Step Up & Lead: A First-Time Manager's Toolkit for Authentic Leadership
Laura Hounsome
Ex-Amazon Executive Leader & ICF Coach
Amanda King
Ex-Amazon Executive Leader & ICF Coach
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From Top Performer to Trusted Leader
You got promoted because you were exceptional at your job. But now the job has changed — and nobody handed you a playbook.
Suddenly you're managing people who were your peers yesterday. You're sitting in meetings where you're expected to have opinions about strategy, not just execution. You're giving feedback for the first time and wondering if you're doing it wrong. And the worst part? You can't really talk about any of this with your team or your boss without feeling like you're admitting you're not ready.
You are ready. You just haven't been taught.
This course gives you the practical frameworks, honest conversations, and peer support that most companies forget to provide when they promote their best people. In three intensive sessions, you'll build the confidence and skills to lead authentically — not by imitating someone else's style, but by finding your own.
What you’ll learn
Stop quietly panicking and start leading with intention. Build the skills and confidence your promotion didn't come with.
Reframe your definition of success from personal output to team impact using the Leadership Identity Canvas
Identify and let go of IC habits that undermine your credibility as a new manager
Build a personal leadership philosophy rooted in your authentic strengths, not someone else's template
Practice real-world feedback scenarios using the SBI (Situation-Behaviour-Impact) framework in live role-plays
Learn to deliver difficult messages with honesty and empathy so people hear you, not fear you
Recognise when to coach, when to direct, and when to simply listen
Use the Delegation Matrix to decide what to hand off, what to coach, and what to keep
Overcome the "I can do it faster myself" trap with a trust-building delegation practice
Set clear expectations without micromanaging using a lightweight accountability framework
Design a 1:1 structure that surfaces real issues, not just status updates
Facilitate team meetings that drive decisions and build connection, not drain energy
Use active listening techniques drawn from executive coaching practice
Learn the four stages of psychological safety and how to build each with your team
Spot the subtle signs that trust is eroding before it becomes a retention problem
Create team norms that reward candour and make it safe to disagree
Map your first 90 days into three phases: Listen, Align, and Act using a guided planning template
Identify quick wins that build credibility without overcommitting or burning out
Leave with a concrete, written plan you can execute starting Monday morning
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Who this course is for
High performer eyeing a leadership role. You've been told you have potential but no one's taught you how to lead people.
Newly promoted manager figuring it out alone. You're leading former peers with no playbook. You need practical frameworks, not theory.
Been in role 6–18 months but something's off. Your team isn't gelling and you've fallen back into doing the work yourself. Time to reset.
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Laura Hounsome & Amanda King in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Leadership Identity Canvas
A one-page framework to map your authentic leadership style — your strengths, values, and the leader you want to be. Revisit it whenever you need to recalibrate.
SBI Feedback Framework
A simple three-step model (Situation, Behaviour, Impact) for delivering honest feedback that lands well. Practise-tested during the course so you can use it with confidence immediately.
Team Meeting Playbook
A short guide to running team meetings that drive decisions and connection. Includes an agenda template and facilitation prompts you can use straight away.
90-Day Leadership Action Plan
Your personalised plan built during the course using the Listen, Align, Act framework. Tailored to your role, your team, and your goals — not a generic template.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
Course syllabus
3 live sessions • 9 lessons
Week 1
May
5
Day 1: The Identity Shift
Tue 5/510:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)May
6
Day 2: The People Playbook
Wed 5/610:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)May
7
Day 3: The First 90 Days
Thu 5/710:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)
Day 1 — The Identity Shift:
Day 2 — The People Playbook:
Day 3 — The First 90 Days
Schedule
Live sessions
6 hrs
Tue, May 5
10:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)
Wed, May 6
10:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)
Thu, May 7
10:00 AM—12:00 PM (UTC)
Projects
1-1 hr
Frequently asked questions
$750
USD