The need to be understood. Have you noticed some people explain everything in great detail? At first, it usually feels like a good thing. They seem thoughtful, thorough etc. Strangers see them as good communicators. But sometimes, even after you’ve known them for years, they still start every story from the very
Feeling trapped vs seeing choices. One of the most challenging but rewarding parts of coaching is to make the coachee see that they always have choices. Typical narratives that coachees come up with – a) Founder is anxious – “My startup is neither scaling nor can I shut it down. I feel
A CXO friend is very sharp and dependable. He is the kind of person who comes out as a hero when things are messy and someone needs to bring things back under control. At work, this made him incredibly successful. His CEO trusted him, his team liked working with him because he
Spiritual bypassing of emotions When I ask some coachees how they felt about a situation or a loss, they end up explaining it using statements like: “I understand that this is all my ego that is causing this suffering”, “The universe is teaching me detachment”, “I am suffering due to my identity
Coachee: “I didn’t get the promotion I deserved” Me: “Okay… and how did that feel?” Coachee: It probably makes sense—could be budget, visibility, or org priorities.” Me: “Not the explanation. What did you feel?” Coachee: “I mean, these things happen. It’s part of the process. I should try harder next time” Me:
One of the stressful things about a manager’s life is having to remember the details of every team member’s work. Managers are required to answer questions from their boss, senior management, stakeholders, investors etc. for which they need to remember details of team members’ day-to-day work and progress. Knowing complete details of
A coachee came to me with a frustration- “I keep postponing quite a few things indefinitely.” When asked about some examples, he mentioned – “I want to start exercising, write stories, and do AI courses. But somehow, I never seem to find the time for these.” Then he paused and added, “The
The ROI Trap: When We Expect Too Much From Our Time A coachee once told me he feels anxious whenever he has to deal with government offices. Even simple tasks like obtaining a certificate or submitting a form made him uncomfortable. He would procrastinate and even avoid the task. At first glance,
Why “We are like a family” can create disappointment at work. A coachee once came to me unhappy with his workplace. He said: “People here are not supportive. My manager doesn’t really have my back. And my colleagues don’t feel like my kind of people.” On the surface, it sounded like a
A couple of years ago, one of my mentees called me. He had just joined a new company. Bigger title, leadership role and a larger team. It was a clear step up compared to his previous role. He asked me, – “It’s a bigger role now. How should I navigate this situation
