Perhaps the most simple yet powerful reason for the coaching boom is the loss of quiet, reflective time for leaders. The modern digital environment ensures that leaders are always "on," constantly reacting to messages and meetings.

Coaching carves out dedicated, protected time for introspection—a rare commodity. It's the one meeting where the agenda is solely the leader's development and well-being. This space allows for meta-cognition: thinking about how one thinks, planning how one will plan, and leading with intention rather than habit.

It was my birthday at the end of October, and as I was reflecting about my age - what it signals, what it stirs up, and how it shapes my self-perception.  I came across an article by Professor Lynda Gratton.

In it, she describes something that stayed with me - we all carry three versions of age:

• Our chronological age - the number the world sees

• Our biological age - the state of our health, resilience, and energy

• And our subjective age - how old we feel inside

When you’re feeling stuck in a rut, it can be hard to know what needs to change. You might feel restless or unfulfilled but can’t quite put your finger on why. It’s a familiar place, and often, the answer begins with internal reflection.

When a business talks about changing the culture, the instinct is usually to look at the process first.  A refreshed handbook or a set of engagement initiatives. These things have their place but they’re not the starting point.

Real cultural change begins with purpose.