obligation-free chat.
🔁 Or share this post with a colleague who needs to hear it.
Let’s normalise the conversations teams have been conditioned to avoid.
For years, I looked successful on the outside - but inside, I questioned whether I was truly enough. Like many men, I carried the weight of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the quiet fear that one day, I’d be ‘found out.’
Yet, here’s what I’ve learned: self-doubt is not permanent. It is possible to move beyond it and into a life of confidence, purpose, and deep fulfilment. This is what changed for me when I finally saw myself as enough.
✅ Leadership: Avoiding risks, hesitating to speak up, or feeling undeserving of success.
✅ Relationships: Struggling to be fully present, fearing vulnerability, or keeping people at a distance.
✅ Personal Fulfilment: Constantly seeking external validation or feeling like an imposter despite achievements.
I can trace my self-doubt back to childhood—always feeling like I had to prove my worth and striving to be ‘good enough’ in the eyes of others. That drive carried into adulthood, where I learned that hard work and overachievement could mask my feelings of inadequacy.
As I climbed the corporate ladder, I wore success like a suit of armour. But beneath it, I still doubted myself. Every promotion, every accolade felt like a temporary shield against the fear that I wasn’t truly deserving. And the weight of that performance took its toll.
I became exhausted by the act of ‘holding it all together,’ avoiding situations where my so-called weaknesses might be exposed. Deep down, I feared that if people really saw me, they would realise I wasn’t who they thought I was.
Then came the moment of reckoning—the day I finally acknowledged the truth: I was measuring my worth by the wrong standards. Self-worth isn’t earned through external success - it’s built from within. And that realisation changed everything.
✅ Clarity & Inner Peace – Finally being comfortable in my own skin and finding my voice.
✅ Authenticity in Leadership & Relationships – No longer hiding behind perfectionism or people-pleasing.
✅ Energy & Purpose – Moving from self-doubt to self-assurance, fully stepping into my purpose.
Self-worth is not about external success - it’s about how you see yourself. The journey isn’t easy - it’s layered and often requires unlearning deep-rooted beliefs about ourselves - but it is possible, and it is worth it.
I share my story because this struggle is more common than you think. If you're feeling something similar, know this: You are not alone - and most importantly, it does not have to define you.
🚀 If this resonates, let’s connect for an obligation-free chat.
📢 If you know someone who needs to hear this, share this with them. Let’s normalise these conversations - seeking confidence isn’t weak; it’s essential.
#SelfWorth #MensMentalHealth #LeadershipGrowth #MidlifeReinvention #ConfidenceMatters
For years, I built a life that looked successful—career achievements, financial stability, a happy family, and the ‘right’ lifestyle. But increasingly, something felt off. I was surviving, not thriving. Looking back, midlife wasn’t the crisis I had feared; it was an incredible blessing and opportunity. When I finally chose to realign my life with my true purpose, everything changed. Here’s what that looked like.
This day is still crystal clear to me. I was writing an executive report but struggling to engage with it. I thought, I cannot do this for the rest of my life!
I turned to my bookcase for yet another procrastinating distraction and noticed its four rows. Two books on IT (… and I was an IT Exec!!! …), while the rest were dedicated to teams, corporate culture, self-mastery, and faith. Neither of the IT books had been read. That was when it hit me—I never truly cared about the technology. It was always about the people.
It has become a four-year journey of rediscovery and restoration. The journey continues, but every day is now filled with an adventurous, almost boy-like enthusiasm—rather than wondering how I will survive another day.
The first step was acknowledging who I was—and, more importantly, who I was not. Instead of living in denial and forcing the proverbial round peg into a square hole, I decided to explore what might emerge if I pursued my passion for people.
At this stage, everything was still very fuzzy and undefined—at some level, even terrifying. I had no idea what lay on the other side or how I would successfully transition into it. But I knew one thing: I couldn’t stay where I was.
Looking back, these are some of the benefits I now (only now) realise I have received as a result of embarking on this journey:
✅ Inner Peace: No more living for expectations—I finally feel at home within myself. Imposter syndrome is diminishing, and there is a deep, intrinsic feeling that this is what I was made to do.
✅ Renewed Energy for Life: Waking up each day with excitement instead of obligation. I LOVE what I do. My days are filled with research, learning, engagements, and meetings that inspire and energise me.
✅ Stronger Relationships: Deeper, more authentic connections with those around me. My relationships at home have taken on a new depth and richness that words struggle to articulate. I feel like I love my wife and kids more than ever before. My love for them is now less about performance and more about genuine support.
✅ Reframed Success: I now define success on my own terms, not by external validation. I know what I do is important. I know it makes a difference. I don’t do it for fame or fortune—I do it because I love it. Seeing men move towards their unique purpose—and the sense of freedom that follows—is a privilege. It is available to all of us!
Purpose is not a magic wand. It is a process, a journey into yourself. As elusive as it may seem, it is well within your grasp.
It requires intentionality, courage, forgiveness, and self-compassion. It is a daily practice—wax on, wax off. (If you’re in midlife, Mr Miyagi’s words will resonate, I’m sure!) Yes, it requires discipline too, but the rewards are worth every effort.
The first step is to recognise and acknowledge if there is a misalignment. If engaging with this is difficult, seeking support from a trusted, non-judgemental thinking and processing partner can help navigate the journey.
It’s not all a bed of roses—it is hard, tough, and draining. But from the day I started (the day of the bookcase realisation), I also found sources of resilience I never knew I had. The journey wasn’t about easy answers; it was about stepping into the unknown, trusting that clarity would emerge along the way.
Midlife reinvention isn’t about throwing everything away; it’s about refining, realigning, and restoring.
If you’ve felt that quiet sense of misalignment, know this: You have the power to choose purpose over the mind-numbing routine of mere survival.
I have not taken this journey on my own. I owe this restored purpose to some very close and special friends, an incredible family, and the coaches in my life. I would never have made it this far alone—and I am eternally grateful.
🚀 If this resonates with you, let’s connect for an obligation-free chat.
📢 If you know someone who needs to hear this, share it with them. Let’s normalise these conversations—seeking fulfilment isn’t weak; it’s essential.
#MidlifeReinvention #PurposeAlignment #AuthenticLiving #MensCoaching #LeadershipGrowth
In rowing, success isn’t just about stamina or strength - it’s about clarity, respect, and
alignment. No role is greater or lesser; without each person contributing effectively, the boat doesn’t move forward. Synchronisation and mutual respect ensure energy isn’t wasted, and momentum is maintained.
The same applies to business teams. Without clear roles and alignment, execution suffers. But alignment isn’t just about coordination - it’s also about being connected to a shared purpose.
Every Seat in the Boat Matters
A high-performing rowing crew has distinct roles, each essential to success. Without one, the boat doesn’t function optimally:
🗣️ The Coxswain (Strategic Leader) – Guides, sets the pace, and keeps the team focused.
⏳ The Stroke Seat (Execution Driver) – Ensures rhythm, consistency, and efficiency.
💪 The Middle Crew (Core Engine) – Sustains effort and drives momentum.
🎯 The Bow Pair (Stabilizers & Finishers) – Provides balance and precision in execution.
The Business Translation
Your team works the same way - each role is crucial, and success depends on collaboration:
🔹 The Leader (Coxswain) provides direction and strategic alignment.
🔹 The Key Executor (Stroke Seat) drives consistency and execution.
🔹 The Backbone Team (Middle Crew) delivers the bulk of the work with discipline.
🔹 The Precision Experts (Bow Pair) ensure quality and refine final outputs.
When one role falters, the whole team is impacted. Just as in rowing, no single person carries the team alone - every role must be respected and valued. Misalignment disrupts execution, slows progress, and wastes effort. When teams row with shared purpose, they move efficiently towards meaningful goals.
The Role of Team Coaching in Achieving Alignment & Purpose
A high-performing rowing crew doesn’t just figure it out as they go - they have a coach ensuring every role is optimised and aligned with the goal.
🏆 A skilled team coach helps teams:
✔️ Define roles and their connection to the overall purpose.
✔️ Provide real-time feedback to maintain momentum.
✔️ Build trust and psychological safety for collaboration.
✔️ Align execution with a shared purpose for long-term success.
Is Your Team Rowing in Sync?
Execution is optimised when teams understand their roles, work in alignment, and row with purpose.
⏳ Does your team know their roles? Are they working in sync, or is effort being wasted?
If this resonates, reach out for a conversation or share this with a leader who needs to hear it.
#Leadership #Teamwork #SharedPurpose #Execution #HighPerformance
High-performing teams need more than talent, resources, & strategy. What separates truly effective teams is a secret ingredient - shared purpose - the unifying force aligning individuals beyond annual targets. Yet, many teams overlook the power of purpose, mistakenly focusing on business goals, leading to short-term gains but long-term disengagement.
Purpose vs Business Goals: Understanding the Difference
📊 A business goal, such as increasing revenue or launching a new product, is a measurable target within a timeframe. While essential, goals are transactional, focusing on output. Purpose, on the other hand, is transformational. It defines the deeper 'WHY' behind the work, creating engagement & long-term motivation.
When teams focus solely on business goals, motivation fluctuates. When united by purpose, they sustain engagement, collaboration, & resilience - even through setbacks.
The Impact of Shared Purpose on Team Performance
1️⃣ Greater Commitment – Purpose-driven teams show higher engagement & effort.
2️⃣ Stronger Collaboration – A common purpose eliminates silos, fostering teamwork.
3️⃣ Increased Resilience – Purpose-driven teams adapt to challenges effectively.
4️⃣ Enhanced Innovation – Meaningful work fuels creativity & problem-solving.
5️⃣ Improved Retention – Employees aligned with a mission are more likely to stay.
Rowing: A Lesson in Purpose vs. Goals
Having played many team sports, I only truly understood the difference between goals & purpose when watching my son row. In rowing, the goal is to win, but success depends on something deeper - shared purpose. 🚣♂️ Every rower must synchronise perfectly; even the slightest misalignment can slow the boat down. This mirrors the workplace: goals set the destination, but purpose ensures the team reaches it effectively. When aligned in purpose, teams move as one, cutting through resistance & achieving extraordinary results. Without it, progress is sluggish, & effort is wasted.
The Role of Independent Expert Guidance in Strengthening Shared Purpose
Some teams struggle to uncover & harness shared purpose. Independent expert advice provides an objective perspective to address alignment gaps:
🎯 Clarifying Purpose – Helping articulate a shared, actionable mission. ⚙️ Aligning Processes – Ensuring workflows & decisions reinforce purpose. 💡 Leveraging Technology – Integrating tools that enhance communication. 🌍 Facilitating Culture Change – Embedding purpose into daily work.
Leading with Purpose: The Next Step
If your team feels disconnected, the issue may not be performance - it may be purpose misalignment. Investing in expert guidance to realign culture, processes, & technology around a clear & compelling purpose is key for long-term success.
🔥 Ready to tap into your team’s secret advantage? Align them with purpose, & performance will follow.
#Leadership #Teamwork #SharedPurpose #BusinessSuccess #HighPerformance
In the spirit of vulnerability, I want to share my own experience with imposter syndrome—because for years, I lived it.
💭 The Moment of Realisation Mid-2022, I sat frozen at my desk, struggling to write a report for my executive team. My mind was empty. A thought hit me: I cannot do this for the rest of my life.
📚 The Clue Was in My Bookshelf I turned to my bookcase—four rows of books. Two on technology. The rest? Leadership, culture, faith, and self-improvement. Those two unread tech books confirmed what I had long ignored: I wasn’t passionate about technology—I cared about people.
⚠️ The Weight of Imposter Syndrome This explained why leadership praise felt uncomfortable and technical feedback stung. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t who they thought I was. So, I overcompensated—working harder, staying later, avoiding exposure.
🚫 Avoiding What I Feared Most Networking events were my nightmare. Surrounded by IT experts, I felt like a fraud. My career thrived on careful navigation, but as technology evolved, my imposter syndrome grew.
😞 The Impact on My Whole Life This misalignment affected more than my career: ❌ Relationships – I wasn’t showing up authentically. ❌ Health – Stress and exhaustion took a toll. ❌ Spirituality – I felt disconnected from my deeper purpose.
🔎 The Answer Was Always There My bookcase told me what I needed to do. I didn’t need to double down on technology—I needed to pivot. Once I embraced this, opportunities opened. I gained new certifications, explored new spaces, and stepped into a career aligned with my true purpose.
✨ What I Gained by Letting Go I may not have the material ‘trophies’ of success, but I now have: ✔️ Relationships – Deeper, more authentic connections. ✔️ Health – Reduced stress and greater balance. ✔️ Spirituality – A stronger connection to purpose and faith.
Looking back, the hardest part wasn’t the shift—it was admitting I needed to change.
🚀 A Message for You If any of this resonates—if you feel a quiet misalignment—know that you’re not alone. Stepping into purpose takes courage, but the life you’re meant to live is waiting on the other side.
📩 Let’s connect—your next step starts with a conversation.
Passive-aggressive behaviour erodes trust, stifles collaboration, and damages productivity. Unlike open conflict, which at least allows issues to be addressed, passive-aggression festers beneath the surface, creating resentment and disengagement. Left unchecked, it can derail even the most competent teams.
The good news? With the right interventions, teams can move towards healthier interactions.
Understanding Passive-Aggressive Behaviour
Passive-aggressive behaviour includes
💥withholding information,
💥avoiding difficult conversations,
💥backhanded compliments,
💥procrastination as resistance,
💥or subtly undermining colleagues.
Dr Timothy A. Pychyl, in Solving the Procrastination Puzzle, highlights that passive-aggression often stems from avoidance - a reluctance to address uncomfortable emotions.
In a team setting, this undermines psychological safety, a key factor in high performance, as outlined by Amy Edmondson in The Fearless Organization.
The Impact on Teams and Collaboration
When passive-aggression dominates, distrust grows. Team members hesitate to collaborate and work defensively, reducing efficiency and innovation. Patrick Lencioni, in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, identifies lack of trust as a foundation of dysfunction. Without trust, open dialogue is impossible.
Research underscores the costs of workplace conflict, much of which stems from passive-aggressive behaviours:
📊CPP Global Study (2008): Employees spend 2.8 hours per week managing conflict, costing U.S. businesses $359 billion annually in lost productivity.
📊2022 Workplace Research: A survey of 2,000 employees found 69% reported passive-aggression as a workplace issue, with 48% noting an increase since COVID.
📊Myers-Briggs Conflict Report (2021): Post-COVID workplace tensions, particularly around remote work, have intensified conflict.
What Needs to Shift?
To move beyond passive-aggression, teams must foster:
✅Open Dialogue: Encouraging open conversations where concerns can be addressed constructively. Psychological safety allows team members to speak without fear.
✅Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness and self-regulation, as highlighted by Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence, help prevent reactive behaviours.
✅Clear Expectations & Accountability: Leaders must set communication norms and hold teams accountable.
✅Constructive Feedback: Timely, respectful feedback prevents passive-aggression from taking root.
The Role of a Team Coach
A skilled coach helps teams:
🔘Identify Dysfunctional Patterns – Surfacing hidden tensions and providing insights.
🔘Facilitate Honest Conversations – Creating safe spaces for addressing conflict.
🔘Develop Conflict Resolution Skills – Encouraging healthy debate instead of passive resistance.
🔘Rebuild Trust – Guiding teams toward more effective collaboration.
A Better Future for Teams
Passive-aggression need not define a team’s culture. By fostering transparency, emotional intelligence, and accountability, teams can transform into high-functioning, collaborative units. With the support of a team coach, this shift becomes not only possible but sustainable, leading to a workplace where individuals feel valued, communication is open, and success is shared. Reach out if this is a conversation you’d like to explore.
Some words have a way of sticking with us. Over the past two weeks, I’ve felt this passage echo through my own thoughts, and I’ve even had the privilege of sharing it with clients. Maybe this is exactly what needs to be heard right now?
💡 The Man in the Arena – Theodore Roosevelt 💡
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly..."
This excerpt from Roosevelt’s 1910 speech, Citizenship in a Republic, still rings true today.
💭 To every man who steps into the arena - who faces the doubts, the struggles, the messy, uncertain path toward purpose - I see you. I respect you. I stand with you. 🎩👏
Midlife can be a battleground - filled with questions, transitions, and challenges that demand more than just endurance. It demands courage. And it’s always better when you’re not standing alone.
As an ICF-credentialed coach, I specialise in guiding men through this chapter - helping them rediscover their fire, their purpose, their WHY.
⚡ Dare greatly. Reignite your life. ⚡
If you're ready to step forward, reach out. Let’s begin your journey toward the life you were meant to lead. 🚀
