Career crossroads
My client was referred to me by their company as they had been unsuccessful in an application for a more senior role and had become disillusioned. The company wanted an independent coach to help this person decide on what they wanted to do next.
The first goal working with this client was building trust. Firstly, they were angry at the business – they worked very long hours with a good track record and did not understand the promotion decision. They were also suspicious that I had a pre-arranged outcome agreed with the company (I absolutely did not), that I would be bound to feedback any negative sentiments (I explained I wouldn’t have agreed to the job if that were true) and that I was the wrong sort of person to empathise with their situation (I acknowledged their concern and explained they were free to stop the coaching at any point if they felt it was not adding value).
From this point we built a quick rapport and the client felt able to speak freely and without hindrance. I demonstrated that being a good listener and asking the right questions is the best way to be empathetic. We quickly moved on from what had happened in the past to mapping out a number of future scenarios. We also explored areas outside of work, including passions for art and clothes making and how they should be factored into a decision.
The benefit of coaching for this client was undoubtedly being able to speak to somebody with a neutral perspective, who could really help them get to the heart of the issue. What started as a very career and promotion-oriented conversation, widened into a broader understanding of work-life balance.
After a number of sessions, the client came to a decision. Whilst they liked the company, they felt they couldn’t be managed by a former peer so they successfully applied for a new role elsewhere within the business that would free up time to focus on their passion projects.
If you are at a crossroads in your career and need help navigating to the right direction, please get in contact for a free introductory chat.
