Is it Time For a Career Coach

Imagine this: you’ve spent years climbing the corporate ladder, only to find yourself stuck beneath a glass ceiling, questioning whether your efforts are truly valued. Or perhaps you’ve just landed a leadership role, but instead of excitement, you’re overwhelmed, navigating a maze of responsibilities and expectations that feel impossible to manage. In these moments of uncertainty, the idea of seeking help from an executive coach might seem like a lifeline — one that promises not just survival, but a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Why Consider Executive Coaching?

Executive coaching isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about transformation. It’s about moving from a place of frustration or stagnation to one of clarity and empowerment. As an organizational psychologist, I help my clients see beyond immediate obstacles, offering insights and strategies that enable them to not only survive but thrive in their professional environments.

But how do you know if coaching is the right step for you? Let’s explore a few scenarios where coaching made a profound difference, drawing on real-life case studies that demonstrate the impact of experienced, creative approaches. These examples are amalgamations of real-world clients to protect their identities. As a psychologist, I'm bound to a strict code of ethics that ensures confidentiality.

Case Study 1: The Mobbing Victim Who Found Her Voice

Emma is a senior manager in a multinational company, who began to experience what is often termed as "mobbing"—a form of workplace bullying where an employee is harassed by a group. Emma is a high performer, but her success seemed to attract envy and animosity from a group of colleagues. Subtle at first, the behavior escalated into overt sabotage of her projects, exclusion from key meetings, and constant criticism that eroded her confidence.

When Emma reached out for coaching, she was on the brink of quitting, convinced that her only option was to leave the company. Through our coaching sessions, Emma learned to identify and articulate the bullying tactics, develop assertive communication strategies, and build alliances with supportive colleagues. I helped her dissect the group dynamics at play, recognize her own strengths, and craft a response that was both strategic and empowering.

Emma’s story illustrates how coaching can empower individuals to reclaim their voice and reshape their workplace experience. Rather than fleeing from a toxic environment, Emma learned to stand her ground, ultimately confronting the issue head-on. Her newfound resilience didn’t just benefit her in this particular situation—it became a cornerstone of her professional identity. With my guidance, she ultimately rose above the mobbing, proving her worth and eventually being promoted to a role that recognized her true potential.

Case Study 2: The Executive Who Was Abruptly Fired - Thankfully

James is a senior executive who had been unexpectedly terminated from his role after a company merger. As in: Absolutely no notice. The abruptness of the termination left him feeling lost and questioning his personal and professional identity. James had dedicated decades to his industry, and the idea of starting over was daunting. His self-esteem took a significant hit, and he found himself spiraling into a deep sense of uncertainty.

James sought coaching, not just to find a new job, but to reassess his career goals and rediscover what truly motivated him. I encouraged him to explore his past successes and failures, identify patterns in his professional life, and consider new directions that might better align with his evolving values and interests. This wasn’t about polishing a resume; it was about uncovering what James truly wanted from the next chapter of his life.

The coaching process helped him navigate the emotional aftermath of his termination. And let's not pussy-foot around this: it takes time, vulnerability, and rebuilding to recover from that kind of shock. I helped him to identify his core strengths, and explore new industries that aligned with his passion for innovation. Through guided reflection and targeted exercises, James began to see his termination not as a failure, but as an opportunity for reinvention. With this clarity, he transitioned into a role in a startup, where he found not just a job, but a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for the future. Today, James looks back on his coaching experience as a pivotal moment, one that transformed a professional setback into a launching pad for a more fulfilling career. In the end, the sudden termination opened up a world of possibilities that he hadn't previously considered.

Case Study 3: New Leader, Bad Communication Style

Let's call her Sarah, a first-time entrepreneur with a brilliant product idea but struggling to lead her small team effectively. Things were going well - her industry knowledge was unquestionable, but when it came to managing people, she was frustrated. She often found herself at a loss — misunderstandings were common, and team morale was beginning to suffer. Sarah felt the weight of her leadership responsibilities acutely, and the stress was beginning to affect her decision-making. Things were getting worse, not better.

Through my coaching, Sarah learned the importance of clear and empathetic communication. We worked together to develop practical tools for giving constructive feedback, leading meetings that fostered collaboration (and that were as short as possible), and creating a culture of trust within her team. We practiced role-playing scenarios to help Sarah navigate difficult conversations, and together we crafted a leadership style that felt authentic and effective.

As Sarah’s communication skills improved, so did the team’s performance. Misunderstandings became rare, and when they did occur, Sarah had the tools to address them quickly and effectively. Her confidence as a leader grew, and with it, the respect and loyalty of her team. Today, her company is thriving, and she credits her success to the foundational skills she gained through our sessions. For Sarah, coaching wasn’t just a solution to her immediate challenges; it was an investment in her long-term success as a leader.

Case Study 4: The Solopreneur Who Needed a Steady Hand

Let’s talk about Kyle, a solopreneur with a knack for creative ideas but who found himself struggling with the practical side of running a business. This is really a repeated scenario in my practice: technically brilliant executives who want to finally run their own show but hit a brick wall when they realize they lack key business and HR skills. Kyle launched a promising tech startup, but as the company grew, so did the demands on his time and expertise. He found himself juggling product development, client acquisition, and daily operations with little time left for strategic thinking. Hiring the right people, defining key processes, and even clarifying his company’s unique value proposition was overwhelming. Panic attacks started, and he didn't have the time to be playfully creative anymore.

Kyle decided to work with me to help navigate these complexities. First I taught him techniques to manage his nerves. Then we identified what the burning fires were and developed time-bound strategies to get them under control. I also served as a sounding board, helping him to test out ideas – chewing through things that would either have landed him in hot water, would be a waste of time, or cause even more problems. Learning how to prioritize his tasks and manage his time effectively was a major, ongoing, skill- building focus. We developed a hiring strategy that brought in the right talent to support Kyle’s vision, and we crafted key operational processes that streamlined day-to-day activities. Together, we also articulated a clear value proposition that resonated with his target market, setting his startup apart from competitors.

With my guidance, Kyle moved from reactive to proactive management. He gained the confidence to make critical decisions, knowing he had a steady hand to guide him. The business flourished under this newfound clarity, and Kyle found himself not just surviving as an entrepreneur but thriving, with a clear roadmap for future growth.

The Benefits of Coaching: More Than Just a Solution to Problems

These stories highlight how coaching has been an absolute game-changer, providing personalized strategies and support that extend into specific strategic, tactical, logistic, and diplomatic skill-building. Great coaching is never a one-size-fits-all plan. Solutions are jointly created for your unique challenges, personality, and aspirations.

Coaching also fosters a deeper understanding of your personal and professional values. It helps you align your work with your broader life goals, ensuring that your career is not just a series of tasks, but a source of fulfillment and pride. So many people are experiencing burnout and job dissatisfaction, but you don't have to shoulder this alone. Coaching offers a pathway to a more balanced, more rewarding - and better planned - career.

Choosing the Right Coach

If you’re considering coaching, you no doubt have seen what I have: a tsunami of well- intentioned people who are great in their field, but no further qualifications as a coach. They all claim to understands your unique challenges and goals. Look for someone who can provide testimonials across decades of coaching work specifically - not someone seeking to kick back and pass out advice on what has worked for them. A successful coach has a track record of helping professionals in similar situations. They offer a blend of practical strategies and psychological insight, so you can tackle challenges with skills and confidence.

And if you've read to the end of this article, it's probably the right time to explore what executive coaching can do for you. You might just discover a wonderful version of yourself you never knew existed. 

About the Author

Anna is an organizational psychologist and executive coach, with a special interest in all things technology. We’re part of the team at Garleff Coaching and Consulting Group. If this article has struck a chord, please let us know.
Anna Garleff Cell: +1 587 224 3793 / anna@garleffcoaching.com
www.garleffcoaching.com