Unlocking your potential at work

1. In your coaching experience, what are the main obstacles you observe in professionals undergoing training, particularly when they have to speak or speak in public or negotiate?

The main obstacle I observe among professionals, whether in individual coaching or in training, particularly during speeches or situations of negotiation, is deeply connected to the fear of other people's gaze. That's where it all starts. Behind every hesitation, every trembling voice, every silence that settles in, there is this question interior: «What will they think of me?»

Professionals fear not being up to the task, making a mistake, disappointing others, or even losing their last chance. This pressure leads to complete paralysis: some feel frozen, unable to utter a single word. When we dig deeper, we discover that it is not so much external judgement that frightens us... but our own. that we exert on ourselves. Many people are much harder and more demanding on themselves than they are on others. their interlocutors would be. They therefore give more weight to «the outside» than to their own perspective. interior.

Ultimately, this blockage is closely linked to self-esteem: How much value do I place on myself? What place do I recognise for myself?
When we believe that others are worth more than ourselves, we naturally take a back seat and let others take the lead. outside perspective define our worth. And that is what becomes truly violent. This is what I observe most often: it is the fear of «not being enough», the fear of «being judged» and, the extreme severity that anyone can inflict upon themselves. My role, in coaching as well as in training, is to help each person rebalance this perspective and rediscover his worth, to regain confidence... and to dare to take the place he deserves.

2. Many of our learners are reluctant to speak in a foreign language for fear of making mistakes. How can we transform this fear of making mistakes into a driving force for learning?

In my opinion, the fear of making mistakes in a foreign language stems from a misunderstanding: we completely forget that immense value of the effort made to reach out to others. Many people focus on their potential mistakes while they are doing something. something profoundly beautiful: entering into another person's world, showing consideration, build relationships. We tend to fall into internal competition: «I must be excellent, I must not I certainly hope I'm not mistaken.»

This reflex makes us forget the essential: communicating is an act of encounter, not an examination. In reality, what touches the listener most is not perfection. It is intention. A simple «hello» spoken with a hesitant accent can create more connection than a a perfectly mastered speech, but lacking in warmth. Transforming fear into a driving force for learning means putting the spotlight back where it belongs: on the momentum of heart rather than judgement. Every word spoken, even if awkward, opens a door. Every attempt strengthens the relationship. That kind of courage is deeply appreciated, much more so than performance. Ultimately, we move forward when we dare, even if we tremble. Because what really matters is reaching out to others. That's where everything becomes possible.

3. You work with managers. What differences do you see between self-confidence and self-esteem, and how do these two aspects influence leadership on a daily basis?

Self-confidence and self-esteem are often confused, even though they are two distinct concepts. profoundly different and yet closely linked to a third, equally essential one: self-love. Self-confidence is our ability to do things; it's a matter of our skills. That's the idea: «I am capable».
Changing a wheel, conducting a delicate conversation, speaking up in a meeting... We can feel fear, hesitate, but have the skills to act. Self-esteem refers to the value we place on ourselves. It is: «I am valuable», independently performance. It means recognising your qualities, your limitations, what you bring to the table, even when it cannot be measured. And then there is a third pillar, often forgotten: self-love. It is the ability to accept oneself without judgement, to regard oneself with kindness and respect.

This trio is fundamental in leadership. An aligned leader does not seek to prove anything. He has the conviction that he must move forward or help others move forward. His confidence enables him to act. His self-esteem allows him to embody his place. His self-love allows him to remain authentic and humble. That is what creates his aura, that presence that makes you want to follow him. A leader who is aware of their value and clear-headed about their limitations has nothing to defend: they move forward, inspire and elevate.

4. Our trainees sometimes arrive with limiting beliefs such as: I'm not cut out for languages, I don't know how to negotiate. What technique do you use to deconstruct this self-sabotage? 

Limiting beliefs such as «I'm not good at languages» or «I don't know how to negotiate» are very powerful, because our brains spend their time confirming them.

The first step is to help. the person to hear their own inner discourse. This realisation alone already opens up a breach. During sessions, I create a very safe environment and encourage the person to revisit their experiences and listen. what she tells herself and observe how she judges herself. Through Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques Linguistics (NLP) and transactional analysis, she began to look differently at what she believed unchanging. And that's when the little locks pop off: theNo one realises that they can think differently, that they are not set in their ways, that they already have resources. A simple «What if I did things differently?» opens up a whole new world.

This process is incredibly beautiful: it restores freedom. And very quickly, transforming your limiting beliefs becomes almost like a game. A natural movement towards more openness, more ease, more possibilities. Behind «I don't know» there is often an old phrase... just waiting to be rewritten.

5. In a professional context, how can one develop confidence in a concrete and lasting way? Do you have any practical exercises to recommend to our learners?

Developing confidence means first learning to see yourself differently. Regardless of the context, professional or personal, we always move forward with ourselves wherever we go. we are. And that is where it all begins. I often suggest to the people I coach that they list their abilities, even the simplest ones. This exercise reveals how much they already know how to do. It is a first step towards, gentle, reassuring.

Then, I invite them to revisit moments when they feel safe, comfortable, and competent. What makes it work here? By understanding this context, they discover resources that they can reuse elsewhere. Sometimes, the blockage comes from an internal misunderstanding: «Am I not going because I don't trust them... or simply because I don't feel like it?» Recognising this changes everything.

With NLP tools, transactional analysis and a lot of listening, we learn to transform limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs. The locks are slowly but surely being broken. An exercise I really enjoy is observing someone we admire, not with envy or Jealousy, of course, but with inspiration: How does he do it? What little things can I learn from him? It is a gaze that nourishes, uplifts, and makes you want to try.

Ultimately, developing confidence means choosing openness: opening up to yourself, your resources, and others. way of doing things. It is a gradual movement, and a profoundly powerful one. And once you have tasted this openness... the possibilities expand of their own accord.

6. Rhyslane, what advice would you give to someone who wants to progress but tends to constantly compare themselves to others, especially in a training group?

Before advising him, I reassure him. I set the tone with the group, showing kindness. Then I invite him to To dare, to try, to do things differently...
Dare to take a step, even a small one. In a small group, the setting is supportive, secure, almost like a cocoon: it's the ideal place to try something new and step outside your comfort zone.

Comparison is often a sign of fragile self-esteem. However, in a group, it happens. always that magical moment when someone says, «What you're sharing touches me, I'm going through the same thing.» And then, a door opens: the person realises that they are not alone, that what they are feeling is valuable. When it's still too early to take the plunge, that's OK. The important thing is to identify what you really want., to make a little contract with yourself, then move forward step by step.

Sometimes, deeper work, using a tool such as hypnosis, helps to overcome a more deeply rooted blockage. I think back to someone I worked with who was convinced that she was incapable of making the word. At the end of a hypnosis session, when I asked her how she felt, she replied: «Rhyslane... I was Céline Dion in Las Vegas!» You can imagine how funny the end of the session was. She finally took the floor in front of 300 people to present what she had been asked to... She She impressed everyone, and most of all, she impressed herself.

That's the beauty of support: uA first step, an opening, and already a new confidence is emerging. Dare... and let the rest follow.