So You’re Wondering if a Career Coach Could Actually Help
You’re not drowning, but you’re definitely not thriving. Your career isn’t a disaster, but it’s also not exactly lighting you up.
You’re smart. You’ve done the courses. You’ve taken the promotions. But lately, there’s this quiet voice in the back of your mind asking… What’s next?
Maybe you’re thinking about switching roles, negotiating a better package, going independent, or stepping into leadership.
Or maybe you’re just plain stuck.
Whatever the case, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You might just need a little help figuring out the next smart move.
Let’s unpack how to know if it’s time for a career coach and, more importantly, how to find one that won’t waste your time (or your money).
5 Signs It Might Be Time for a Career Coach
1. You’re Successful on Paper, But Bored Out of Your Mind
You’ve ticked all the boxes: the job title, the stable income, maybe even the corner office.
But you’re waking up uninspired, like you’re going through the motions of someone else’s career.
This isn’t a failure. It’s a signal. You’ve outgrown your current path, and that’s a good thing.
2. You’re at a Crossroads and Everything Feels Risky
Should you stay? Leave? Start something new? You’ve got options, but the stakes feel too high to just pick one and hope for the best.
Career coaching brings structure to chaos. It helps you cut through analysis paralysis and move with clarity, not fear.
3. You’re Hitting a Ceiling and You’re Not Sure Why
You’ve been passed over for promotions. Your ideas aren’t landing. You’re working harder than ever, but seeing fewer results.
A good coach helps you uncover blind spots and rebuild authority, confidence, and presence. Sometimes the problem isn’t your skills — it’s your strategy.
4. You’ve Lost Touch With Your Voice
If you’ve started second-guessing your instincts, softening your asks, or saying “yes” when you mean “hell no”, it’s time.
Coaching doesn’t just improve communication. It helps you remember who you are before the politics, the burnout, and the over-functioning.
5. You’ve Outgrown Your Role. But Can’t Picture What’s Next
This one’s common. You’re ready for change… but you don’t have language for it yet. You can feel the shift coming, but can’t map it.
A coach helps translate the vibe into a viable next move.
But Wait, What Is Career Coaching, Really?
Career coaching isn’t someone telling you what to do. It’s:
- A confidential space to think strategically about your path
- A partner who listens without bias and calls your bluff when you’re playing small
- A mirror that reflects both your blind spots and your brilliance
- A framework for making smarter decisions faster
- A safe zone to experiment, plan, and stretch
Think of it as hiring a personal strategist for the one thing that shapes everything else, your career.
How Do You Pick the Right Coach?
Check for Experience Beyond Coaching
Look for someone who’s been in the trenches.
Dr. Kerstin Brehm didn’t just study leadership — she led surgical teams as a cardiac surgeon. Now she coaches leaders, founders, and professionals globally with the same calm precision.
That kind of real-world pressure-tested insight matters.
Chemistry > Credentials
Yes, qualifications are important. But coaching is intimate work. You need to feel:
- Seen
- Safe
- Challenged (in a good way)
If you’re just getting cheerleading, that’s not coaching, it’s hype. If you’re just getting strategy, that’s not coaching, it’s consultancy. Great coaching lives in the space between.
Ask: Will This Coach Make Me Think Deeper, Not Just Bigger?
Anyone can pump you up with a pep talk.
But you want a coach who’ll ask:
- Why do you want that role?
- What’s the cost of staying where you are?
- Who are you becoming in this process?
These are the questions that change careers and lives
But Isn’t Coaching Just for People Who Are Failing?
Honestly? That’s one of the biggest myths.
Coaching is for people who:
- Are doing well, but want to do better
- Are ready to change, but need structure
- Are high-achieving, but silently overwhelmed
- Are successful, but no longer satisfied
If you’re ambitious and self-aware enough to ask for support, you’re not behind — you’re ahead.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need a Map. You Need a Co-Pilot.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether you’re navigating a pivot, gearing up for leadership, or just craving a more fulfilling path, the right coach won’t give you answers. They’ll help you ask better questions and walk with you while you answer them.
Book a Discovery Call with Dr. Kerstin Brehm. No pressure. Just clarity, curiosity, and a real conversation.
