Find what resonates with you to align with yourself, your values & your work
Changing career paths is often a mix of excitement and anxiety. You know what you’re leaving behind, but not always where you’re headed. Simon Sinek and Herminia Ibarra offer two complementary perspectives on this journey: Sinek emphasizes the importance of starting with your “why”, while Ibarra reminds us that professional identity is shaped through experimentation. And in between? Coaching can be the compass that guides you.
Discovering Your “Why”: What truly drives you
In Start with Why, Simon Sinek explains that inspiring individuals and organizations share a common trait: they know why they do what they do. Rather than focusing solely on what they do or how they do it, they begin with a deeper purpose that fuels their actions.
This approach applies on a personal level as well: finding your “why” means identifying what makes you come alive and gets you out of bed each morning. But uncovering your “why” isn’t always straightforward…
Why is it important to find meaning in your work?
Work occupies a central place in our lives. Finding meaning in your professional activity enhances motivation, engagement, and overall well-being. When your work reflects your core values and aspirations, it reduces stress, increases satisfaction, and provides a clear direction for your career.
Without this connection to meaning, you risk fatigue, loss of motivation, and even burnout. But when you find your “why,” each workday becomes an opportunity to contribute to something greater than yourself. It’s what enables you to be fully engaged and have a positive impact on those around you and within your organization.
Experimentation as a path to self-discovery
This is where Herminia Ibarra’s Working Identity comes in. Contrary to the belief that you must first “find your passion” before taking action, Ibarra shows that professional identity evolves through doing. In other words, you don’t discover your “why” by sitting and thinking—it emerges through testing, exploring, and adjusting along the way.
She offers three key principles:
- Act before you know: Trying out different professional experiences helps clarify what truly suits you.
- Redefine your network: New opportunities often arise through connections outside your usual circle.
- Explore multiple versions of yourself: Instead of seeking one definitive answer, experiment with different facets of your identity.
How a coach can help you find your “Why”
A professional coach can play a pivotal role in this process. They won’t hand you ready-made answers, but they will help you:
- Clarify your deeper motivations: Through powerful questions and targeted exercises, they’ll help you uncover what truly drives you.
- Move into action: Rather than staying stuck in analysis, a coach encourages you to experiment and explore different paths.
- Overcome internal blocks: “What if I’m wrong? What if this isn’t the right path?” A coach helps you navigate and move beyond these fears.
- Reflect and adjust: After each experience, they guide you in stepping back to assess what aligns with you.
Coaching in practice: Julie’s search for meaning
Julie, a corporate executive, feels disconnected from her work. She’s heard about the concept of finding her “why,” but doesn’t know how to begin.
Session 1 : Exploring motivations
Her coach introduces exercises like “Peak Energy Moments,” where Julie reflects on times she felt most fulfilled. She realizes she loves helping others grow.
Session 2: Taking action
Instead of making a drastic change, she starts mentoring within her company to test this insight.
Session 3: Adjusting her path
She finds joy in this role and wants to go further. Her coach helps her explore training in professional coaching.
Outcome: A gradually evolving identity
Julie doesn’t discover her “why” in a single moment of clarity—it unfolds through experimentation and refinement.
Conclusion
Finding your “why” doesn’t happen overnight. As Simon Sinek highlights, it’s essential to start from a place of deep motivation. But as Herminia Ibarra explains, your “why” often reveals itself through action.
If you’re navigating a career transition, don’t wait for a sudden epiphany. Experiment, adjust, and let a coach help you clarify your direction. After all, the most important thing isn’t just knowing where you’re going—but understanding why you’re going there.