Career coaching: how to change course in the midst of a successful career?
A successful director of a consulting company suddenly realized that he had been living on autopilot for the past 20 years. His career was, certainly to the outside world, very successful. But was he happy? He decided to change course and sought help in doing so. He wanted to work with a sparring partner through a coaching program that delivered tangible results. He had the following questions to be answered: • I want to take a pause and reflect on my career so far. What has driven me, where do I see my strengths, and what marketable competencies do I have? • How do I articulate what I am looking for in the next step of my career, considering my strengths, experience, and interests? • How do I define my "playing field” and which companies, roles, and positions would fit there? • How can I present myself authentically and memorably in a job interview? • How do I put together a compelling personal pitch that clearly communicates what I stand for? • How do I draft a resume that not only tells what I can do and have done but also who I am? • How do I search for a job at the right level in the current market?
To answer these questions, I have developed a program combining coaching and practical advice. Below, I mention two modules that I often use.
Writing the 'life story/biography': "Life is lived forwards but understood backwards!"
The life story: Every person has his own unique narrative, which is of great significance to the development of personal awareness. The biographical assignment focuses on what one has truly experienced, looks for the individual experiences and their highlights, draws connections between seemingly unrelated fragments, identifies themes and patterns, and explores how someone shapes his life and what he would like to make of it in the future. It contains all the essential information. In it, we find background data, both facts and experiences that have shaped a person into who they are now. Sometimes there is a feeling of continuous restlessness or a recurring theme in life that hinders someone. Working with your biography can provide clarity, insights, and peace.
In the story of my coachee, it was clear that his position as the eldest in the family had a huge impact on him. He had a tremendous sense of responsibility and always wanted to show everyone that he was capable. He sawhis father as a role model who always had a good job and was very successful.
Character Strenths:
We also delve deeper into a person's strengths (character strengths). Scientists have identified 24 character strengths people have. Every person has these 24 strengths, but there are only a few that typify you. These particular character strengths will be energizing, require little effort, and you know you are good at them. People generally have about 5 to 7 of these characteristic strengths. Someone might also have other strengths, but they might require more effort. For example, many people can be persistent or brave under dire circumstances, but it does not suit everyone equally.
For my coachee, the sense of responsibility reappeared, which we had discussed earlier in the life story. A beautiful quality, but also a quality with a pitfall. He exhibited a form of perfectionism, and that cost him more energy than it yielded.
People often thrive when they build on their strengths. When they are confronted with their weaknesses, however, it often leads to fear, resistance,and low motivation. By focusing on people's strengths in coaching and training, pride and enthusiasm will prevail. Addressing strengths works like fuel: it is the way to approach a person and give him energy. It also provides insight into maintaining a balance between strengths and weaknesses and prevents him from overplaying his strengths.
Our work did not end with his new job. We continue to meet every six months to check on his progress and discuss any new challenges or goals that arise. These regular check-ins ensure that he remains aligned with his career objectives and personal development goals. We also revisit some of the key insights from his biography and character strengths to keep him grounded and focused on his long-term vision. This ongoing support helps him to navigate his career with greater clarity and purpose, continually building on the foundation we established during the coaching program.
