Ep 109: Coaching Clients Through Workplace Conflict: Melody Wilding on Managing Up, Communication Styles, and the Conversations That Change Everything at Work

When a client says "my manager is the problem," what do you do with that? In this episode, we're joined by Melody Wilding — executive coach, speaker, and author of Managing Up — to talk about one of the most common and least discussed challenges in coaching: helping clients navigate difficult relationships with the people above them at work. Melody breaks down why coaching clients through workplace conflict starts not with confrontation, but with two deceptively simple conversations: alignment and communication styles. We dig into a real client story — a Chief People Officer who went from being told she might be "incompetent or over her head" to earning a six-figure bonus — and what actually shifted. We also talk about how coaches can use proprietary assessments to demonstrate client progress to organizational stakeholders, and how Melody built a speaking business from zero, starting with free talks and a clear ask. Whether you're working with clients in corporate environments or thinking about expanding into organizational coaching yourself, this episode is full of the kind of concrete, actionable strategy that makes the work better. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Credentialed Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

You can listen to Ep 109: Coaching Clients Through Workplace Conflict: Melody Wilding on Managing Up, Communication Styles, and the Conversations That Change Everything at Work online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Ep 109: Coaching Clients Through Workplace Conflict: Melody Wilding on Managing Up, Communication Styles, and the Conversations That Change Everything at Work is an episode from Craft of Coaching Podcast by Kate Swoboda.

This episode is 30:27 long.

This episode was published on Mar 30, 2026.

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