When Change Feels Risky
Coaching through life transitions.
Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Foundation
I’ve been working with David, a man in his mid-sixties who is a thoughtful, capable CEO and has led the same aged-care organisation for seventeen years. His work gives him purpose. It’s familiar, and he’s good at it. Recently, though, life has shifted. He’s experienced a marriage breakdown, met someone new, and begun thinking about what the next phase of his life might look like. His Board has also changed, bringing a different dynamic to the organisation he knows so well. There are also lots of changes in the aged care space, requiring learning new ways of doing things.
Challenge
He finds himself caught between two worlds, the comfort of what he knows and the world of possibility. Part of him wants to stay with the organisation that has defined so much of his identity. Another part longs to travel, to spend more time with his partner, and to make the most of the years ahead.
My Role
In our coaching sessions, we’ve explored this tension with curiosity rather than urgency. We mapped the pros and cons, imagined what an ordinary day might look like in different futures, and surfaced emotions of loyalty, fear, and hope and the impact of these on practical decisions. I also introduced reading material on transition and change, and together we reframed the idea of leaving as moving toward something, rather than just leaving ‘because’. What if this next stage wasn’t about walking away, but about creating space for something new to emerge?
Transformation
As the sessions progressed, he began to see that change isn’t necessarily loss, it’s growth. His language shifted from “Should I go?” to “Who am I becoming?” a small but powerful reframe that opened new possibilities and softened his anxiety about the unknown.
Outcome
Change at any age requires courage. But later in life, when identity and purpose are deeply intertwined with work, it can feel both exhilarating and frightening. Coaching provided a reflective space to pause, name what matters most, and imagine new ways of living and leading. David is now sailing with his new partner and playing lots of golf – interestingly, he is still providing advice in the aged care space – but he does this in his time and when he chooses. For David, it wasn’t just about a career decision, it was about reconnecting with meaning, and rediscovering confidence in his ability to shape what comes next. If you’re standing at a crossroads between responsibility and renewal, familiarity and freedom, coaching can help you find your way forward.