Part III of this post: http://www.solution-scope.com/blog/?p=682#more-682
Here are some more real examples that Dr. Ernst Bechinie (http://www.solutioncoaching.ch) put together that show when coaching can help:
Executives an a Cross-Road
Story 1: Executive released with 50
I have been in the corporation over 20 years. Career till director’s level with a number of successful international assignments. Due to a drastic strategy change and a “clear table philosophy” my contract has been terminated.
This is now three months ago. Financially I am O.K. for the moment – despite some details that have to be cleared.
Professionally I feel completely lost. I have never looked at the market, never wrote a CV or had an application interview. My career was happening inside the company. People knew me and new assignments were discussed and somehow influenced by me. Now I am vey unclear what to do. On some days is it difficult to collect my energy. Ask people for favours, meeting and talking to people. Everything is very unsure and unclear. Things take much longer than you think. These are emotional ups and downs. It is a mixture of hope and well even despair.
Some people tell me I have to get over my anger and make a clear cut with my past.
Where can I land with 50?
Story 2: Manager over 40, in search for his future
Here I am at 40, and suddenly I am having serious doubts about the company, its future direction and my role in the company. In fact I am building up a feeling of hostility to the extent that I cannot stand it in this company any more.
Like most of us, when I started, it all looked great. I thought I could move something here, contribute and stamp my own identity on the role. And for all these years I was moving fast in my career with a very successful track record. Having various management positions with increasing responsibilities. But now. No! I am getting the distinct feeling that the boss tries to play all kinds of games with me and the working climate gets worse and worse.
Why is this happen to me? What am I going to do now?! Do I have to start all over again? Move to a new company?
Rushing from one interview to the next? Then what will happen, in 15 months I might end up where I am now, but in another company?! That does not sound great, but I know it is a real possibility. But what else can I do? Is it time that I take my life in my own hands? Where is my passion? What is the meaning of my life? What do I really want to do and achieve in the future?
Story 3: What is the purpose of my life now?
“… I was confronted with the question shall I go on to work in this manner. I like to work, but I did not want to be totally consumed by my corporation. After 25 years of successful corporate life coming up to VP with a worldwide responsibility in my function I started to think about other sides of life. Then my daughter was diagnosed with cancer. In addition to that I also had an operation. This increased my determination to take life into my own hand and I opted for our early retirement plan effective in 6 months from now for me. Further thinking came up in me when I heard about one of our Senior VP. He had gone into retirement a year ago an had disappeared from the world. During his career he was living only for the corporation and nothing existing besides his functional role. He was one of the biggest contributors to the corporation with very successful and spectacular product launches. I have just found out that he went into a deep depression after retirement and was in treatment for over 9 months. He told me that he almost died.
I am going to be prepared for my new life after the corporation. My prevailing question now is: what purpose will I give to my life”? And there are many fascinating ideas. I am curious what will happen in this new adventure!”
Story 4: Director in search of a direction
Following a long and industrious career I decided to take early retirement in order to benefit from full health and to be able to spend more time with my family. After a short period I realised that I missed certain aspects of my revious professional career and felt that a future of just gardening at 61 was not giving me fulfilment and I need some sort of activity that would complement and enrich my life. Out of the blue I was offered something by a former associate from my company. First I was happy to get something proposed without any effort on my side and frankly I felt flattered to suddenly have a title – “Senior Consultant” of a respected company. However, after a short time, following meetings with the company and an introductory programme arranged for my benefit, I started to have my doubts. Something at the back of my mind was telling me that the “product” was not something that I could closely relate to, nor did I feel a real passion for the “product”. I knew from my past that without this passion and commitment I would not be able to throw my heart and soul into the activity.
Then I was confronted by another sense, which became a resistance. I was leaving my recently obtained comfort zone of early retirement. It was very cosy for the moment, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to take action to move out of this comfort zone. This left me at a cross roads, I wanted to do something, but clearly not this offered activity. But how could I redirect my energies, and find a new direction. There seemed to be so many roads to choose from but no directions. So how to start afresh? And what direction to go with all these possible roads?
These are only some examples where coaching can be the right thing to do to improve your situation and/or reach your goals. If you want to find out more or have any questions about if coaching might be right for you, please contact Dr. Ernst Bechinie directly – www.solutioncoaching.ch.
