Dr. Ellen Wieck-Mesarosch

"上善若水"

Executive Leadership Coaching

Inspired by Lao Zi's "Shang Shan Ruo Shui" (上善若水) – "The highest good is like water"

Adaptable, powerful & connecting.

For Bridge Builders

Who, like water, flexibly create cultural and intergenerational connections to shape a successful and inclusive work environment.

For Doers

Who are solution-oriented and adaptable, flowing around obstacles to pragmatically achieve their goals.

For Visionaries

Who place continuous growth and personal development at the core of their leadership style, guiding themselves and their teams through all waters.

Let's get started

"Shang Shan Ruo Shui" (上善若水) – The Highest Good is Like Water

Lao Zi's wisdom, "Shang Shan Ruo Shui," lies at the heart of my coaching philosophy. It describes the highest form of virtue as comparable to water: flexible & adaptable, powerful & connecting. This metaphor offers timeless guidance for leaders striving to succeed in a globalized and dynamic world.
Like water, which always finds its way and gently flows around obstacles, leaders need the ability to adapt flexibly to changes and challenges. At the same time, this philosophy combines strength with gentleness—qualities that are especially essential in intercultural teams and today’s ever-evolving work environment.

Why "Being Like Water" Inspires Modern Leadership

Flexibility and Adaptability
Water flows around every obstacle and takes any shape without losing its identity. In intercultural teams, this means adapting to diverse perspectives, values, and work styles while staying grounded in your own authenticity and focused on your goals.
Building Respect and Trust
Water flows into the deepest valleys, symbolizing humility and respect. These values are fundamental to building trust—whether across generations or cultures. My coaching helps create an environment where openness and collaboration can thrive.
Fostering Innovation and Growth
Water is always in motion—it symbolizes progress and transformation. Leaders who "think and act like water" drive innovation, nurture the individual strengths of their team, and create a sustainable work environment.
This timeless wisdom guides leaders to embrace change with confidence, lead with empathy, and foster growth through adaptability and connection.

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Common topics in coaching

Reflecting one's own leadership role

How can I refine my leadership style and consciously leverage my strengths?

Water adapts to its surroundings without losing its essence. Similarly, your leadership style should be adaptable without compromising your core values or goals. By intentionally harnessing your strengths and resources, you can refine your style and lead authentically.

Which leadership qualities do I need in my current or future role— and how can I develop them?

Like water, which finds its way through any environment, successful leaders are able to adapt to change while keeping a clear vision in mind. Together, we’ll develop strategies to help you build and continuously strengthen these essential leadership qualities

I’m about to move abroad as a leader or return from an international assignment—how can I perform effectively in the new environment?

Intercultural transitions are like water flowing into uncharted territories: they require adaptability and respect for new contexts. Guided by the philosophy of "Shang Shan Ruo Shui" (上善若水)—"The highest good is like water"—we’ll develop approaches to harmonize cultural differences and empower you to lead clearly and confidently in your new environment.

What does my (interdisciplinary, intercultural) team need from me—and how can I best empower them?

Your team is like a river with various tributaries—each member brings unique strengths and perspectives. As a leader, you are the riverbed, guiding and uniting these forces. By fostering trust and supporting the individual abilities of your team, you enable maximum collaboration and collective success.

Further developing the team

How do I actively promote collaboration between team members across disciplines and national borders?

Like water that unites different streams, as a manager you can create a climate that strengthens interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration. Together, we focus on identifying synergies and gently overcoming barriers.

How do I support the team in valuing different ways of thinking, experiences and skills?

Water adapts to every environment and turns opposites into a harmonious whole. In coaching, you will learn how to use the different ways of thinking, experiences and skills in the team as an enrichment and actively promote diversity.

How do I empower my team to independently develop solutions for complex tasks?

How water finds its way without needing guidance, we develop approaches to empower your team to take responsibility and develop creative solutions for complex tasks.

Creating a sustainable, positive work environment

How can I create a motivating and inspiring work environment?

Water revitalizes everything it touches. In coaching, we’ll develop strategies to help you create an inspiring environment where employees can realize their full potential.

How can I differentiate between healthy friction and destructive conflicts?

Just as water gently flows around obstacles or overcomes them with force, we’ll explore in coaching how to distinguish between healthy friction and destructive conflicts, and guide your team toward constructive dialogue.

How do I set clear boundaries and follow through with consequences?

A river stays within its banks, yet it remains dynamic within those boundaries. Together, we’ll work on how you can establish clear rules and values as a leader that provide structure and security while allowing for flexibility in adapting to changes.

Which systems and processes can I actively influence and continuously adapt to meet the needs of my work environment?

Water is never static and adjusts to new conditions. In coaching, you’ll learn how to adapt processes and structures to meet the evolving needs of both your team and the organization.

How can I balance work, daily life, and family, and what models fit my current phase of life?

Like water always seeking balance, we’ll examine how you can harmonize work, life, and family, and identify models that best suit your current needs.

Taking the next step

How do I make informed decisions?

Like water that needs calm to become clear, in coaching we develop techniques to make well-founded and balanced decisions.

What is the next step in my career that sparks my enthusiasm and what are the possibilities for moving in this direction?

Water stays alive through movement. We develop ways for you to find career moves that nurture your strengths and passions and plan the transition there.

How do I orient myself professionally in a (completely) different direction, develop a vision for it and tackle the change?

Water flows freely and without fear of new paths. In coaching, we work on how you can develop a professional vision and find the courage to go in a different or completely new direction.

About Me

We all have a passion for something.
For me, it is coaching out of conviction!

I firmly believe that everyone has the potential to become an inspiring leader.

For over 15 years, I have accompanied people on this path and supported them in discovering and developing their individual strengths.

My experience as a consultant in a leading international management consultancy, as the founder of a foreign enterprise in China, and as an executive coach for multinational leaders has given me valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of the global business world.

Through my work on international projects with multicultural teams and my long-term stay in China, I have developed a deep understanding of intercultural and interdisciplinary dynamics.

This experience enables me to empower my clients in the international environment as best as possible and to support them on their way to becoming successful and inspiring leaders.

More about my background

One-on-One coaching

Coaching is one of the most effective development methods because it is tailored to the specific needs and goals of each person, thus enabling customized solutions.

It promotes self-reflection and awareness of one's own strengths, which leads to a targeted and effective improvement of professional skills.

Individual or one-on-one coaching is the most intensive form of collaboration because it offers a trusting space for in-depth discussions and personal growth and allows individual potential to be optimally developed. True to the motto, the gold is already within you. Let's make it shine together.

I will accompany you on this path with empathy, professional expertise and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the international and interdisciplinary environment. My positive and supportive approach, coupled with my many years of experience, helps my clients to achieve their goals and grow as inspiring leaders.

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Team coaching

The focus in team coaching is not just on the reflection of the individual, but on the dynamics of the team as a whole. We use a systemic approach in all our interactions.

Teams are made up of individual personalities with their own strengths, perspectives and needs. Systemic coaching not only looks at these individual factors, but also at the interactions and connections within the team as a whole.
We work with the four central dynamics of successful teams:

Move: What movements drive the team forward? How can visions and goals be clearly defined and pursued together?
Oppose: Where is there opposition or resistance that can open up new perspectives instead of blocking the team?
Follow: How can a supportive attitude be promoted within the team to create harmonious and effective cooperation?
Reframe: How can conflicts and challenges be re-examined in order to develop constructive solutions?

According to the philosophy of “Shang Shan Ruo Shui”, the power already lies within your team. It's about channeling this energy, overcoming obstacles and creating a productive working environment together. Let's walk this path together, with clarity, respect and flexibility - like a river that always finds its way.

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How does the process look like?

It starts with an introductory conversation

Then the contractual collaboration begins

We jointly determine the extend of our collaboration

One-on-one coaching:
The extent of the collaboration depends on the objectives, the individual situation and the speed at which you want and can work on your topics. We will jointly determine how often and at what rhythm we will work together.

Team coaching:
In team coaching, the scope depends on the size of the team and the modules selected. Here, too, it is possible to customize modules to meet your needs.