From the outside, things look good

There’s a moment I see time and again in the leaders I work with. From the outside, things look good. Even enviable.

A senior role in a big business. Solid track record. Good salary. The respect of your peers. A diary full of meetings. Big decisions to make. And crikey, you have worked your socks off to get there!

Tick, win, tick, win, tick, win.

But then, somewhere between back-to-back calls, the relentless agenda, and long working hours, quiet internal questions begin to form. Questions such as – “Is this it?!” The kind of questions that you can be fearful of voicing out loud.

Not because you’re ungrateful. Not because you’ve failed. But because something is starting to feel not just right.

You’re mentally questioning things more, having stronger (although hidden) emotive reactions, and finding yourself an observer to aspects of your own life.

But you can’t quite put your finger on what’s going on. And let’s face it, you’re super-busy, so you crack-on and a few more months pass.

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Audio Version

If you prefer to listen than read, here you go. This article is brought to life by Deborah – with a bit of ‘ad lib’ along the way!

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Success Has Brought You Here

Most senior leaders I partner with have ticked so many boxes of success:

• Delivered ambitious goals, led huge teams, and driven advances in their field
• Navigated complex organisations, challenging change, and tricky relationships
• Built a reputation for being dependable, strategic, strong
• Earned recognition, rewards, and professional advancement
• Made differences to the lives of their teams and customers
• Worked their asses off to get there over a long period of time
• And built up a level of financial security and quality of life with their earnings

They are brilliant, inspirational, and high-achieving leaders in their field. Doing things on a day-to-day basis many people can’t even wrap their heads around. Honestly, it’s an honour to speak to these people day in and day out.

But that’s not the whole picture, no matter how long the list of professional achievements.

That quiet questioning is often coming from a slightly different place.

What they are really wanting is to feel connected to their work. To feel proud of what they’re building. To know it matters. To them and to others.

And that’s where the shift starts to happen – from success to significance.

 

 

What Triggers the Shift?

For some, it’s always been there. Purpose-led from the start.

But let’s face it, for many leaders, the path to seniority evolves almost by accident: Great at your role ->promoted -> then again -> and again… Until suddenly, your career is steering you, not the other way round.

Which does mean that there’s often a change or a trigger to the quiet questioning and desire for a shift. It might be:

• A mid-career moment of reflection (“bloody hell, this is going fast…”)
• A big change at work, maybe even redundancy
• A life event that makes you think beyond work
• A sense of personal sacrifice, potentially resentment, given the hours at work vs elsewhere
• A health scare  – yours or someone close to you
• Or something else completely – it’s very individual

But the point is, whether it’s a jolt or a gradual realisation, it’s something that becomes impossible to ignore – there’s a pull towards something more meaningful in professional life – whatever that means …

 

 

What Is Significance?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. That’s the beauty of it.

For me, it’s about making a difference that matters to me. Something I’m proud to put my name to. Work that touches lives, for the better.

For my clients, it varies – from leaving a cultural legacy in their organisation, to leading in a way that’s aligned with their values, to using their voice and position for some purpose-led work, to extra-curricular pro bono contributions, and sometimes to creating something entirely new.

But the common thread?

It seems to be about “making a difference”. One that feels meaningful and purposeful for them.

It can range from tweaks and adjustments in current role and life, to intentional plans for semi-retirement, through to a complete shake-up right now.

No right or wrong, just what’s right for them.

 

 

The Fear of Asking the Question

Let’s not sugar-coat it, many leaders fear even exploring this space:

• What have I worked for all these years, if I’m now asking these types of questions?
• Will I be throwing away everything I’ve built and which I’m known for?
• Is this just a moment of madness that will pass? My mid-life crisis?!
• I don’t want to be disloyal or ungrateful to my boss/employer/team by considering something nee
• What if I make a change and it doesn’t deliver the goods?

There’s an implicit assumption that approaching this question means throwing in the professional towel. And in most cases, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

And don’t you envy those people that have that ultimate level of clarity? They know what it’s all for. They feel aligned to their work. They feel good about how and where they spend their time. They have a clear direction of travel for the future. They are intentional in what comes next.

I believe everyone deserves clarity that comes from exploring the ‘significance’ question. I see all too frequent a lack of it leading to regret down the line, and that’s never a great place to be.

 

 

You Don’t Have to Throw It All Away

Here’s a truth worth holding tight – finding significance doesn’t mean quitting everything and starting from scratch. Nor does it mean having to map out every day of your life for the foreseeable!

Often, it’s a series of small but powerful shifts, such as:

• Reconnecting with what gives you energy and motivation
• Knowing your values and where there’s alignment or tension with them
• Re-evaluating what having impact actually means to you
• Honouring boundaries that allow space for things that really matter – in work and life
• Leading in a way, and in an environment, that you believe makes a difference
• Being intentional about how and where you time is invested
• Knowing what nourishes you – and getting plenty of it

And so much more! But you get the drift.

Sometimes, it’s building towards a change. Sometimes, it’s finding joy right where you are, but on your own terms.

 

 

 

What You Need (And Deserve) Along the Way

When my clients explore this shift, they’re not looking for quick fixes. They want safety to talk honestly. Challenge to think differently. Support to stay in motion, even when the day job tries to pull them back in.

And someone who’s excited with them? Who gets it? Who’s been there and done that their own way?

Me. I have.Burnout forced me out of a high-flying career. At first, I thought I had to abandon it all. But when I realised I could integrate all of my experience and passions into something new, everything changed.

Now I do work I love every single day. With inspirational people that matter to me. On my terms.

I didn’t make my change perfectly. In fact, it was a mess for a while. But I was alone, without a guide, making it up day by day. And I still got to the best place imaginable – for me.

My path is my path. I’m happy to share the ups, downs, and insights. But I’ll never suggest it’s your path. Because yours is just as unique as you are.

If I can help you get to you ‘best place imaginable’ I’ll happily assist!

 

 

Ready to Explore What Significance Could Look Like?

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Let’s chat about where you’re at, and where you’d love to be. It might just be the most important conversation you start this year. Not because it’s with me – rather, because it’s about you.

Find out more about working together or if you’re ready to have that conversation, book a call to explore how we can work together. And don’t forget to connect on LinkedIn – I’m talking about this kind of stuff, and more, most days.