There’s a woman I know who seems to have it all figured out. The career, the home, the confidence, and the put-together style we all crave.
So I was surprised when she told me she rehearsed a one-off Monday meeting in the shower, and then again in the school pickup line. Same speech, same worry. She runs a team of twenty, her results are excellent, and she was still spinning in her own head like a hamster on a wheel.
But it goes to show that even as we grow and seem to have it all ‘figured out’, we might still need help. And that’s ok. In fact, it’s more than ok—it’s worth celebrating, because it means we’re evolving.
If this is hitting close to home, you may be wondering whether it's time to work with an executive coach. And that's a smart question to ask, so let’s walk through it.
What does an executive coach actually do?
An executive coach is a thinking partner. I don't hand you a list of answers or tell you what to do with your career. I ask questions you haven't asked yourself, reflect back what I'm hearing, and help you turn big ideas into steps you'll really take. Then we check in on how it went. Accountability is a big part of the deal, and most people secretly love it.
Coaching looks forward. Therapy often explores the past and healing, and mentoring usually means learning from someone who has walked your road before you. Coaching starts where you are right now and asks where you want to go and what's standing in the way. As a Professional Certified Coach with a background in HR, that's the space I work in every day.
Signs you might be ready for an executive coach
You got promoted and nobody handed you a manual. Being excellent at your job and being excellent at leading people are two different skill sets. Plenty of leaders earn their title through individual results, then get expected to figure out delegation and tough conversations on the fly. If you're white-knuckling it, a coach can help you build those skills faster.
Everyone leans on you. Your team needs you, your boss needs you, and somewhere along the way you stopped asking who you lean on. Coaching gives you a space that's entirely yours.
You keep hitting the same wall. Different team, same conflict. Different year, same burnout. When a pattern follows you around, it deserves a closer look, and it's really hard to see your own pattern from inside it. A coach can see it from the outside.
Success looks great on paper and feels flat. You hit the goals. You got the title. And somewhere between the celebration and the next to-do list, a little voice asked, "Is this it?" That question deserves a real answer, not a quick shove back into your inbox.
A big transition is coming. A new role, a growing team, a return from parental leave, a merger. Transitions are a perfect time for coaching because the ground is already moving, and you get to be intentional about where you land.
What if I'm not sure it's worth it?
Fair question. Coaching is an investment of time and money, and it should feel like one. Here are two quick gut checks. Is there something you want to change, even if it's still fuzzy? And are you willing to be honest with yourself, even when it stings? If you answered yes to both, you're likely ready.
You also don't need to be in crisis. Plenty of my clients are doing great and simply want to keep growing with some support. Waiting until you're burned out or fed up means you've been carrying the load longer than you needed to.
What to expect when you work with an executive coach
We start with a conversation about where you are, what's working, and what you'd love to be different. From there we set goals that feel exciting and doable. Then we meet regularly, usually one-on-one, and you leave each session with something specific to try. Some clients bring me in for a season of change, and others stay for years. Either way, the work is built around you. You can read more about individualized leadership coaching or see how I partner with corporate teams.
If you've been circling this question for a while, that's probably your answer. Let's talk. Book an intro call with me and we'll figure out together whether executive coaching is the right next step for you.