At some point in our careers, many of us will pause and ask ourselves difficult questions.
“Is this the right path for me?”
“Do I still feel fulfilled?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself such questions before, you’re not alone. These thoughts are a natural part of any career journey, especially as life, priorities, and ambitions shift over time.
While these moments can feel unsettling, they’re also an opportunity to reflect, realign, and grow.
This is the story of Zul, a working professional who turned to career coaching not because he had failed, but because he wanted to gain a deeper understanding of himself and lead with greater confidence.
A journey of self-discovery
Zul (not his real name), in his 30s, works as a Centre Manager and Senior Radiographer in a clinic. Two years into the role, he began questioning his fit. “Am I really suited for this?” he asked himself.
That moment of self-doubt led him to enrol in Polaris by Workforce Singapore (WSG), a personalised career guidance programme, to gain deeper clarity about his strengths and the type of work environment he could thrive in.
Gaining self-awareness
Through a safe and non-judgmental coaching space, Zul was able to open up about his work experiences. He realised that over-relying on gut instinct, rather than rational thinking, was affecting how he led his current team. His concern about how others perceived him also made it difficult for him to make decisions or delegate tasks.
These feelings left him doubting his effectiveness as a manager.
During the programme, Zul was introduced to the “Motivated Skills Card Sort” activity, which revealed a welcome surprise: Leadership and supervisory tasks were skills that genuinely motivated him.
This realisation helped rebuild his confidence and shifted how he viewed his role.
Exploring deeper beliefs
As coaching conversations progressed, Zul was encouraged to reflect on his upbringing. He discovered how his early values — such as being dependable and self-sacrificing — have shaped his work style today.
These beliefs, while positive, had also led him to avoid delegating responsibilities, resulting in a constant overwhelm and a need to “firefight” challenges daily.
Understanding this pattern gave him a new perspective in which he could still be dependable without having to take on everything alone.
Moving forward with confidence
With support from the Polaris programme, Zul became more aware of how his thoughts and beliefs influenced his behaviour. He’s since learned to trust his instincts when needed, but also to delegate without guilt.
He now feels more comfortable discussing issues with staff and sharing the load with his nurse manager.
Adopting a new personal motto — “Take things as they come” — has helped him to stay grounded and perform better as a Centre Manager. Today, Zul feels calmer, more assured, and ready to take steady steps toward his long-term career goals.
This article was first published in True North, an e-newsletter for career professionals. If you are keen to receive this e-newsletter in your inbox, sign up for our mailing list.
