We are excited to share with you the next interview in our “Beyond the Page” series featuring Michael Shoultz.
Feeling stuck is not always a sign you’re failing. Sometimes it’s a sign you’re crossing a threshold where the old version of your leadership no longer fits and the next one hasn’t come into focus yet. That space can feel restless, urgent, and confusing, which is exactly why many of us try to force clarity and rush into an action plan.
We sit down with leadership coach and organizational consultant Michael Schoultz, author of “Coaching at the Threshold: Supporting Clients in Times of Uncertainty,” from choice Magazine’s Coaching in Chaos issue. Together, we unpack how to tell the difference between avoidance and real transition, what patterns to listen for beneath a client’s words, and why familiar coaching tools like goals and next steps can suddenly feel ineffective when identity is shifting.
A central takeaway is simple and surprisingly powerful: regulation before clarity. When anxiety and overwhelm tighten the nervous system, options disappear and decision making becomes reactive. We talk about slowing the conversation down, framing uncertainty as transition rather than failure, holding complexity with steadiness, and helping clients choose aligned action instead of rushed action. We also explore the Goldilocks question of timing so reflection doesn’t become another form of hiding.
If you coach leaders through complexity, organizational change, or high-stakes decisions, this conversation will give you language, mindset, and practical moves you can use right away.
In this episode, I talk with Michael about his article published in our June 2026 issue.
Know of an author we should interview? Send me an email to podcast@choice-online.com(opens in new tab)
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