Nick is more self-possessed (6)
I believe the answer is:
cooler
'nick' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cooler that I've seen before include "less enthusiastic" , "Nick" , "It's not so hot" , "Prison - less warm" , "more sophisticated" .)