In high school and college, guidance counselors are there for support.
They help us choose classes.
Navigate transitions.
Talk through stress.
Find internships.
And plan for the future.
Then we graduate.
And the role disappears.
At work, we’re on your own.
Managers are focused on performance.
HR is focused on policies.
Neither is set up to be your counselor.
What if companies had Guidance Counselors for work?
Someone who isn’t grading us. Isn’t tied to our performance review.
Isn’t writing policy.
Instead, they are there to:
- Talk through career paths.
- Help manage stress and burnout.
- Mediate tensions before they escalate.
- Support through transitions like parental leave, reorgs, or retirement.
- Champion our sense of belonging and growth.
HR does some of this. Managers do some of this, but it’s not their primary role.
And often, it’s not where employees feel safe to share.
A workplace guidance counselor could be the bridge.
Focused on the individual.
Helping people thrive, not just comply.
Maybe it’s time we bring guidance counselors to the workplace.
Your Turn
Do you think this role is/would be beneficial in an organization?
What gaps do you believe could be filled?
If your company had a guidance counselor, what’s the first thing you’d walk in to talk about?