Coaching The Fear: How to Unlock Performance by Addressing the Root Cause

“Fear is a symptom. You need to go beyond the symptom to overcome your fear.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

As a coach, I witness a vast spectrum of human challenges in the professional space. We discuss strategy, communication, leadership, and career progression. But time and again, I find that the most significant barrier to growth isn’t a lack of skill or knowledge—it’s fear.

Many coaches work on the action—the “what” to do. My approach is to first uncover the “why” behind the inaction. I recently worked with a leader—let’s call him Robert—over two sessions that beautifully illustrated this pattern and the transformative power of addressing fear at its root.

The Two Faces of a Leader’s Fear

In our first session, Robert was trapped in a decade-long dilemma. He described a classic case of shouldering his team’s responsibilities, cleaning up their messes, and suffering in silence. The context was clear: a subordinate avoided a customer call, and Robert stepped in, sacrificing his personal time to resolve the issue without giving any direct feedback.

The motivation was revealing: Robert was afraid that giving direct, negative feedback would ruin his good relationship with his team. He feared rejection —the fear that his people wouldn’t love him if he was candid with them.

In our second session, the context shifted but the pattern remained. Robert needed to “Operate in the Matrix,” connecting with unfamiliar colleagues in different countries to secure collaboration. His requests were being ignored, and projects were stalling.

Upon exploration, we discovered the real root cause wasn’t the colleagues’ unresponsiveness; it was Robert’s own fear of the unknown. He was apprehensive about initiating contact with people he didn’t know, a fear that was paralyzing him from taking the necessary steps.

Two different professional scenarios, one common, debilitating thread: Fear.

The Solution: Moving from Symptom to Root Cause

You cannot solve a problem you don’t understand. Simply giving Robert a new feedback model or a list of networking tips would have been a temporary fix. The old patterns would have resurfaced because the underlying fear remained unaddressed.

The solution is a two-part process:

1. Uncover the Root Cause of the Fear. Through powerful questioning, we bring the hidden fear into the light. Is it fear of rejection? Fear of the unknown? Fear of failure? Naming it robs it of its power.
2. Apply the “Think-Feel-Act” Framework. Fear is not just a feeling; it’s a cycle that begins with our thoughts. We must interrupt this cycle at its source.

The Think-Feel-Act Framework in Practice

This framework is a powerful tool for behavioral change. Our Thoughts drive our Feelings, which in turn dictate our Actions.

• In Session #1 (Fear of Rejection):
  • Old Cycle: Thought (“If I give feedback, they will reject me”) -> Feeling (Fear) -> Action (Avoid giving feedback, clean up the mess).
  • Reframed Cycle: We reframed his thinking to, “Giving candid feedback is an act of care that helps my team grow and ultimately strengthens our relationship.” This new thought fostered a feeling of courage and responsibility, which led to the action of having a direct, caring feedback conversation using the Radical Candor framework.
• In Session #2 (Fear of the Unknown):
  • Old Cycle: Thought (“I don’t know these people; reaching out is intrusive and risky”) -> Feeling (Apprehension) -> Action (Delegate the task or avoid it).
  • Reframed Cycle: We reframed his thinking to, “Connecting with these colleagues is not for my personal benefit, but for the company’s success. My outreach is a professional necessity.” This shifted his feeling from fear to purpose, empowering him to take the action of initiating contact confidently.

By combining this “Think-Feel-Act” framework with my proprietary EE-FI Leadership Model as a pre-work strategy for connection, we created a powerful, repeatable process for Robert to tackle any fear that arises.

The Leader’s Transformation

The results speak for themselves. After our first session, Robert reported giving direct feedback over the phone with a pleasant result, stating, “No more fear giving direct feedback.” He committed to practicing this new skill regularly.

For his fear of the unknown, his one-word wisdom for our second session was “Re-think,” highlighting his understanding that the solution began in his mind. His action step was to proactively practice connecting with people by himself, using his reframed thinking as his guide.

A Message for You

Are you, or is a leader you know, stuck in a similar ‘fear pattern’? Are you applying tactical solutions to a strategic, emotional problem?

Coaching the fear is not about eliminating it—that’s often impossible. It’s about understanding its root, reframing the thoughts that fuel it, and building a framework for courageous action. If you’re ready to move beyond the symptom and address the root cause, let’s coach.

About Atip Muangsuwan: Coach Atip is an executive leadership coach who specializes in helping high-achieving leaders overcome internal barriers to unlock their full potential and drive organizational success. Through a blend of strategic frameworks and profound personal insight, he empowers leaders in transforming their mindsets, emotional states, and behaviors for lasting impact.