This is a vulnerable post - lest you think this executive coach has everything figured out, she does not.
I had a powerful insight about myself and what I’m building in this coaching practice. In working with my own coach, I came to session with an internal wrestling with two parts of my business - career counseling on the one side, built from my decades of experience as a recruiter, and leadership impact on the other side, also built from years of experience and truly the center of my calling as a coach. I was wrestling with how to claim both of these at once - and I was feeling blocked and frustrated on why moving through this was hard for me.
The coaching session began in a problem solving way - I thought I wanted to get to an answer on what to do next. As we dug in, I asked myself (and my coach) out loud if there was something else going on. Why am I in my own way here? And after some additional exploration, I had a powerful realization: I have been staying safe. Safe because I feel credible around career navigation, in the job market, in resumes & profiles, in networking. It is work I care about to be sure, but because it felt safe(r) than the leadership side, I had been avoiding claiming what I truly want.
Since that session I’ve been working on reframing my purpose in my own brain and body, preparing to claim it out loud, with conviction, and finally making the leap. (Notably, this is a huge part of what I coach others on - both in leadership and in career. Irony is a powerful teacher.)
What is mine to do is to build & support the best generation of leaders we have ever seen. Leaders like you, who came to this role with purpose, aspiration, long awaited goals. Who take that mantle of responsibility seriously. Who want to do good work and make an impact on people that means something. Who want to lead on purpose.
And yet, you are finding yourself lost. Unsupported. Given an employee handbook and a “good luck” pat on the back. You are doing your best to figure it out, and feeling like an imposter, fighting fires, and wondering if you’re doing it right. Wondering if everyone feels this alone in their role. Meanwhile, you know that the approach that got you here isn’t sustainable for what lies ahead, nor to get you where you want to go next, but have no idea how to make a change. You know that trying harder is not a plan - but asking for help is scarier than forging forward, hoping for the best.
This is not what leading on purpose looks like, but it is a common limbo so many leaders find themselves in. I believe that we all deserve to experience great leadership, and every great leader deserves support - so that they can become the leader only they can be.
When we arrive at that long-awaited title bestowing people leadership, most of us only know what we’ve been shown; which too often looks like high-tell, high-demand, long-hours, knows-everything, get-it-done-at-all-costs role modeling. What no one tells us is that there is another path - one that draws on all of who you are, your experiences, your story, your values, and allows for you to be fully present. This also requires learning, teaching, and structure on how to get there. This does not happen by accident. It only happens on purpose.
So there it is - supporting great leadership is my purpose in my practice. And I’m ready to claim it as mine.
I am still passionate about helping people navigate career transition - this work will always find me. In truth, it is closely related to leadership work and allows me to support my ideal clients across a spectrum of experiences. Career transition isn’t “safe” in the sense that it is unchallenging or uninspiring, it absolutely is. Now it is an “and” to my scope.
So from today, I am leaping into the mark I want to make in the world. I am claiming what is mine to do. I am pursuing it on purpose, on my terms, with confidence, conviction, and deep intention. I’m so ready.
—K
Daly Dose of Coaching - three powerful coaching questions for self-reflection on this topic:
What is yours to claim, right now? Where do you sense a sparkle of possibility that feels a little scary to look at directly?
What would become possible for you if you claimed it?
What is one first step to take toward claiming, and what does it look like to take it?
*Note - claiming what’s yours right now doesn’t have to be philosophical or massive. Maybe it’s declaring and deciding to take a walk. Maybe it’s claiming your intent to use all your time off this year, and putting that to action. Maybe it’s admitting you want something more, and moving on purpose toward it. All shapes and sizes deserve your full attention and INtention.
Watch for ongoing rebranding & content updates that will claim this purpose more fully in the coming weeks - I welcome your thoughts and feedback as this unfolds.
