He had hit a plateau. Higher positions were few and far between, and there wasn’t momentum by executives to change that. The plateau offered stability, predictability, and on-going learning but were those still his priorities?
That was the starting point for our coaching sessions. Here’s that client’s journey:
Our short-term goal was to identify time markers, like empty nesting and retiring, and see how they have been impacting career decisions. Our other goal was to make space for him to hear his own thoughts and imaginings of what might be possible over the next five years.
These goals were important to him because he wanted to keep being a role model for responsibility and commitment, while also showing his family what it looks like to lean on internal validation and drop limiting beliefs.
Through coaching he learned two key things about himself.
- His definition of stability was almost entirely about money, so when he realized this default and chose to expand it to include his relationships, his community, and his skillsets, he appreciated a new filter for assessing risk.
- For a long time, and for valid reasons, he had been in a chapter of life about proving himself, so the sense of a plateau initially seemed about worthiness for a promotion but shifted to being an indicator to define his next chapter.
Together we played with concepts in the book “Designing Your Life”, including mind-mapping and Odyssey plans. When a career path no longer had to emulate the lines on an org chart, he engaged with his network with more curiosity, creativity, and possibility – which naturally expanded and deepened his connections and attracted like-minded people to him.
He got unsolicited offers – including internally at the firm. Some were clearly defined, and some would require a leap of faith. He chose a path that was only partially known but offered an amount of stability he could hold onto while he tried something with the potential to have a fulfilling and resonant impact. And he hasn’t looked back.
He noticed his symptoms, didn’t dismiss them as “I have to wait for my turn”, identified that coaching was a solution, and made an investment – in himself.
I wish I had learned much earlier in my career journey about the defaults I picked up along the way that limited my understanding of stability and org charts, and about what networking can be. So as a coach, these are some of the tools I offer so my clients can thrive.
If you see yourself in this story, with similar symptoms and important goals, and you’ve been trying training programs, podcasts, and books, but haven’t felt momentum, yet alone a transformation, perhaps the solution you’re seeking is – coaching.
Hop on my calendar for a chat to learn more.
