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A Journey from Burnout to Boundaries and Confidence

Background

V, an experienced executive assistant in the tech industry, sought coaching upon securing a new role at a tech startup. Having spent over a decade with a demanding and aggressive boss who required her constant availability, V transitioned into a new position feeling anxious. She faced a contrasting culture and demographic at the startup, where she was one of the few women and Asian employees.

V's top three coaching goals were:

  • To pass probation period successfully
  • Feel confident in her role—especially in expressing herself and setting boundaries
  • Build a presence to build the path to transition into a managerial position in 12 months

Coaching Journey and Interventions

Throughout a six-month-long partnership, V made significant strides in several key areas:
  • Emotional Regulation and De-escalation Strategies

    We strongly emphasised helping V manage her emotional responses effectively. By exploring what brings her calm as well as, delving into her inner dialogue, including tendencies towards overthinking and self-doubt that trigger anxiety, we co-created a roadmap and strategies to de-escalate and maintain her emotional balance during stressful moments.

  • Building Confidence

    We brought awareness to V's negative self-talk and applied techniques to shift and reframe negative self-talk and let go of past beliefs that contributed to her imposter syndrome. We worked to identify and acknowledge her successes and strengths, helping her build a more resilient self-image. Additionally, we created a structured onboarding plan to ensure a smooth transition and steady integration into her new role.

  • Cultural Adaptation

    Addressing the cultural nuances between V's previous and current workplaces was a pivotal part of our coaching journey. Initially, we focused on challenging preconceived notions and fostering an understanding of these differences. Through safe role-playing sessions and gradual steps, we helped build her confidence in bridging these gaps effectively.

  • Effective Communication

    We focused on unpacking what was holding her back from articulating her needs, developing strategies that helped her set clear expectations, and approaching questions with confidence. To deepen this process, we conducted a stakeholder mapping exercise to grasp their priorities, tailoring her communication style to foster productive relationships rooted in mutual understanding and respect.

  • Redefining Productivity and Personal Identity

    Accustomed to long hours and a demanding workload, V struggled with guilt over not working "long enough" in her new role which made her feel inadequate. Through our coaching sessions, we focused on challenging these beliefs and helping her discover an identity beyond work. We encouraged V to explore new hobbies and activities, including prioritizing adequate sleep, to reclaim personal time and combat burnout.

Felt Changes

At the end of the 6-month engagement, V reported significant personal growth:

  • 75% improvement in her relationship with her boss (from 4/10 to 7/10)
  • 133% increase in her confidence to say no and set boundaries (from 3/10 to 7/10)
  • Remarkable 250% improvement in her overall confidence (from 2/10 to 7/10)

Externally Recognised Outcome

  • V successfully passed her probation period
  • V received verbal recognition from her boss and peers at a company event

Conclusion

V’s success was rooted in her unwavering commitment to embrace discomfort. Her progress highlights the power of facing challenges head-on, pushing beyond familiar boundaries, and stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Of course, she experienced ups and downs along the way, but with the right strategies, we safely expanded her comfort zone and broadened her capabilities.

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