I often hear it. "But you're not from this background — how can you understand or help?" The question is fair, and it's worth answering.
There are a host of skills you develop as a leader, regardless of which industry you sit in. Holding a room. Reading what isn't being said. Making a decision with incomplete information. Translating intent into action. Protecting people's dignity through difficult news. These don't belong to schools, or hospitals, or sales floors. They belong to whoever has learned to do them well.
Coaching as translator
Coaching plays a pivotal role in helping leaders identify and develop transferable skills. Not by teaching them — most people already have them, in some form — but by helping them notice, name, and then deliberately apply them in the new context.
A headteacher moving into MAT leadership. A nurse manager promoted to operations director. A teacher pivoting to L&D in a private company. The skills are there. The translation is the work.
What it sounds like in practice
"Tell me about a time you handled a parent meeting that started badly." We unpack what you actually did. Then: "Where else in your current role does that same pattern apply?" Usually, by the third example, the client is doing the translation themselves — and the imposter feeling that drove the original question starts to quiet down.
You don't need to start from scratch. You need a clearer map of where you already are.
That, more than anything, is what good coaching offers when someone is moving between worlds.
Hiral Kelly
Founder & Coach — Infinity Learning
Professional coach with over 20 years' experience supporting leaders and managers. Working 1:1 with leaders across education, business and the NHS.