Ever hear of “limiting beliefs”?
If you’ve ever said—or quietly thought—“I’m too set in my ways for coaching,” you’re not alone. It’s a common reflex, especially among high-achieving, seasoned professionals. The subtext is usually one of three things:
- “Coaching is for people who still have a lot to learn.”
- “I’ve been doing this for decades—why change now?”
- “I’m not going to find a coach that can match my experience and knowledge.”
But here’s the irony: those very reasons make you an ideal candidate for coaching.
1. Wisdom ≠ Completion
Being experienced doesn’t mean being finished. In fact, the most impactful leaders I work with have a quiet discipline of continually revisiting what they think they know. Coaching doesn’t replace your expertise; it refines how you use it, especially under new pressures or in changing environments. (Think AI, hybrid working, organizational change, etc.)
2. Habits Harden Quietly
The longer we’re in a role or industry, the more our reflexes set in – for better or worse. Coaching helps surface those unconscious patterns, not to judge them, but to ask: Are they still serving you?
Spoiler: Some of them aren’t.
3. You’re Not the Same Leader You Were Five Years Ago
Nor is your team, your business, or your context. Coaching helps realign your leadership with who you’ve become, not just who you were when you built your reputation.
4. Coaching Isn’t Therapy or School
It’s not about being fixed or taught. It’s about being partnered with, challenged, clarified, and sharpened. It’s about asking better questions, not getting fed better answers. Most of the clients I work with are multi-decade seasoned professionals who don’t need any advice. What they ask for instead is someone to bounce thoughts and ideas with; someoene to ensure they’re covering all ground and being held accountable; and someone who they can speak with about super-sensitive issues both on the professional and personal side.
So if you’ve ever thought you’re “too old” or “too set in your ways” for coaching… consider this:
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent—it is the one most adaptable to change.”
— Charles Darwin
