Focusing on Personal Purpose.

Sally Osman is a senior advisor, NED and business coach, focusing on personal purpose.

The first time I read the phrase “accept the crooked path” – a big boom of resonance went off in my mind.

Herminia Ibarra’s Working Identity was a revelation and, like many coaching colleagues, I wish I’d had it earlier in life to help make sense of many twists and turns.

Before embarking on Mastered in mid-2019 – and reading Herminia’s book – I’d seen my career in journalism and Strategic Communications as more of a Big Dipper roller coaster than a path.

Being at the heart of two of the UK’s most defining institutions – the BBC and the Monarchy – was thrilling but also exposing, often exhausting and definitely all consuming. I’d never had a career map but counted myself lucky that amazing opportunities and experiences had come my way.

By the end of 2018, I knew it was time to get off the Dipper. Big institutions are seductive but, to remain relevant, they also need new energy and thinking. I consulted with trusted friends and former colleagues, sought advice, mobilised the network and, for the first time in my life, developed a sense of the way ahead.

This time, the path did not include another big job. Being Director of Royal Communications for the late Queen was hard to top. The portfolio route was more appealing – a mix of consultancy, non exec board work and coaching.

The BBC had encouraged a coaching culture and I’d attended one of Jenny Rogers week long courses. It had a big impact on my own leadership approach but I hadn’t done structured 1:1 coaching for a while. Colleagues at the Palace steered me to Mastered as my new path started to emerge.

Covid was an unexpected diversion but studying during this period gave structure and also time to explore, to reignite my curiosity gene and to learn to love reading again. I’ve made new friends – my Mastered cohort chums and beyond – and, through clients, I’ve learnt so much about new sectors and their challenges. Some issues that emerge through coaching are still, shockingly, all too familiar in terms of executive power plays, confidence and control. But it’s also fascinating to witness some inspirational, next generation leaders, blossom – the coach’s dividend.

In my old territory of Corporate Affairs and Communications, new challenges are multidimensional, requiring different skills to navigate complexities and emerging responsibilities, making coaching here more valuable than ever.

Today, coaching clients occupying about a third of my time, just as planned, with consultancy and Board commitments filling the rest. There have also been some interesting diversions and new openings along the way – not least international TV commentary round the late Queen’s funeral and the Coronation.

What I underestimated pre-Mastered was just how valuable core coaching skills and ideas have become around the board table.

My three NED/Trustee roles are in the Arts, Higher Education and Health. Each has their own challenges, issues, cultures and business language.

I now truly appreciate how deep listening, thoughtful challenge and questioning of Executive teams, preferably with a good dose of Nancy Kline’s Thinking Environment, are increasingly vital to responsible governance in any sector or business.

Five years on from starting Mastered, a curious coaching mindset infuses so many other aspects of my professional life. I’m trusting the crooked path to continue taking me down even more interesting routes over the next five years.

Sally Osman is a senior advisor, NED and business coach, focusing on personal purpose.