TUF MANAGER LAB
Bring the people problem you’re dealing with NOW
Practical, ongoing coaching for managers and team leaders who want to handle difficult workplace situations with greater clarity, confidence, and calm.
“You don’t have to work it out all by yourself.”
NZ$150 + GST / month · NZ$172.50 incl. GST · cancel anytime
WHY THE LAB EXISTS
People problems don’t wait for the next training course.
You can be good at your job and still be thrown by certain people. The conversation might only take twenty minutes, but it can occupy your head for three days.
Someone challenges your authority.
A team member repeatedly offers excuses.
A conversation becomes more emotional than expected.
You know you need to address behavior— but you’re not sure what to say.
This is a capability issue—and it’s fixable.
You need somewhere to bring the real situation, work out what to do, try it, and learn from what happens next.
That is what the TUF Manager Lab provides.
ALL ABOUT THE LAB
What could change for you?
As you strengthen your ability to manage difficult situations, you can:
Address problems before they escalate
Stay steadier under pressure
Know what to say next
Stop carrying problems home
Lead with greater confidence
The TUF Manager Lab is an ongoing coaching community for managers and team leaders dealing with real people problems.
It is not another large course sitting on your computer waiting to be completed.
You don’t have to work through seven modules before you can ask for help.
When something happens, bring it to the Lab.
You can learn from the situation while it is still current—before it becomes a full-blown crisis.
The process is simple:
What is the TUF Manager Lab?
ALL WHAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES
Ongoing support—not another course you never finish.
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Post workplace questions as they arise and think through the situation without carrying it alone. Remove identifying employee details before posting.
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John responds to members’ questions in writing or short video, covering what may be happening, what to watch, what to say next and how to manage your own reaction.
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Two 30-minute online sessions to bring a difficult situation, explore options and practise the language or approach you could use. Recordings are available.
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Use practical tools, teaching and recordings when relevant — and learn from the difficult conversations, boundaries and team tensions other managers are handling too.
Sometimes another manager’s question gives you the answer you need.
WHAT MANAGERS ARE SAYING
“It was so good to hear that advice again — and to hear that everyone in the group has some seriously curly challenges.”
“I was trying to separate myself — remembering it’s not my problem to carry. But focusing on them first, that’s the key.”
“That one shift in perspective changed how I’ll respond next time.”
“It lets you stay gracious without opening the door wider than you want to.”
WHO IT’S FOR
For managers who want practical support—and organizations developing them.
For Managers and Team Leaders
The Manager Lab may be right for you if:
People problems occupy too much of your thinking
You postpone conversations because you’re unsure how they’ll go
You want to be firm without becoming aggressive
You sometimes take other people’s problems on as your own
You want help with real situations — not more abstract theory
For Organizations
The TUF Manager Lab also provides an accessible development option for employers who want managers to receive ongoing practical support. It can help managers:
Address difficult behaviour earlier
Reduce avoidable escalations
Conduct clearer performance conversations
Recover faster after challenging interactions
Reduce reliance on senior leaders for everyday people issues
YOUR COACH
John Faisandier
Founder of Thriving Under Fire
John helps managers understand what happens when people become difficult, emotional, or defensive—and how to respond without becoming reactive themselves.
His approach is practical, direct, and based on the situations managers are facing in their workplaces now.
The purpose is not to help you control everybody else. It is to help you become steadier and more capable yourself, so you can influence what happens around you.
JOIN THE MANAGER LAB
Month-to-month access to the community, weekly personalised responses, two live coaching sessions each month, TUF tools and recordings, and learning alongside other managers.
No minimum term. Members outside New Zealand are charged in New Zealand dollars.
Practical support for the next difficult moment.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP
NZ$ 172.50
including GST
NZ$ 150 + GST
Private Skool community
Weekly written or video responses
Two live coaching sessions each month
TUF tools, resources, and recordings
Cancel anytime
Secure monthly payment through Stripe.
NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR YOU?
Book a free 10-minute Clarity Call with John.
Briefly explain what you are facing, ask your questions, and decide whether the TUF Manager Lab is the right kind of support for you. No pressure. No obligation. Just clarity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Before you join.
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Not in the traditional sense. Resources and teaching are available, but the main focus is ongoing coaching around real workplace situations.
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The live sessions total approximately one hour each month. (two half-hour sessions) You can use the community and resources when you need them and at a pace that fits around your work.
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Live sessions are recorded so that members can catch up afterwards. You can also post your own question in the community.
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No. The Manager Lab is a private group coaching community. John provides personalised responses to members’ questions, but the membership does not include private one-to-one coaching.
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Yes. An employer can pay for an individual manager’s membership. Organisations wanting to enrol several managers should book a Clarity Call.
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Yes. The Manager Lab is online, and international members are charged in New Zealand dollars.
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Yes. There is no minimum term. If you cancel and return later, the membership price available at that time will apply.
Handle the next difficult moment differently
You don’t have to keep carrying people's problems by yourself. Bring the situation. Get practical guidance. Try a different approach. Become the manager you know you can be.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP
NZ$ 172.50
including GST
NZ$ 150 + GST
Secure monthly payment through Stripe.