Leadership coaching for managers who are figuring it all out on their own.
I help you become the kind of leader you would follow.
Leadership coaching and management coaching, in Amsterdam or online.
30 minutes. Zero obligation.
What my clients say.
Check my LinkedIn or Google Business page for more client stories.
Most managers learn to lead through trial and error.
And never reach their full potential.
There is a better way.
Click on what resonates.
I design a 1-on-1 coaching programme around all the challenges you want to get better at.
The problem:
Last week you were a colleague. Sometimes even a friend. Now you are the boss. You have to manage people you saw as equals yesterday. Being too soft does not feel right, but neither does being too hard. And you do not want to lose yourself in a role that does not quite feel like you yet.
How I solve it:
We work through that leadership transition: how to build authority without creating distance, how to manage existing relationships without damaging them, and how to set boundaries in a way that feels natural to you.
RESULT:
Your team respects you, not because you are the boss, but because you lead from who you are. Relationships stay intact. You feel at home in your new role.
The problem:
What is actually your responsibility? What can you delegate? You want to stay in control, but doing everything yourself is not working either.
How I solve it:
We get clear on what does and does not belong to your role. Which decisions you make. Which ones you hand to your team. I teach you how to delegate without feeling like you are losing control.
RESULT:
You know what your role is. You stop solving everything yourself. Your team gets more responsibility. You get your time back.
The problem:
You know you need to give feedback. You keep putting it off. Or you give it, and the other person gets defensive. It is not working.
How I solve it:
I teach you to see feedback as a gift rather than an attack. We work with Radical Candor as a mindset and SBI as a technique. Through DISC you learn how to tailor feedback to someone's communication preference. Practiced using your real situations.
RESULT:
You give feedback, often and in the right way. Your team listens. They grow faster. You stop avoiding it.
The problem:
That performance review you are dreading. Someone who gets emotional. A conflict that keeps simmering. Conversations where emotions run high require a different approach than regular feedback. More preparation, and more of you as a person.
How I solve it:
I teach you to manage emotions, both the other person's and your own, during the conversation. We work on structure, timing and setting boundaries without damaging the relationship. Practiced using your real situations.
RESULT:
You have that conversation. It does not escalate. You get what you wanted. The relationship stays intact, or gets stronger.
The problem:
You have someone on your team who is not delivering. You have addressed it. Nothing changes. You do not know if you are being too soft, too unclear, or both.
How I solve it:
We look at what is really going on. Unwillingness or inability? We work on performance management: clear expectations, monitoring progress, naming consequences. I teach you to have the conversation that actually changes something.
RESULT:
You address people in a way that works. The situation changes, one way or another. You stop hoping it will fix itself.
The problem:
Sometimes you give in to keep the peace. Sometimes you get frustrated because nobody seems to listen. And somewhere in between is the leader you want to be.
How I solve it:
We look at the science of motivation: what really drives people, and why bonuses and compliments do not work long-term. We work on influencing without authority and assertive but empathetic communication. Through DISC you learn to adapt your message to the other person so it actually lands.
RESULT:
Your team works because they want to, not because you are pushing them. The energy shifts. People take initiative. You do less driving.
The problem:
Impostor syndrome. That inner critic telling you they will find you out. You are not always sure how you come across. Your presence as a leader does not quite feel like you yet.
How I solve it:
I help you see that self-critical voice for what it is: thoughts, not the truth. We work on leadership presence and stress management. How you walk into a room. How you stay calm under pressure. How you position yourself.
RESULT:
You feel confident and project it. Your team notices the difference. That inner saboteur gets quieter. You lead without constantly doubting yourself.
The problem:
Your team keeps bringing problems to you. They wait for your answers. They do not take ownership.
How I solve it:
Coaching leadership is becoming one of the most valuable skills for managers in the coming years. AI is taking over more and more tasks. What remains is the ability to develop people. As an ICF-certified coach I teach you to ask the right questions instead of giving the right answers. We work with proven models around delegation and ownership, so you can let go without losing grip.
RESULT:
Your team comes with solutions, not problems. They take ownership. You are no longer the bottleneck. They grow. You get your time back.
The problem:
Your team is functioning. But you feel there is more in them. People are performing below their potential. Or there is no shared sense of where you are heading.
How I solve it:
We work on strategy and vision: how to formulate a direction that moves people. How to translate that into daily practice. How to run meetings that give energy instead of draining it.
RESULT:
Your team performs at a level you did not think possible before. People grow. Meetings have direction. You are the leader who makes that happen.
The problem:
You are responsible for a large team, a strategy and a vision. But setting a strategy is one thing. Bringing people along is another. You notice the complexity increasing and clear communication becoming more important than ever.
How I solve it:
Executive coaching at this level is about sharpening your vision, translating strategy into concrete direction, and communicating in a way that moves people. We work on your role as the architect of the organisation.
RESULT:
Your vision is clear. Your team knows where they are heading. You lead with calm and authority.
This one is a little different from the rest.
Many managers do not come with one specific problem. They just want to get better. Grow faster. Learn what good leaders do and make it their own.
In that case I use my V.O.I.C.E. programme as a framework: Vision, Ownership, Influence, Confidence and Empathy. This gives structure to your development as a leader. Based on the challenges you recognise, I fill the programme with themes that make it a complete and coherent journey. Think upward management, stakeholder management, group dynamics, AI as a management tool, or leading former colleagues.
RESULT:
No standard programme, but a journey built around what you need. With a clear picture of where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there.
Leadership coaching that works.
I combine three elements for you:
1. Someone who has been there
Ten years of leadership experience, including five years as director of operations. I’ve faced those tough performance reviews, team conflicts, and moments wondering ‘what the hell am I doing here’.
2. Co-Active Coaching
ICF-certified Co-Active coach, considered the ‘gold standard’. We look not only at what you need to do, but also at who you want to be, and which beliefs may be holding you back.
3. Coaching, mentoring, ánd training
Sometimes you need advice. Sometimes reflection. Sometimes a clear model to prepare for a difficult conversation. I adjust my approach to what you need in that moment.
The program.
Extensive intake
We build a plan around your goals. I can recommend additional topics that work well in your specific situation.
10 sessions of 1 hour
Spread over 5 months. Online or in Amsterdam. Including DISC assessment.
Every session you grow. Every week you become stronger in your role.
Support between sessions
WhatsApp or phone. I am fully committed to your success.
Certificate & results
Measurably more confidence, clarity and success in your role. Plus an official certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions.
For more questions, check my contact page.
The International Coaching Federation, through which I am accredited, defines coaching as "a partnership in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires people to maximise their personal and professional potential." In practice, coaching is action-oriented: we start with what you want to achieve and work from there. What are your goals? How do you get there? And what is holding you back, consciously or not. Think beliefs, fears or patterns that are getting in your way. Depending on what you need, I move between coaching (asking the right questions so you arrive at your own insights), training (teaching a skill or model) and mentoring (giving concrete advice from my own leadership experience). What my clients consistently say: they grow not just as a manager, but as a person. That development shows up well beyond work.
For anyone who manages people and wants to get more out of themselves and their team. Whether you just became a manager or have been leading for a few years: if you are stuck on difficult conversations, noticing your team is not delivering what you need, or simply know there is more in you than you are currently showing, this is for you.
The investment for a five-month programme including support between sessions is around 3% of a gross annual salary for most managers. Research shows that investing in leadership development pays back an average of 7x: through better performance as a manager, higher output from your team, faster development of your people, and lower absenteeism and turnover. Most companies cover coaching costs for managers.
Sessions take place at my location in Amsterdam or online. Not based nearby? No problem. A number of my clients are based abroad, and the coaching is just as effective.
Ready for the next step?
Schedule your free introduction or email me on info@davidbuirs.com.