You Can’t Change Them, But You Can Change This


Dear Reader,

Does this sound familiar? You’re part of a team led by someone who avoids conflict at all costs. Problems are left to fester, tensions simmer below the surface, and morale takes a nosedive. You see the issues clearly and think, “If only they’d step up and have the hard conversations, everything would improve.”

Frustrating, right?

And what's even more frustrating is that you can’t change your boss. You can’t make them embrace conflict or magically transform their leadership style. But what you can change is how you respond, lead, and thrive in that environment.

What Can You Control?

🧭 Your Reactions: Instead of letting frustration consume you, focus on how you’ll navigate the situation. Are there alternative approaches to take? A proactive idea, collaborating with someone new, even taking a break and walking away to regroup can change the course for the better.

🚧 Your Boundaries: If their avoidance creates more work or stress for you, get clear on what you’re willing to take on and what you’re not. Saying “no” can be one of the most powerful tools in a tough workplace.

🔭 Your Perspective: Shift from “this is impossible” to “how can I grow through this?” Challenging environments can sharpen your problem-solving skills and teach you resilience, two traits that serve any leader well.

A Real-World Example

One of my clients, let’s call him Eric, faced this exact challenge. His CEO avoids hard conversations, leaving Eric to clean up the mess. Instead of waiting for the CEO to change, Eric decided to:

➡️ Take ownership of what he could control, setting up regular check-ins to address team concerns proactively.

➡️ Speak up in a non-confrontational way, offering specific examples of how addressing issues sooner could save time and stress later.

➡️ Build his leadership muscles by learning how to navigate conflict effectively himself.

Did the CEO suddenly become a master communicator? No. But Eric’s shift in mindset made him a stronger, more confident leader. And to top it off, his team noticed!

Your Turn

Think about one frustrating dynamic in your workplace. What’s one small change you can make to how you show up? It doesn’t have to be big. Start with one conversation, one boundary, or one mindset shift.

You can’t change them, but you can always change you. And sometimes, that’s enough to change everything.

With ease, Tracy


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I offer 1:1 coaching, group coaching, team facilitation, and public speaking, and tailor offerings to the specific needs of you/your workplace. ​Contact me to learn more​.


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Hi! I'm Tracy, an Executive and Leadership Coach.

Learn how to lead effortlessly by establishing boundaries, collaborting with people with different work styles, and making delegation easier, all while lowering stress and feeling confident in any role, based on my experience as both a long-time executive and a certified executive and leadership coach.

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