Introduction:
Have you ever felt like your job is just a “day job,” something you endure rather than a career you embrace? We have so many demands on our time and attention, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected at work. You may not even know your true professional goals.
Through coaching and my own experiences, though, I’ve learned that recommitting to your career and developing your professional brand (reputation) is not just possible, but can actually create fulfilment at work!
I want to share a powerful story from my coaching experience, inspired by the HBR article “You Checked Out at Work. Here’s How to Check Back In,” by Octavia Goredema. In this story you’ll see how coaching can help individual contributors and managers in a corporate environment to rediscover their professional direction.
My goal is to empower clients like Sheila to own their journey, making decisions that resonate with their personal and professional aspirations. All decisions were hers, based on her own insights into herself and her situation.
The Turning Point:
One of my clients, Sheila, found herself feeling scattered by life demands and overly pressured in her job. She managed a group of individual contributors in a tech firm with a well-known brand. She always showed up to calls with a big smile and friendly presence, and when she described herself as well-liked at work, it was so easy for me to understand that! She told me, though, that she’d received feedback that she was tipping into toxic positivity.
This realization sparked her desire to redefine her professional identity, aiming to be more direct, honest, and purposeful in her communication, which was better aligned with her personal values.
To forge this new path, we focused on helping her develop some key skills. I approached with intuitive listening and strategic questioning, creating a space for Sheila to explore and discover her true potential. She didn’t change her job responsibilities, but she did change her mindset and approach in her own professional relationships.
Together, we embarked on a journey of self-discovery where Sheila unearthed her own strengths and areas for growth. First, she focused on developing her listening skills, wanting to be authentically direct rather than just “being nice.”
Goredema recommends adding value through simple changes. Sheila did this by asking colleagues to summarize conversations, which not only helped her to stay focused and engaged but also helped others track what had been discussed and the next steps they’d agreed on.
- Have you ever considered the power of asking empowering questions instead of simply offering “positivity”?
Sheila decided to try balancing her natural emotional intuition with analytical thinking, which helped her to come across with greater competence. She also added value by developing her skills in both delegating and asking for help.
The Result: A Career, Not Just a Job:
Sheila’s dedication to her growth, coupled with our collaborative exploration in coaching sessions, led to her profound professional transformation and an impressive milestone – a well-deserved promotion. Her newfound ability to communicate with clarity and purpose not only enhanced her professional reputation but also brought a sense of fulfillment and validation. She was so excited when she told me she’d moved from seeing her role as a mere “day job” to embracing it as a thriving career!
If you had a professional coach by your side, what breakthrough do you think you could achieve?
Bottom Line:
I find Sheila’s story to be a testament to the power of self-reflection, targeted skill development, and the courage to embrace change in our professional lives. It’s not about seeking external validation but about investing in ourselves and our careers for long-term satisfaction and growth.
Sheila remarked how our sessions helped her see things from new perspectives, leading to breakthroughs in her professional demeanor.
Every small step in improving how you present and conduct yourself at work can lead to significant positive changes in your career trajectory. If you have access to a coach, this is a great challenge to tackle with their support.
Ready to say goodbye to “checking out” and start checking back in? Let’s work together to define your professional journey and make it yours. Schedule an exploration call today to see how coaching can be a part of your life.
