Hey :)
I want to share something practical with you today.
I want to share something practical with you today.
This is my Authority In/Out Card — or as I think about it, the order taker to authority shift for 2026.
It’s a simple visual, but it’s built on many years of real work:
- Coaching business owners, leaders, sales teams, marketing teams
- Coaching other coaches and client-facing professionals
- And being painfully honest about where I was accidentally diminishing my own authority
If you look at the card, here’s how I’d actually use it.
Start on the right-hand side — the “out” column.
Ask yourself:
- What are three behaviours, tendencies, or communication styles you recognise in yourself that aren’t serving you?
- Where are you people-pleasing, holding back, overthinking, or trying to be liked?
- Where is that quietly undermining your authority?
Once you’ve identified three, switch your attention to the left-hand side.
For each one, I want you to answer three things:
- Where does this show up for me?
(Client calls, proposals, pricing conversations, internal meetings, leadership moments, sales calls, etc.) - What am I switching it out for?
(What does “in” look like instead of “out” for you?) - What am I going to do differently, specifically?
Not a mindset. Not an intention. An action.
This is how you stop accidentally diminishing your authority.
This is how you move away from people-pleasing.
This is how you step into being more self-assured, decisive, and respected in your work.
If you want to take this a step further, reply and tell me:
- What you’re switching out
- What you’re switching it for
- And what your plan is
And if you’re reading this thinking, “I can see the issue, but I’m not sure what to do instead” — reply and ask me a question. I’m happy to help you work it through.
For those who’ve worked with me before, this will probably feel like a useful reminder — a visual nudge to keep making the changes you already know matter.
For those who haven’t, this is essentially a primer for the work I do. It’s the result of hundreds of hours spent helping people see where authority leaks happen — and how to close them.
If you’d like the printable PDF version of this card, just reply and let me know and I’ll send it over.
🗣️ 👀
Chris