Mid-Career Truths I Hear in Coaching Rooms
The Invisible Load of Your Next Promotion
Years ago, at a small railway station, I watched a porter handle two suitcases.
They looked identical.
Same size. Same shape.
He lifted the first one easily.
With the second, he paused, adjusted his grip, and walked more slowly.
Curious, I asked him why.
He smiled and said,
“Sir, weight isn’t the issue. Balance is.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Because mid-career leadership feels exactly like that second suitcase.
When the Work Looks the Same, But Feels Heavier
On the surface, you’re still doing your job.
But quietly, something has shifted.
You’re now:
- Absorbing pressure so your team can breathe
- Holding context others don’t see
- Thinking beyond today while still delivering today
- Being the steady one when roles and authority are unclear
Your designation hasn’t changed.
Your responsibilities haven’t been formally announced.
But your centre of gravity has.
This is the invisible load of your next promotion.
Not more work—less visible work.
What I Hear Repeatedly in Coaching Conversations
Mid-career leaders often say:
“I don’t know why I feel so stretched.”
“I’m doing more, but nothing feels official.”
“I feel responsible… yet not fully empowered.”
What many don’t realise is this:
Leadership doesn’t arrive with an announcement.
It arrives as imbalance.
You’re no longer being observed only for output.
You’re being watched for something subtler:
- How you carry uncertainty without passing it down
- How you stabilise people even when you don’t control the system
- How you shift from problem-solver to sense-maker
Performance gets you noticed.
But how you carry the invisible load determines readiness.
Mid-Career Is Not a Crisis. It’s a Handover Phase
This phase isn’t about proving you can do more.
It’s about transitioning from:
- Personal excellence → collective stability
- Individual contribution → organisational balance
- Clear authority → earned trust
Like that porter, before the weight becomes manageable,
you must first learn how to balance it.
And balance is not instinctive.
It’s learned—often quietly, often without applause.
If This Phase Feels Uncomfortable
It usually means your old way of working no longer fits who you’re becoming.
You’re not falling behind.
You’re being trained silently.
This “in-between” phase comes up often in my coaching conversations with mid-career leaders.
And sometimes, what helps most
isn’t advice—
but a clearer mirror.
Coach Rakesh Verma
With purpose. With heart. From one human to another.