Inspired Confidence Coaching Blog

  You've led missions. You've managed million-dollar equipment. You've made life-and-death decisions under pressure. But here's the question: when you transitioned out of the service, did anyone teach you how to translate those skills into a career that pays what you're worth? The unemployment rate for veterans in 2024 sits at 3.0 percent—lower than the national average of 3.9 percent. That's good news. But here's what the statistics don't tell you:  how many veterans are underemployed, stuck in roles that don't match their leadership potential or earning capacity? The Numbers Don't Lie: Coaching Delivers Real Returns Let's cut through the noise. You're practical. You want data, not motivational speeches. Here's what the research shows about coaching ROI : Study Source ROI Finding PricewaterhouseCoopers & Association Resource Center 7x average return on coaching investment Manchester, Inc. Study 5.7x return on executive coachin...

You commanded troops. You executed complex operations. You made decisions that mattered. So why does walking into a civilian job interview feel like you're the least qualified person in the room? That disconnect isn't weakness—it's what psychologists call a confidence gap . And here's what you need to know: confidence isn't something you either have or don't have. It's something you build, systematically, using proven methods. Let's look at what the research actually says. The Confidence Paradox: Why Your Military Experience Isn't Enough Research from Bandura's self-efficacy theory —tested across decades of studies—shows that confidence is domain-specific. You can be supremely confident leading a patrol in hostile territory while simultaneously doubting your ability to navigate a corporate org chart.  This isn't contradictory. It's normal. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies found that self...

  In 2021, over 6,000 veterans took their own lives. Let that sink in for a moment. That's not just a statistic—that's 6,000 families shattered, 6,000 sets of brothers and sisters in arms lost, 6,000 people who survived combat but couldn't survive the aftermath. You might have served alongside someone in that number. Or maybe you've stood closer to that edge than you'd like to admit. Either way, you know that the battles don't always end when you take off the uniform. So here's the question: what actually helps veterans build the resilience needed not just to survive, but to thrive after service? The Research on Religion, Spirituality, and Veteran Mental Health Let's start with what the data actually shows. A nationally representative study of 3,151 U.S. military veterans examined the relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health outcomes. The findings revealed what researchers called a "dose-response" protective association: L...

  You tracked everything in the military. Mission readiness . Equipment maintenance. Personnel qualifications. Training completion rates. Performance metrics weren't optional, they were how you knew whether you were mission-ready. So why do so many veterans abandon that discipline the moment they transition to civilian careers? You wouldn't deploy without knowing your unit's readiness status. Why would you navigate your career without tracking whether you're actually making progress toward your goals? The Data on Goal Tracking and Achievement Research consistently demonstrates that progress tracking isn't just helpful, it's transformative. A survey of over 90% of coaches found that goal tracking software saves them more than one hour weekly while improving client results. But the benefits extend far beyond time savings. Studies show that clients who engage in systematic progress tracking are more likely to achieve their goals, stay motivated, and maintain acco...

  "Am I too late? Am I good enough?" Those were the questions  Christian Saluna , a Marine veteran, asked himself when considering college at an  Ivy League university . His concerns aren't unique—they're the signature questions of  imposter syndrome , and they're remarkably common among veterans transitioning to  civilian leadership roles . Here's what you need to know: if you're feeling like a fraud despite objective evidence of your competence, you're not defective. You're dealing with a documented psychological phenomenon that affects up to 70% of people at some point in their lives. And counterintuitively,  the more successful you are, the more likely you are to experience it. The Data on Imposter Syndrome: It's More Common Than You Think A 2024  Korn Ferry study  found that 71% of  U.S. CEOs  and 65% of other senior executives reported experiencing imposter syndrome. Read that again:  nearly three-quarters of CEOs—people at th...

   You've decided to work with a coach. That's a significant first step. But now what? If you're like most first-time coaching clients, you might be wondering: What should I expect? How do I prepare? What if I don't know exactly what I want to work on? Here's the truth: Starting coaching doesn't require you to have all the answers. In fact, coaching helps you discover those answers. But there are strategic steps you can take to maximize your first sessions and accelerate your growth from day one. Before Your First Session: Laying the Groundwork Research shows that preparation significantly impacts  coaching outcomes . Clients who come prepared to sessions report faster progress toward their goals. So what does "prepared" actually mean? Reflect on Your "Why" Before you meet your coach, spend time thinking about what brought you to coaching in the first place. Are you facing a specific challenge? Pursuing a promotion? Navigating a major transit...

   You're considering  leadership coaching , but you want proof it actually works. Fair enough. In a world of endless  professional development  options, you need to know where to invest your time and money. The data is clear: leadership coaching delivers measurable, substantial benefits. But more importantly, these benefits aren't abstract corporate metrics—they translate directly into real improvements in how you lead, perform, and feel about your work. Let's break down five research-backed benefits of leadership coaching and what they mean for you. Benefit #1: Dramatically Improved Work Performance 75% of coaching clients report better work performance, relationships, and communication. That's not a marginal improvement—that's a transformation in how you show up at work. But what does "better work performance" actually look like in practice? For most leaders, it means: Making faster, more confident decisions without second-guessing yourself Delegating m...