{"id":13898,"date":"2025-10-20T14:47:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T14:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2026.karrierecoaching.ch\/?p=13898"},"modified":"2026-04-20T08:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T08:34:34","slug":"dont-twist-yourself-out-of-shape-but-do-adjust-your-behaviour-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2026.karrierecoaching.ch\/en\/dont-twist-yourself-out-of-shape-but-do-adjust-your-behaviour-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t twist yourself out of shape \u2013 but do adjust your behaviour!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cDo I really have to twist myself out of shape?\u201d \u2013 I often hear this question in coaching when we work on new behavioural strategies. Behind it usually lies the fear of losing one\u2019s authenticity by acting differently. Whether it truly means bending out of shape depends on how we define the term.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter N\u00e4f<\/em><\/a><\/strong>
\nZurich, November 2025<\/em><\/p>\n

People turn to coaching<\/a> when their habitual behaviour no longer works in everyday professional life. The aim is to develop new behavioural options.<\/p>\n

For example, a leader who has so far succeeded through a conciliatory nature may need to learn to confront issues and address unpleasant topics. The trigger might be a new team member who fails to deliver. Or a long-standing employee who previously had managers that recognised her value without her having to promote herself may suddenly have to make her achievements visible under new superiors \u2013 self-marketing becomes essential.<\/p>\n

New behaviour feels unnatural<\/h5>\n

Familiar behaviour runs automatically \u2013 countless neural connections ensure short reaction times. New behaviour, on the other hand, requires conscious effort and practice until it becomes second nature.<\/p>\n

Learning new behaviour is tiring and can initially feel awkward or even fake \u2013 almost as if one were betraying oneself. In truth, it\u2019s about becoming more flexible and adapting to the demands of the situation. Like a tree that bends in the wind and then straightens again, you remain the same at your core. Yet with a broader behavioural repertoire, you\u2019ll be able to handle challenges more confidently in future.<\/p>\n

Natural and acquired strengths<\/h5>\n

In my personal and professional assessments<\/a>, I distinguish between natural and acquired strengths<\/a>. Natural strengths come easily to us, whereas acquired ones require effort and energy.<\/p>\n

If I consistently act against my natural disposition, work becomes exhausting \u2013 that would indeed be bending out of shape. For several years, I worked in wealth management. The formal environment and its diplomatic rules clashed with my direct nature. Similarly, I realised early on in auditing that the highly regulated way of working didn\u2019t suit me.<\/p>\n

The art lies in finding a professional environment that largely matches one\u2019s natural temperament \u2013 and accepting the remaining demands as manageable adaptations. Many people struggle with this: some expect the organisation to change, while others demand too much flexibility of themselves.<\/p>\n

A simple insight helps: people are different. We may know this rationally, yet we still find ourselves surprised or irritated when others \u2013 or entire workplaces \u2013 operate differently from us (see also my article \u201cSurrounded by Idiots\u201d<\/a>).<\/p>\n

#strengths<\/a> #personalitydevelopment<\/a> #coaching<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cDo I really have to twist myself out of shape?\u201d \u2013 I often hear this question in coaching when we work on new behavioural strategies. Behind it usually lies the fear of losing one\u2019s authenticity by acting differently. Whether it truly means bending out of shape depends on how we define the term. Peter N\u00e4f […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-artikel-2"],"yoast_head":"\nDon\u2019t twist yourself out of shape \u2013 but do adjust your behaviour! - Karrierecoaching - Peter N\u00e4f<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Since behavioral changes initially feel unnatural, coachees often feel like they have to bend themselves out of shape.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/2026.karrierecoaching.ch\/en\/dont-twist-yourself-out-of-shape-but-do-adjust-your-behaviour-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Don\u2019t twist yourself out of shape \u2013 but do adjust your behaviour! 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