“I don’t want my employer to know that I’m seeing you.” This is something we hear regularly from people who come to us for career coaching. The success of the government-sponsored development programs—where employers were not involved—may have something to do with this, aside from the fact that they were free of charge.

But why this hesitation? Most people fear that if they ask for career coaching, their employer will assume they’re unhappy with their job and planning to leave. At some companies, this could already put you halfway out the door.

We believe this fear is unfounded. It’s often unjustified that employees feel this way—and just as unfair that many employers see it like this.

We advocate for more openness on this topic, and employers can take the first step. Career coaching can actually help someone thrive, do what they’re good at, and enjoy their work. Someone who is using their talents and is in the right place ultimately brings more value to the organization as well.

Take Julia, for example. Due to changes within the organization, she had gradually taken on more of a policy advisor role. She noticed she was enjoying her work less and often came home feeling drained. She found it increasingly difficult to deal with the unpredictability of politics, which kept her from achieving concrete results, and this left her feeling more and more frustrated.

In my sessions with Julia, we explored her talents and motivations. She discovered that tasks with a clear beginning and end, which led to concrete results within a reasonable timeframe, suited her much better. Through networking conversations, she realized that she preferred working on projects. She had already done some work in that direction, and by pursuing a targeted training program, she was eventually able to take a new step—within her own organization.

The result was that she went to work with a spring in her step again, felt fulfilled, and had the energy to do her job well. A win-win for everyone.

Julia ended up in a different role within the same organization. Career coaching can also lead to a different distribution of tasks. And yes, sometimes someone does leave the organization, to make room for a new and enthusiastic colleague.

Curious about what career coaching could mean for you or your employees? Get in touch with us for an introductory meeting!