Executive Coaching and Preparing your State for Difficult Conversations with Nils Cornelissen
Fri Jan 30 2026
A coaching podcast with Nils I. Cornelissen and Tobias Weghorn on why leadership coaching in times of transformation starts with the leader, not the org chart. Drawing from his work with executive teams in large corporations, Nils shares why organizational change management so often fails even when the strategy looks “right” on paper. You’ll hear practical ways to stay “above the line” (vs. “below the line”) in difficult conversations, including tiny questions that build ownership and a short centering routine for high-stakes moments. It’s a candid look at emotional intelligence for leaders, self-management, and how to model the mindset you want to see across the organization.
Key Learnings:
Use leadership coaching to shift ownership back to the team: when someone asks for a solution, respond with “What have you already tried?”, “Who have you talked to?”, and “What do you need from me?” to support adult-to-adult leadership.In executive team coaching, normalize noticing the “above the line below the line mindset”: watch for cues like “I’m right, they’re wrong” or “I’m surrounded by idiots” as early warning signs you’ve slipped into reactive mode.Before a difficult conversation, train emotional intelligence for leaders with a 60-second reset: sigh/breathe out, relax shoulders, feel your stance, then actively generate gratitude and empathy (“Why might their reaction make sense?”) to re-enter a creative state.
Resources:
Nils I. Cornelissen's Website: https://www.returnonmeaning.com/nils-cornelissenNils I. Cornelissen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilscornelissen/Above the line vs. below the line video, Nils mentions: https://youtu.be/fLqzYDZAqCI?si=sOzQEXMTFzPxQnuN Find your Coaching Tool: https://metaFox.euTry the metaFox Strengths Discovery: https://strengths-discovery.comConnect with Tobi on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tobiasweghorn
Episode Chapters:
00:06 “How Are You Going To Change?” Starting with the Leader
00:12 Coaching the Solution Out of the Client (Not Solving It for Them)
00:14 The 3 Questions That Build Ownership (Treat People Like Adults)
00:22 Preparing for the Boardroom: Your Mindset Is the Tool
00:25 The 60-Second Centering Routine (Sigh, Gratitude, Empathy)
00:33 Above the Line Below the Line Mindset in Executive Team Coaching
00:35 Inner Thermometers: How to Notice You’ve Gone Reactive
00:42 Training Emotional Intelligence for Leaders (Momentum Program)
More
A coaching podcast with Nils I. Cornelissen and Tobias Weghorn on why leadership coaching in times of transformation starts with the leader, not the org chart. Drawing from his work with executive teams in large corporations, Nils shares why organizational change management so often fails even when the strategy looks “right” on paper. You’ll hear practical ways to stay “above the line” (vs. “below the line”) in difficult conversations, including tiny questions that build ownership and a short centering routine for high-stakes moments. It’s a candid look at emotional intelligence for leaders, self-management, and how to model the mindset you want to see across the organization. Key Learnings: Use leadership coaching to shift ownership back to the team: when someone asks for a solution, respond with “What have you already tried?”, “Who have you talked to?”, and “What do you need from me?” to support adult-to-adult leadership.In executive team coaching, normalize noticing the “above the line below the line mindset”: watch for cues like “I’m right, they’re wrong” or “I’m surrounded by idiots” as early warning signs you’ve slipped into reactive mode.Before a difficult conversation, train emotional intelligence for leaders with a 60-second reset: sigh/breathe out, relax shoulders, feel your stance, then actively generate gratitude and empathy (“Why might their reaction make sense?”) to re-enter a creative state. Resources: Nils I. Cornelissen's Website: https://www.returnonmeaning.com/nils-cornelissenNils I. Cornelissen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilscornelissen/Above the line vs. below the line video, Nils mentions: https://youtu.be/fLqzYDZAqCI?si=sOzQEXMTFzPxQnuN Find your Coaching Tool: https://metaFox.euTry the metaFox Strengths Discovery: https://strengths-discovery.comConnect with Tobi on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tobiasweghorn Episode Chapters: 00:06 “How Are You Going To Change?” Starting with the Leader 00:12 Coaching the Solution Out of the Client (Not Solving It for Them) 00:14 The 3 Questions That Build Ownership (Treat People Like Adults) 00:22 Preparing for the Boardroom: Your Mindset Is the Tool 00:25 The 60-Second Centering Routine (Sigh, Gratitude, Empathy) 00:33 Above the Line Below the Line Mindset in Executive Team Coaching 00:35 Inner Thermometers: How to Notice You’ve Gone Reactive 00:42 Training Emotional Intelligence for Leaders (Momentum Program)