How to Ask Good Questions (and Avoid Giving All the Answers)

As a coach, I often get asked whether my job is to just ask questions or to give answers. Truth be told, whether you are an executive coach or a leader coaching your team members, it’s important to be able to do both and know when is the right time to be asking vs. answering …

How to Face Career Challenges (Or a Bear 🐻)

I recently went hiking for a few days in beautiful western Canada. Right before our small group headed out on our first remote trail, our experienced guide gave us a crash course on what to do in case we crossed paths with a bear. Yes, a bear! City girl that I am, I listened very closely to what she had to say …

How Do I Get Seen as a Leader?

At some point in your career, you may find yourself asking: “Why am I not being seen as a leader?” It’s a deeply personal, often frustrating question—especially when you’re doing all the right things: showing up, delivering results, supporting your team, and even stepping into leadership-like roles.

What Can Football Teach Us About Leadership?

I’ll admit it—I’m not much of a football fan. But my life partner totally is and a lifelong loyalist to the Washington Commanders team. If you follow the sport (note to my non-US based friends: I'm referring to American football 😁), you can only imagine the excitement and renewed optimism that this season has brought!

Signs You're Being Passive-Aggressive

Whenever there is a disconnect between what you say (passive) and what you do (aggressive), you fall into that camp. And while it’s easy to recognize a passive aggressive co-worker … recognizing one’s own passive-aggressive behaviors at work can be quite difficult.

Signs That You're Being Too Stubborn

They’re hardheaded. They dig their heels in. You know the type — people who are way too stubborn for their own good. While it’s easy to point the finger at others who exhibit this behavior, it can be hard to recognize this trait in yourself.

The Power of Metaphors (and Why I Use Them)

If you’ve caught any of my Coaching Real Leaders episodes, you may have noticed—I love to use metaphors when I coach. The specifics of the metaphors are less important than why I use them.

Signs That You Lack Emotional Intelligence

Often, emotional intelligence is the key differentiator between a star performer and the rest of the pack, yet many never embrace the skill for themselves. Do you think being liked at work is overrated? Are you surprised when others are offended by your comments, and do you feel like they’re overreacting?

17 Coaching Experts Share Podcasts That Help Them Grow Professionally

Podcasts are a highly popular and convenient way for people to learn new things and be entertained at the same time. As a professional coach seeks to enhance their abilities, navigate client work, maintain a positive outlook and effectively manage their practice, certain podcasts can become indispensable resources for them …

Signs That You're a Micromanager

Absolutely no one likes to be micromanaged. It’s frustrating, demoralizing, and demotivating. Yet, some managers can’t seem to help themselves. Dealing with a controlling boss who doesn’t trust you is tough, but what if you’re the one doing the micromanaging?

How to Practice Leadership Rest (Or Is It an Oxymoron?)

If there’s one thing that’s common across the leaders I coach, it’s this: they’re tired. So, it’s not surprising that at some point, the topic comes up during our coaching meetings — usually as a result of my client having lost their cool with someone, feeling unmotivated or running their body ragged …

How to Really Listen (and Resist the Urge to Give the Answer)

On a recent Live Q&A in my Coaching Real Leaders Community, I was asked a simple yet not easily answerable question: How do you actively listen to someone while at the same time trying to understand what the person is saying and then have the ability to respond or ask a follow up question?

How to Give Feedback (Without It Getting Messy): Part 1

Everyone knows that the ability to give feedback is critical to being an effective leader and manager. And yet, many struggle with it no matter how many trainings they’ve been to or articles they’ve read. I often find myself coaching clients on how to give their team members feedback …

How to Give Feedback or Feedforward (Without It Getting Messy): Part 2

The most effective feedback discussions are based on shared understanding. Whether feedback or feedforward, it’s important to not miss the check in with the receiver to see how they view the situation in question.

How to Hold Grief At Work When It Happens (because it will)

Grieving is hard, but it can be made more challenging when grief and work intersect. Take losing a job: that’s a real fear for many people (especially these days) and grief can strike when it happens. But even when you survive a mass layoff, you’re left to face the fallout …

How to Say the Right Thing (When You Feel You Can’t Ever Say the Right Thing Anymore)

As organizations increasingly focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, there is a topic that more of my executive coaching clients are bringing up during our coaching meetings than ever before. It sounds a little like this …

Is Your Employee Coachable?

As a manager, you provide some level of coaching to all your direct reports, helping some attain higher levels of professional achievement, and helping others improve their performance to fulfill their current roles.

How to Leverage the Power of Sponsors

Much has been written about the benefits of having a sponsor – those who have one advance at a faster rate than those who don’t. And they experience more career satisfaction. If my coaching client doesn’t have a sponsor or better yet, sponsors, it becomes part of their development plan …

How a Sponsor Changed My Trajectory

In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share a story about the game-changing power of sponsorship—a story that's deeply personal to me and highlights why this kind of support is so crucial for Black professionals, no matter what the setting, especially now when DEI is under attack and the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

How Do I Deal with a Competitive Peer?

I’ve received many messages around my Coaching Real Leaders podcast episode, “How Do I Deal with a Competitive Peer?”, — stories of many who resonated with my coaching client who struggled when faced with competing with a colleague. It made me curious if there is another way to think about competition at work.

Books & Resources

Books

Leadership UnblockedBreak Through the Beliefs that Limit Your Potential

by Muriel M. Wilkins

Your mindset may be the only thing standing between you and your leadership potential. Break free from the beliefs that hold you back.

Own the RoomDiscover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence

by Muriel M. Wilkins and Amy Jen Su

Book Contributions

Podcast Interviews

Let Go of the Beliefs That Limit How You Lead

Taking on a Senior Leadership Role Remotely

Leadership in a Complex World of Work

Muriel Wilkins on Building Executive Presence

How to Master Your Executive Presence

Why Don’t I Feel Motivated at Work Anymore?

Create a Presence: How to Communicate in a Way Others Can Feel

Becoming a Leader When Everything Is Shifting

Executive Coaching: The HR Leader’s Edge

Step into the Spotlight

How to Hold a Flower

Contextualizing Coaching with Joel Monk

Articles

How to Ask Good Questions (and Avoid Giving All the Answers)

How to Face Career Challenges (Or a Bear 🐻)

How Do I Get Seen as a Leader?

What Can Football Teach Us About Leadership?

Signs You're Being Passive-Aggressive

Signs That You're Being Too Stubborn

The Power of Metaphors (and Why I Use Them)

Signs That You Lack Emotional Intelligence

17 Coaching Experts Share Podcasts That Help Them Grow Professionally

Signs That You're a Micromanager

How to Practice Leadership Rest (Or Is It an Oxymoron?)

How to Really Listen (and Resist the Urge to Give the Answer)

How to Give Feedback (Without It Getting Messy): Part 1

How to Give Feedback or Feedforward (Without It Getting Messy): Part 2

How to Hold Grief At Work When It Happens (because it will)

How to Say the Right Thing (When You Feel You Can’t Ever Say the Right Thing Anymore)

Is Your Employee Coachable?

How to Leverage the Power of Sponsors

How a Sponsor Changed My Trajectory

How Do I Deal with a Competitive Peer?

Videos

Women At Work Live: How to Communicate Effectively When You’re Running on Empty

Better with Dorie Clark: Getting Unstuck as a Leader

Management Tip: Unpacked with Amy Gallo | Navigating a Career Turning Point

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

One Minute Management Tips

Real talk for real leaders. Straight to your inbox.

MURIEL WILKINS

PARAVIS PARTNERS

LINKS

Leadership Unblocked
Break Through the Beliefs that Limit Your Potential

Own the Room
Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence