How do women in senior leadership really experience midlife: can developmental coaching help navigate?
Dr Susan Rose, Professor Emerita at Henley Business School and Nicola J Patterson, Coaching Associates explore women's experience of leadership in midlife years.
Leaders tend to emerge in the mid to late career stage which usually coincides with midlife. During this time, women often find themselves at the intersection of professional responsibilities and the personal transitions associated with midlife. While this period is challenging for all, it presents unique hurdles for women.
Commonly considered to be between 40-60 years old, midlife is a critical developmental transition. The menopause introduces hormonal shifts that can lead to multiple associated symptoms including poor concentration and low confidence, commonly reported as problematic for women in the workplace and which can affect professional performance.
The so-called ‘sandwich generation’ phenomenon further complicates midlife, with women juggling responsibilities for both young and old family members. Yet throughout this challenging time, workplace adjustments are often underused, contributing to a significant number of women leaving their jobs.
With our recent study, we set out to improve our understanding of women’s experiences as senior leaders during midlife and explore the potential of developmental coaching as a supportive tool at this career stage.