The Benefit of Coaching on Career Development

Navigating transition is a hallmark of many coaching conversations, but what makes this topic so important?Coaching has everything to do with change. Coaching can act as a change agent, playing out as support for an individual wanting to achieve change―like a career change or a strategic change program. As individuals develop a level of dissatisfaction with their current circumstances, the truth in the saying, “what got you here won’t get you there,” is revealed, and a coaching conversation is a perfect environment to explore what behavior change is required to maximize the likelihood of a successful change.Coaching is also helpful when having to deal with an unexpected change. A sudden change in circumstances can make people feel unsteady, and a coaching conversation can provide an opportunity to reflect and identify how to adapt. It’s also particularly helpful for use in advance of an anticipated change. For example, resilience coaching before a merger or a restructure will equip the individual to respond well.
Coaching for managing career change
Change, even when it’s positive, represents loss. Letting go of the familiar requires a level of vulnerability that many people are uncomfortable with, particularly in the workplace. Think about bungee jumping—there is a moment of letting go of the bridge railing and feeling the strength of the cord holding you safely. Releasing one’s hand from that security is a required step to embrace the fullness of the experience.All career transitions include an element of loss: loss of relationships, activities and familiar settings. Bigger than all of those perhaps, a career transition requires an internal reframe of where one sees one’s position in the world. Particularly when an individual has tied up their sense of identity and purpose in one’s role, a change to that can unexpectedly remove some significant foundational building blocks of one’s worldview.Our tendency to want to avoid loss more than make gains increases this sensation. Research (e.g. Kőszegi, B. & Rabin, M., 2007.) has even shown that the belief that a loss may occur will prevent people from engaging in something that would lead to a net gain. How much greater is that sensation when the subject associated with loss is that most significant of roles in our lives: our jobs?It’s only natural, therefore, for transitions to introduce a sense of anxiety, even fear. The level of uncertainty around what the future might hold could be significant, especially if previously it had felt mapped out in front of them. Transition brings disruption, and that never feels nice.
Becoming comfortable with disruption
The disruption inherent in transition isn’t all negative. When harnessed it can push us into a place where we are perfectly positioned to learn. Uncertainty is a sign that we don’t know something, so the courage to lean into it rather than away from it gives us the perfect opportunity to learn new things about ourselves, other people, and the way the world works.Neuroscience backs this up. The reward system in our brain processes both pleasure and pain, and is consistently working to maintain as close to a state of equilibrium as possible, through the release of neurotransmitters to dampen emotive reactions. This can be a problem when we’re experiencing pleasure, because we’re led to immediately eat yet another piece of chocolate. But when we choose to press into an uncomfortable situation, the inverse is true: dopamine is produced, and we can enter into a flow state in which we feel happy to continue to engage, even while experiencing greater neuroplasticity thanks to the release of acetylcholine.Coaching is perfectly designed to support this process, creating a safe space for individuals to reflect on their transition, discover their strengths, explore their values, and bring a new sense of energy, stability, and resilience.Even the most dramatic of unexpected transitions, such as a need to take on more responsibilities in the workplace while going through a divorce, offers opportunities to take dramatic steps forward. While emotions at the time might be more noticeable than during a time of extended stability, the chance to learn and grow as a person is very great.
Bottom line
Coaching can also help to ground us when we’re going through a time of transition. A lot has been written about common experiences of transition, such as:
- An immediate emotional response
- Losing confidence and feeling impacted by imposter syndrome
- Beginning to accept the change
- Ultimately becoming more hopeful and optimistic about the future and the change itself.
By elevating our awareness of these, coaching helps us to ground ourselves, moving into the future with confidence and a more resilient mindset and skill set that deals well with change.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organizational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognizing that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organization's specific challenges, objectives, and organizational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customized and adaptable. We recognize that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organization. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organizational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organization.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organization. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organizations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, traveling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organizations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organizational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customizing our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organization.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximizing the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.