When Is the Best Time to Get a Coach?

As a coach, my biased answer is: always.

But coaching is a real investment. And for many people — particularly women and people of color, who are less likely to have their employers cover the cost — it's worth thinking carefully about whether the timing is right. Here's when I believe a coach provides the most value:

When you're stuck. You have a vision for yourself — a promotion, a business, a bigger life — and no matter what you do, you can't get there. It feels like quicksand. A coach helps you understand what's actually holding you in place, and builds a path out.

When you've made it, but you're terrified. You got the role. Now you're not sure you can do it. That might be a skill gap. It might be imposter syndrome. Or — and this is more common than people say, especially for women of color — you may have been handed an impossible mandate. A coach helps you see clearly which one it is.

When you're discontent but not sure why. Something feels off about today, but you can't name what's next. This is some of the most important work a coach can do: helping you clarify the vision before you can even begin to move toward it.

Iyanla Vanzant put it simply: "It's time for you to move, realizing that the thing you are seeking is also seeking you." A good coach helps you believe that — and then helps you figure out where to go.