Embrace Inner Conflict to Lead Better with Paul Wyman on Leadership Development

Most leaders chase clarity. But what if your confusion is the key?
In this episode, we explore the surprising power of ambivalence as a tool for leadership development.

Executive coach and author Paul Wyman joins MaryAnn to unpack his radical approach to inner leadership. After years in corporate coaching roles, Paul walked away from stability to launch Inner Team Dialogue, a transformational framework that helps leaders embrace their inner multiplicity rather than fight it.

This conversation is a must for founders, coaches, and executives who feel torn between purpose and security and want to lead with more authenticity, presence, and self-compassion.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• 00:23 Welcome and Introduction

• 01:02 Meeting Paul Wyman

• 02:29 Paul's Leadership Journey

• 03:32 The Shift from Corporate to Coaching

• 04:47 Challenges and Realizations

• 08:23 Transition to Private Practice

• 11:58 Balancing Safety and Purpose

• 22:41 Embracing Ambivalence

• 24:47 Understanding Ambivalence

• 25:43 Contradictory Impulses and Innovation

• 26:28 The Myth of the Hollywood Hero

• 27:17 Honoring Opposite Voices

• 27:34 The Next Frontier

• 28:00 Internal and External Teams

• 29:38 The Inner Team Leader

• 30:53 Impact on Leaders and Coaching

• 32:14 Boundary Setting and Personal Growth

• 37:44 Embracing Vulnerability and Creativity

• 41:39 Quick Fire Questions

• 44:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About the guest

Paul Wyman is a leadership coach with over 26 years of experience. Since 1998, he has coached leaders at all levels, from the C-suite to front-line managers, in industries ranging from healthcare to professional services. He’s also an accredited coaching supervisor, mentoring and developing practicing coaches since 2017.

Paul is the founder of the parts-based coaching methodology Inner Team Dialogue, launched in 2019, and has since trained over 200 coaches in this transformational framework. He’s the author of Part of Me (2024), a comprehensive introduction to Inner Team Dialogue and its approach to personal transformation and radical self-compassion.

Previously, Paul served as Director of People Development at Children’s Hospital Colorado (2004–2015) and as an internal executive coach at Ernst & Young (2015–2021), coaching over 300 global leaders. His client list includes Pixar, EY, the University of Colorado, Trimble Inc., and many others. Originally from England, Paul now lives in Colorado with his wife and two rambunctious cats

👉 Ready to explore your own leadership evolution?

Book a 1:1 call with MaryAnn: https://collectivegrowthleadership.com/book-call