What Happened When I Started Coaching Men

What happens when a women's leadership coach starts working with male leaders? In this eye-opening episode of The Potentialite Podcast, Laura Weldy shares behind-the-scenes insights from her recent shift into coaching men after eight years of exclusively coaching women. Laura explores the fascinating differences she's observed in coaching styles, emotional processing, and self-perception between men and women in leadership—and how those differences reflect deeper systemic dynamics. She unpacks the "emotional labor gap," the competence confidence gap, and why gender-aware coaching spaces are still critical in 2025. Whether you're a woman seeking validation in your workplace experiences or a leader curious about how coaching impacts development, this episode offers a refreshing, vulnerable look at what happens when we challenge our norms and evolve our approach. What You'll Learn: How coaching male leaders shifted Laura's perspective on workplace dynamics Key gender-based differences in how people approach leadership and self-awareness Why women often integrate life and work more deeply than men The "competence gap" and how it affects confidence and overthinking How coaching styles vary—and why neither is "better" Why women still need dedicated spaces for support and leadership growth Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to The Potentialite Podcast 00:00:31 Laura's behind-the-scenes leadership experiment 00:01:29 What changed when men started seeking coaching 00:03:41 Coaching style differences: Women vs. Men 00:05:00 The "emotional labor gap" and integrative thinking 00:06:17 The competence vs. confidence dynamic 00:07:16 Coaching men: Strategy-focused vs. narrative-focused 00:09:16 The ideal coaching mindset: Combine reflection with direct action 00:11:04 Why women still benefit from gender-specific coaching spaces 00:12:08 Research-backed reasons women's careers differ from men's 00:13:35 Final takeaways and what this experiment revealed Resources Mentioned: Download the High Potential Pack – A free career guide packed with tools to boost your visibility and develop your leadership strengths: lauraweldy.com/free Research cited: Women in the Workplace 2023 & studies on gendered leadership experiences Connect with Laura on Instagram or LinkedIn and share which insight from Laura's leadership experiment resonated most with you Join the Conversation: This episode is a reminder that coaching is powerful—not just for the individual, but for reshaping how we understand leadership at large. Whether you're a woman navigating leadership challenges or a man ready to reflect more deeply, intentional coaching creates room for lasting change. Leadership is not about being perfect—it's about being present, self-aware, and adaptable. Until next time, keep showing up and keep thriving.