The Number One Question I get Asked

Usually I respond with a question of my own: “When did you last get the chance to talk with someone whose only unbiased interest or agenda is you?”. It’s a rare gift to have the opportunity to be fully listened to, without distraction, over a consistent period. Prior to coaching, the only people who really listened to my unfolding thoughts were my family and close friends. However, their inherent bias - their deep care and investment in my decisions - often led them to discourage any risk-taking.

As a result, I found myself playing it safe, valuing others' opinions over my own, and ignoring my inner wisdom. Furthermore, it was nearly impossible to find someone in my inner circle who could give me their undivided attention without sharing their own experiences or challenges. While this give-and-take is essential in personal relationships, coaching is very different.

If you want to chart your own path, find your own solutions to your challenges, discover what really lights you up and makes you the best version of yourself in work and life in general, you need time, space, and a trained, impartial guide to light the way and hold that space for you. A good coach provides all of these, challenging your assumptions and beliefs that may no longer serve you, highlighting your blind spots and encouraging you to expand your ideas of what’s possible - for your career and your life. They will encourage and support you to grow and develop in any way that best serves you.

I’ve found from my own experience of being coached that the match between coach and coachee is the most important factor for success. It’s this, among other factors, that fosters the psychological safety required to really explore what you want, and what’s holding you back. Without this trust, there’s no depth to the coaching and you are likely to remain just scratching at the surface of what’s possible. My most recent experience of coaching as coachee encouraged me to reflect deeply on what I want, take responsibility for my own success and take risks that serve me.

Is coaching suitable for everyone at all time? No. Without a gap between A (you) and B (your destination) there’s no space for coaching, so if there’s nothing standing in the way of you and your goals then coaching probably isn’t for you right now. If you don’t know what your goals are, then coaching will help you identify them. Ultimately, coaching provides the space to be listened to intently, challenged robustly and supported unconditionally, in order to furnish you with the tools you need to succeed.

In conclusion, coaching is not just about solving problems or overcoming obstacles. It's about personal growth, self-discovery, and achieving your fullest potential. The value of coaching lies in its ability to provide clarity, perspective, and actionable strategies that can transform your professional and personal life.