Imagine a scenario in which, for five or ten years, someone draws new knowledge, new skills, meaningful relationships, and opportunities for self-challenge from their workspace and hits many of their career goals. One day, though, they notice a shift: instead of looking forward to the day, they feel some uncertainty and realize that their work environment no longer feels like the right place for them. They feel “off”—and even a bit shaky.
Many leaders experience a “blip” like this at different points in their professional and personal lives. Whether this feeling of “wobbliness” hits suddenly or builds up over a period of time, it leads someone to recognize that they are no longer the same person they were a few years earlier in their career. At that pivotal point, they have a decision to make: explore what is happening or ignore what is happening. One choice will lead to fulfillment and the other one to continued frustration. A coach can help them examine all of the information so they can make the decision that’s right for them.
Guidance, not direction. A coach’s role is not to give instructions but rather to help leaders discover what is right for them. An effective coach leverages several tools to help leaders delve into their authentic selves.
Relevant questions. Keeping in mind the saying “This is not my movie but yours,” a coach stays curious about what is going on in another person’s “movie” and asks powerful questions to help them shed light on their own story.
- Who are you in this movie?
- What’s happening (and what’s not happening) in this movie?
- What’s this movie really about?
Value identification. One of the greatest discoveries leaders can make is figuring out what they value most in both their personal lives and their professional worlds. These values emerge in how each person makes decisions and acclimates to their environments. A coach can help someone identify their values and then determine which decision (for example, stay with an organization and forgo a promotion or jump ship and follow a different path) best upholds those values.
Seeing new possibilities. A coach and a leader who are good fits for each other can create a partnership that facilitates creative brainstorming and exploring possibilities that leaders may not have even considered. Sometimes looking at a “blip” through a new lens will empower leaders to think of different paths for themselves or choices that will better align with their values.
Not all coaching experiences are equal. But once a leader finds the right coach, they can work together to create strategic goals, set timeframes (and guidelines for accountability) for achieving those goals, and establish challenges. With this kind of collaboration, leaders not only learn more about themselves but also figure out how to defeat the “blip” and start moving forward.