Back in March, before quarantine, I worked with a professional organizer. It was a happy accident to have done that work before the quarantine, and I’m so glad I did. We moved to a new home in May of 2019, and I had hit a wall in our unpacking and settling in. Every time I looked at the stacks of unopened boxes, I felt stuck and dispirited. I’d open the basement door with resolve, “Let’s do this!” Then I’d see the piles. Cringe. Turn around, deflated. “Nevermind.” Sigh.
Every day I talk to people who end up feeling this same way after making a move in their careers. They were excited to get the promotion. But now that they’re in the new role, they feel overwhelmed. They’re not sure they can handle everything that’s coming their way. Managing their new team is proving more difficult than they expected. The pressure and the anxiety is keeping them up at night. They know that if they don’t turn things around soon, there will be no hope of another promotion.
Getting out of that place of anxiety and overwhelm and finding your stride in a new role can be really hard. It’s at least as hard as moving into a new home and getting out from under the chaos of a million boxes.
For me, moving forward meant reaching out for help.
The day Carolyn Loucas, professional organizer, showed up with her bag of tricks was a major turning point for me. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone. We walked through the whole house, looking at all of the areas I found so overwhelming. She surveyed the stacks of boxes in the corners. Looked into the pantry where nothing seemed to fit. Dug into the closets where I couldn’t seem to find anything. The surprising thing? She wasn’t overwhelmed at all! She looked at it all, listened to my concerns and mapped out a plan that we could start on right away.
That’s exactly what a leadership coach can do for someone who’s stepping into a new role at work. A coach who understands organizations and what makes a great manager can map out a strategy to help clients take up their leadership successfully, whatever the circumstances. What looks like a mess from the inside is just another day at work for a coach who knows what they’re doing.
Throughout my organizing project, Carolyn worked beside me, taking me through her process step-by-step. She encouraged me when I faced difficult decisions. She was positive and supportive. She tailored the pace of our work to fit for me. That’s exactly what a leadership coach can do for their clients, as well. They’re there for you, as partners in your journey.
One of the things that made Carolyn great to work with is that she had no stake in the outcome. She didn’t care what I kept or tossed. She didn’t have any preconceived notions about where things should go in our new home. She had strategies and suggestions, for sure. But I never felt like I needed to do things her way, or that there was only one way to do it. Her goal was to guide me toward creating a livable, functional home that worked for MY life.
That’s another value of working with an objective, professional coach. Unlike family and friends, or even colleagues or mentors at work, an ethical coach has absolutely no stake in your situation. They help you tap into your strengths and take up leadership in a way that fits your style. They won’t push you to take on strategies that don’t work for you. They will walk alongside you, guiding you through challenges, to meet your goals, whatever they are.
If you’ve hit a wall in your career, and are starting to feel like it may be time to get help, let’s talk. We’ll get on the phone for about 45 minutes and you can tell me all about your work situation, and show me all of the messy parts. Then together we’ll come up with a way forward. If it feels like a fit for both of us, we can talk about what it would look like to work together. And if not, I’ll do my best to point you to other coaches or resources that could better meet your needs. Either way, you’ll get massive clarity and value from the call, and you’ll be taking an important step toward becoming the leader you’re meant to be.
Looking forward to talking with you soon!
