“Coaching” has become one of the most loosely used words in business. Managers coach. Consultants coach. Fitness instructors coach. So when a leader asks me whether they need a coach, I usually start by clarifying what professional coaching actually is.
What coaching is
At its core, professional coaching is a partnership — a creative, thought-provoking process designed to help you reach more of your potential, at work and in life. In practice, that means:
- You set the agenda. The coach doesn’t decide what you work on.
- You’re treated as the expert in your own life. The coach brings process, questions, and observation — not answers.
- It’s future-focused. We look at the past only to understand what’s possible next.
- It’s action-oriented. Insight is the beginning; change in behavior is the goal.
- It’s confidential and bound by clear agreements about what we’re working on, how we’ll measure progress, and who else is involved.
What coaching isn’t
It isn’t consulting. A consultant diagnoses and recommends. A coach helps you diagnose and decide. (I do both in my practice — and I’m always explicit about which hat I’m wearing.)
It isn’t mentoring. A mentor shares their own experience. That can be valuable, but it’s their path. Coaching helps you find yours.
It isn’t therapy. Therapy addresses mental health and healing, often exploring the past in depth. If a coaching client is facing something that calls for therapy, an ethical coach will say so and help them find the right professional.
How to tell if you’re ready
Coaching works best when you have something you want to change, an openness to new perspectives, and the willingness to take action between sessions. If you’re unsure, the Coaching Readiness Check takes three minutes and will tell you which kind of support fits your situation best.