From Holding Back to Speaking Up
A practice cohort for introverted leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and presence in the moments that matter.
We’ll talk briefly about your leadership context and whether the cohort would be useful for you.
The Moments You Hold Back
After more than 20 years coaching leaders, I’ve noticed that many thoughtful professionals know exactly what they want to say — but struggle in the moment when the pressure is high.
I’ve designed this cohort with you in mind as a place to practice those moments in a supportive setting.
You’re capable, thoughtful, and trusted for your work.
And yet, in certain moments, you hold back.
Not because you lack confidence or skill.
But because pressure has a way of pulling thoughtful leaders away from their natural clarity and presence.
You don’t need to become a different leader.
You practice becoming more present — and letting that presence do the work.
- You hesitate to speak in meetings until the moment passes.
- You over prepare for feedback conversations, then soften or avoid what you want to say.
- You retreat into your head when the stakes are high — especially with senior leaders or conflict.
From Holding Back to Speaking Up is designed for introverted leaders who want to show up more fully in those moments — without forcing themselves to be louder, faster, or more extroverted.
A Note About Speaking Up and Presence
Speaking Up doesn’t mean talking more or performing confidence.
It means staying present long enough to say what matters — calmly, clearly, and in your own voice.
In this cohort, leadership presence is treated as a practical capability, not a personality trait. You’ll work with real situations from your day-to-day leadership — meetings, feedback conversations, moments of tension or visibility — and practice small, meaningful shifts in how you show up.
Over time, participants often notice that they:
- Speak earlier and more clearly in meetings
- Approach feedback and difficult conversations with greater steadiness
- Stay connected to themselves under pressure instead of overthinking
- Feel more visible and influential without losing their sense of self
- This change doesn’t come from learning scripts or fixing yourself.
- It comes from practice, reflection, and support — over time, in a small and trusted group.
A Note about Presence
When I use the word presence here, I’m not referring to a personality trait or a vague internal feeling.
In this cohort, presence shows up in observable leadership behaviors — how you enter a meeting, how you respond when emotions run high, how clearly you speak when it would be easier to stay quiet, and how you recover when something doesn’t go as planned.
Presence becomes visible in what you do, not just how you feel.
A Guided Practice Space
This is not a course to consume or a program to “get through.”
It’s a guided practice space where you experiment, reflect, and learn alongside other thoughtful leaders who are working with similar challenges.
If you’ve tried leadership programs that felt too extroverted, too theoretical, or too focused on performance — this will feel different
Over six months, you’ll work with a small group to:
- Learn practical concepts related to communication, feedback, conflict, and visibility
- Practice applying them to real situations you’re facing right now
- Reflect on what happens and adjust along the way
- Build confidence through experience, one step at a time
The cohort focuses on the areas where introverted leaders most often feel stretched:
- Communicating clearly and succinctly
- Navigating difficult conversations and feedback
- Working through conflict and tension
- Being visible and influential without losing your sense of self
The group is intentionally small, creating space for meaningful conversation, experimentation, and shared learning.
You practice leading in a way that feels steady and authentic — grounded in presence rather than performance.
Build Confidence Gradually: What You'll Gain
- Greater calm and clarity in high-stakes leadership moments
- The ability to stay present instead of getting pulled into overthinking
- Clear, confident communication without over-preparing or second-guessing
- More steadiness in difficult conversations, feedback, and moments of tension
- Confidence built through real-life practice, not theory alone
- A leadership presence that feels authentic, grounded, and sustainable
What Practice Looks Like in this Cohort
Practice in From Holding Back to Speaking Up is grounded in real leadership moments — not hypothetical scenarios.
For example, participants might:
- Prepare for an upcoming feedback or performance conversation, try it in real life, and reflect on what happened with the group
- Experiment with speaking earlier or more clearly in meetings, then explore what shifted internally and externally
- Notice and work with a belief that shows up under pressure, rather than trying to eliminate it
The emphasis is on small, real-world experiments and learning from experience — not role-playing for performance or “getting it right.”
A Brief Example
One leader I worked with stepped into her first people-management role after years as a high-performing individual contributor. She avoided speaking up in meetings and dreaded feedback conversations, even though she was deeply respected for her work.
Over several months of practice, she began preparing differently — less scripting, more presence. She spoke earlier in meetings, named concerns more directly, and approached feedback conversations with greater calm.
Her confidence didn’t come from changing her personality, but from repeated experiences of showing up differently — and seeing that it worked.
How it Works
From Holding Back to Speaking Up is a six-month, online guided practice cohort designed to support learning through experience, reflection, and real-life application.
Rather than consuming content, you’ll work in a small, intentional group to practice how you show up in the leadership situations that matter most.
The cohort includes:
Monthly live group sessions
Each month we meet live as a group. Sessions include short teaching segments followed by immediate practice, reflection, and conversation. The focus is always on applying concepts to real leadership situations you are facing right now.
A small, intentional group
The cohort is limited to 6–8 participants. This allows for meaningful interaction, shared learning, and enough space for each person to be seen and heard.
Practice between sessions
Between sessions, you’ll experiment with small, practical actions — such as trying a new approach in a conversation, preparing differently for a meeting, or practicing presence under pressure. These experiments become the basis for learning and reflection in the next session.
Between-session laser coaching support
In addition to the group sessions, participants have access to up to two 30-minute laser coaching sessions per month, available as needed. These brief, focused conversations are designed to support real-time application of the work — for example, preparing for a difficult conversation, thinking through a leadership challenge, or reflecting on something that just happened.
Laser coaching sessions are intended for in-the-moment support and are not cumulative from month to month, helping keep the focus on ongoing practice and integration.
What others are saying about working with Berry
MORE SELF-AWARENESS
“So far I’ve had two sessions with Berry and have gained introspection on what may be driving my lack of confidence when speaking in challenging situations. The topics we have discussed so far have made me put thought into my work presence and have made me more self-aware already.”- Marie P.
POWERFUL INSIGHTS
“Coach Berry is incredibly helpful, intuitive, direct, and clear. She has given me the space to come to powerful insights and ways to reframe my limiting beliefs. I can already feel transformation happening in just a short amount of time with her.” – Ralene. R
“Feb. 2020 was a month before Corona shut the world down. I, as did everyone, was confronted with some really difficult, intense, truthful decisions and conversations with my work, family and most of all, my self. The hidden words and emotions I (re)discovered in your class helped me thru every one of these difficult conversations. I hope to take another class with you post-covid.”- Elizabeth U.
AMAZING COACH
Who this is For
From Holding Back to Speaking Up is designed for introverted leaders who:
- Are new or relatively new in their people leadership role
- Are thoughtful, capable, and technically strong, yet notice themselves overthinking in key moments
- Want to communicate more clearly and calmly in meetings, feedback conversations, and presentations
- Care deeply about leading well, without becoming louder, harder, or less themselves
- Are open to learning through practice, reflection, and honest conversation
- Value small, intentional groups where real work happens
WHO IS THIS NOT FOR:
This cohort may not be the right fit if you:
- Are looking for a quick fix, script, or one-size-fits-all formula
- Prefer self-paced courses or consuming content on your own
- Are not willing to practice with real situations from your work
- Want performance techniques without reflection or self-awareness
- Are participating primarily because someone else told you to
The value of this cohort comes from showing up, practicing together, and learning over time.
Not sure yet if this program is for you? Contact Berry for a short exploratory conversation about what to expect in this program.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to consider myself an “introvert” to participate?
No. This cohort is designed for leaders who tend to be thoughtful, reflective, and sometimes more comfortable thinking things through before speaking. Many participants identify as introverted, but what matters most is that you resonate with the experience of overthinking, holding back, or wanting more confidence in high-stakes conversations.
2. What does “practice-based” actually mean?
Rather than focusing mainly on theory, this cohort centers on real leadership situations from your work.
Participants often bring moments such as:
- an upcoming feedback conversation
- meeting where they want to speak up more clearly
- conflict or tension on their team
- presentation or decision discussion with senior leaders
We explore these situations together and practice small shifts in how you approach them. Between sessions, you try those shifts in real life and reflect on what you notice.
The emphasis is on learning through experience, not getting it perfect.
3. Will I be expected to role-play or speak in front of the group?
Participation is encouraged but not forced.
Many exercises happen in pairs or small breakout conversations, which tends to feel more natural for introverted leaders. The goal is to create a space where you can experiment and learn without feeling put on the spot or asked to perform.
You are always invited to participate at the edge that feels right for you.
4. What kind of leaders benefit most from this program?
This cohort tends to work especially well for leaders who:
- are relatively new to people leadership
- are technically strong but want more confidence in communication
- notice themselves overthinking under pressure
- want to speak up more clearly in meetings or conversations
- care deeply about leading well without becoming someone they’re not
5. How much time should I expect to commit?
The core commitment is:
- One 2-hour group session each month
- Optional learning partner conversations between sessions
- Optional individual Laser Coaching sessions in-between group sessions (max. 40 min/month)
- Occasional reflection or small experiments to try in real leadership situations
Many participants find that the real learning happens as they notice and apply small shifts during their normal work, rather than adding large amounts of extra time.
6. What happens in the orientation conversation before the program begins?
Before the cohort starts, each participant has a 30-minute orientation conversation with the facilitator.
This conversation helps you:
- reflect on what you most want to work on
- ask questions about how the cohort works
- arrive with clarity and intention
It’s not an evaluation or assessment — simply a way to create a strong starting point for you and the group.
7. What if I realize the cohort isn’t the right fit once it begins?
Because this is a significant investment of time and attention, we include an early check-in.
If, after the first month, you feel the cohort isn’t the right fit for you, you’re invited to reach out so we can talk it through together and decide on the best path forward.
Practical Program Details
If, after the first month, you find that the cohort isn’t the right fit, you’re invited to reach out so we can talk it through together.
This cohort is designed for leaders who are ready to invest in their development through guided practice and support over time.
Participants often consider this cohort as an alternative to extended one-on-one coaching, leadership training programs, or navigating these challenges alone.
- Duration: 6 months
- Group size: 4–6 participants
- Investment: $4,500
- Payment plan: 6 monthly payments of $800
- Start date: May 2026
- Meeting dates on Thursdays: May 14, June 4, July 2, August 13, September 17, October 15.
Space is intentionally limited to support depth, connection, and meaningful practice.
YOUR COHORT LEADER: BERRY KRUIJNING, JD, PCC
From Holding Back to Speaking Up is facilitated by Berry Kruijning JD, PCC, a leadership and communication coach who has worked with introverted leaders for over 20 years.
Berry’s background includes coaching new and experienced people leaders across corporate, nonprofit, and professional settings, with a particular focus on communication under pressure — feedback, conflict, presentations, and moments of visibility.
Her approach integrates practical leadership frameworks, communication training, and embodied practices, developed through years of coaching, facilitation, and real-world leadership work.
Berry has coached hundreds of leaders navigating their first people-management roles. This cohort brings together what Berry has seen work again and again: confidence built through practice, reflection, and support — not through personality change or performance.
Berry is known for creating calm, thoughtful learning spaces where introverted leaders can practice challenging skills without pressure or pretense.
Secure Your Spot in the Practice Cohort
Limited spots available.
Secure your place now and take the first step toward becoming the influential leader you were born to be!