The Power of Reframing in Leadership

At the moment my house is full of builders, dust and half-installed windows 🙃. It struck me the other day that leadership (and coaching) can feel a lot like being in the middle of building works. It’s noisy, messy, sometimes frustrating, and you can’t always see the end result. But when you step back and reframe the disruption, you start to realise: progress is happening, and the foundations for something stronger are being laid.

This idea of reframing has been front of mind in my coaching sessions too. Clients often bring situations that feel chaotic or unresolved, and together we work to see them differently — uncovering the structure and meaning beneath the mess.

Take neuroplasticity as an example. Our brains are wired to adapt, but only if we stretch them. Reframing is one way to do that. It allows us to reinterpret challenges, spot hidden strengths, and unlock new possibilities. A recent inspiration for me was watching Chris Hemsworth in Limitless on Netflix. In one episode, he learns to play the drums in just eight weeks - not in private, but live with Ed Sheeran in front of 70,000 people!

If he can rewire his brain like that, what else might be possible if we reframed our own experiences?

Here are some reflections I’ve seen in coaching conversations:

·        A tough conversation isn’t just conflict - it can be a chance to step into someone else’s shoes.

·        Assume good intentions in others - and ask ourself: what assumptions sit behind our current framing, and what might be a more useful reframe?

·        A varied career across industries doesn’t signal lack of focus - it can highlight openness, courage, broad networks, and creative problem-solving.

·        In leadership conversations, when you notice resistance to change, try asking: “What new opportunities or advantages could this shift open up for you or for us as a team?”

Reframing won’t remove the dust and disruption - but it does expand perspective, uncover meaning, and spotlight strengths.

As I wait for the final windows to be fitted in my house, I’m reminded that reframing is simply choosing to see through a new frame - and that small shift can change everything