Welcome back to my HR Higher Version podcast where I want you to become a higher version of yourself. No matter what stage you are at in your career, or what level you want to achieve, you can always strive to be a better version of yourself.
If you’ve been listening to my podcast, you probably know that I have worked in the field of Human Resources for over thirty years. Early on in my career I knew a few C suite professionals who had executive coaches. I thought it would be amazing, but left it at that and didn’t explore it further.
Knowing what I do now – I wish I would’ve looked into the prospect seriously. But to be honest, back then, I didn’t know exactly what an executive coach was and how instrumental one could’ve been in my career.
Now that I have invested in my own coaching and become an executive coach myself, I want to dissolve the mystery of executive coaching for you. So what the heck does an executive coach do anyways and why is it important for your career success? Let’s dive in.
Are You Avoiding Certain HR Tasks?
Today, we’re talking about something that I believe can be a game-changer for so many human resources professionals—the importance of having an executive coach and what the heck an executive coach actually is anyway.
But before we get into that, I want to start with a story that is a bit embarrassing, but applicable.
My husband and I have been married for 29 years, so this was probably 28 years ago. We were at my in-law’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. We were newly married and I was just getting to know his big, boisterous family.
My mother-in-law loves to have all of the family over to her house for the holiday meals, but she gets a little worked up about it. She has a relatively small kitchen and gets flustered with everyone cramming in and trying to help.
It’s a big job to get everything ready. Quite frankly though, I think she would rather just do it all herself and have us just stay out of her way. But we, of course, all offer to pitch in and she gives out assignments.
That particular meal, I was tasked with mashing potatoes. I saw it as the perfect assignment. You see, I’m not particularly savvy in the kitchen. But this was something I knew how to do.
It was also something that I could stand off to the side, accomplishing my assigned task, but also kind of flying under the radar.
While everyone was bustling around the kitchen, I mashed the potatoes. I participated in the small talk with my sisters-in-law, and I mashed potatoes. I stayed out of the way, and I mashed potatoes. I avoided other assignments, as I mashed potatoes.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the potatoes needed mashing. But honestly, by continuing to mash the potatoes, it was a way for me to avoid being involved in a more challenging meal prep duty.
I wasn’t comfortable in my kitchen abilities or my relationships with my new in-laws. I could pretend to be busy and “contribute” without actually confronting anything that might make me uncomfortable or that I might screw up. So I mashed and mashed those potatoes.
When we sat down to eat, everyone raved about how the mashed potatoes were the smoothest potatoes they had ever had. I just smiled, thinking to myself, yeah, that’s what happens when you mash potatoes for like 20 minutes!
Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe not specifically mashing potatoes, but with other things you do in your own life.
Do you spend hours answering emails that you know aren’t urgent and could wait? Do you get caught up in tasks that are easy but don’t really move the needle forward?
So, let me ask you: Are there things in your day that you fill your time with just to avoid facing the bigger challenges? Things that make you feel like you’re doing something productive, but in reality, they’re just a distraction from the work that really matters?
That’s exactly why so many high-potential professionals—like HR leaders—benefit from an executive coach.
What is an HR Executive Coach?
An executive coach is someone who partners with you to help you elevate your skills, overcome self-doubt, set and achieve big goals, and move past the things that hold you back.
And trust me, we all have those things that hold us back.
You have those “mashed potato moments,” right? The moments when you’re busy with tasks that feel like they’re productive but are actually keeping you from confronting the bigger challenges you need to face in your career.
An executive coach helps you identify those moments and gives you the tools to push through them.
Whether it’s improving your executive presence, mastering time management, finding work/life balance, or enhancing your personal brand, an executive coach will hold up the mirror for you.
It takes an outsider’s perspective to help you recognize where you’re wasting time or energy and help you focus on what will truly propel you forward.
Why HR Professionals Need Executive Coaching
As an HR professional, you’re already doing a lot—managing people, handling sensitive situations, and constantly being the glue that holds the organization together.
But often, the very qualities that make you good at what you do — your people skills, your empathy, your adaptability — can also keep you stuck in tasks that aren’t moving you forward at the pace you want.
Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes. It’s easy to run from one fire to the next, one email to the next, one phone call to the next and at the end of the day – wonder, did I actually accomplish anything today?
You may find yourself avoiding strategic conversations, or you might feel like your career progression is stalled, not because you’re not working hard, but because you’re not prioritizing the right things.
An executive coach helps you understand how to build your personal brand, communicate with influence, and most importantly, how to think and act at the executive level.
When I was just starting out in my own career, I didn’t have the awareness I have now. I didn’t realize how much I was avoiding doing the hard work—like having those tough conversations with colleagues or pushing myself to make bigger decisions.
If I had had an executive coach back then, I could’ve saved myself a lot of time and frustration. But we all get caught in the trap of “mashing potatoes,” don’t we?
Executive Coaching is a Game Changer for HR Leadership
So, what can you expect from working with an executive coach? First, it’s all about having someone who sees you—the potential in you that maybe you haven’t even realized is there.
A coach can help you set a clear, actionable career path, improve your decision-making skills, and take your productivity to the next level.
In my own career, I’ve seen the difference it makes to have a coach who pushes me out of my comfort zone. And I’m not talking about the kind of pushing that makes you want to mash potatoes! I mean the kind that challenges you to step into your full potential—whether it’s learning how to say no to non-priority tasks, embracing leadership opportunities, or even just making space in your life for yourself so you don’t burn out.
How an Executive Coach Helps HR Professionals Excel
To wrap things up, I want you to think about your own “mashed potato moments.” The things that keep you busy but aren’t really moving you forward.
If you’re not challenging yourself, if you’re filling your day with tasks that avoid the hard but important work, then maybe it’s time to ask yourself: What’s holding me back from reaching my full potential?
Having an executive coach isn’t about fixing something that’s broken. It’s about accelerating your growth, maximizing your impact, and achieving the level of success you’ve always wanted.
Whether you’re looking to get promoted, enhance your leadership skills, or simply gain more clarity on your career path, an executive coach can help guide you to your next level.
So, if you’re ready to stop mashing potatoes and start making real progress, let’s schedule a call and see how I can support you on your journey. I have one spot left in my upcoming signature program. I’ll add a link in the show notes for how you can schedule a call with me.
Take Action and Stop “Mashing Potatoes”
Now, here’s your challenge for this week. I want you to identify at least one task or habit you’ve been using to avoid doing the real work that will take you to the next level in your career.
It could be something as simple as answering emails constantly or staying in the weeds of day-to-day operations when you know you should be focusing on strategy or leadership development.
Once you’ve identified it, commit to taking one step this week that challenges you to get out of your comfort zone. Whether that’s setting a boundary with your time, asking for that big project, or having a conversation that you’ve been avoiding, take one step to push through the discomfort.
And remember, it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing the right things. The things that will truly help you grow and move forward in your career.
Share your progress with me—send me a message on Linked In. I’d love to hear how you’re tackling your own growth.
