Top 5 Myths About Coaching

As I continue to expand my coaching practice, as part of my consulting business, and through discussions with clients and friends, I have noticed some common myths about coaching emerge. Before we dive into these myths, please allow me to define the job of a coach.

A coach guides their client through empowering questions, objective and intuitive listening, as well as a keen sense of curiosity to find their “best self” ‘aka’ their inner genius. The “best self” or the inner genius has the most appropriate and individualized answers for all of the client’s perplexing questions.

In addition to defining coaching, I believe it would also be helpful to contrast the role of a coach against the various other roles that exist in the development/improvement arena, because of possible misconceptions. A good coach does not offer advice or give suggestions as a consultant would. A coach can offer feedback, but only after obtaining the client’s permission. A good coach does not assume that what worked for him or her would work for others, as a mentor would. This is why a coach approaches every client as a very unique individual with his or her own unique set of challenges and opportunities, which in turn creates their very unique path in their very unique life journey. Unlike a sports coach, a professional coach is not rooting for one team to win and another team to lose but is rather in it so that everyone can come out of it a winner – the client as well as other individuals in the client’s life. A good coach can help a client resolve any of the common limited beliefs, gremlins and any other blocks arising from a person’s past environmental conditioning or their upbringing, while any serious past traumas would be best resolved with the help of a therapist. (If you’re wondering what a gremlin is, it’s that voice that always tells you you’re not good enough. If you’re ready to talk to it, give me a call!) If a client is feeling unsure or stuck or having a hard time reaching clarity to move from the present to their future goals and dreams, a good coach will assist the client to work through the common blocks to start experiencing progress.

I strongly believe in the value of coaching and the transformative impact it can have on one’s life. It has been a life-changer for me, and has had a ripple effect on all aspects of my life, most importantly my family and career. The strides I have made have been as simple as finding the right side of the bed when I wake up in the morning, or as complex as accepting and respecting all people regardless of whether or not I agree with their choices. This is not to say that I have solved all of my issues or have found the answers to all of my challenges. All I’m saying is that I have so much more clarity on what the best Joelle could be like and what she needs to do to get there. I have come up with reminders, tools and methods to keep myself grounded and aware of my thoughts. Thanks to coaching, I am now much more mindful how my thoughts affect my emotions and feelings, my actions, and ultimately how I show up in all aspects of my life. My main task is to keep my thoughts aligned with those of my “best self” or inner genius.

Since we’re on the topic of the benefits of coaching, here are some that are definitely worth sharing:

•   Coaching raises your level of self-awareness

•   Coaching paves the way for you to make conscious choices

•   Coaching helps you gain a new perspective

•   Coaching helps you find answers to your most difficult questions

•   Coaching helps you change how you show up in life

•   Coaching helps you figure out how to manage expectations for yourself and others

•   Coaching helps you unleash your potential

Now that we are clear on what coaching is, what it is not, how it has helped me and how it could help you, here are the top five myths on coaching:

Myth 1: Coaching is for people who need help.

Truth: From Fortune 500 executives to entry-level managers, coaching has been pursued as a tool to help individuals on the journey from good to great. As mentioned above, coaching can assist an individual discover and develop solutions for issues they’re facing, but is also a great way to discover your “best self” or inner genius that has answers to all of your challenges. Your “best self” will help guide you in all of your decision-making in good times and in bad.

Myth 2: Coaching is a fad.

Truth: The coaching industry is flourishing and all indicators show that it is here to stay for a while. As long as there are human beings on this earth seeking assistance in raising their consciousness or finding their “best self,” coaches will be around to meet that need. According to a recent article by Fast Company, “43% of CEOs and 71% of the senior executive team had worked with a coach.” Also according to this online source, “63% of organizations say they plan to increase their use of coaching over the next five years. Most telling, 92% of leaders being coached say they plan to use a coach again.”

Myth 3: Coaching has to be done in-person.

Truth: The most talented coaches are highly sought after and hold incredibly busy schedules, limiting regular in-person meetings. Therefore, coaching calls have been the new solution for individuals to get all of the benefits of coaching at a time and location that is best for all. Along with most coaches I know, I coach over the phone or Skype or whatever other medium of communication that serves as an effective substitute for in-person. Not only does it work well for all my clients, but I have already started to see great results.

Myth 4: Your coach needs to have similar personal and professional experiences to yours to be effective.

Truth: As explained previously, the coach’s job is different than that of a mentor who would usually have similar personal and professional experiences to those of the client. The coach helps the client discover their “best self” or their inner genius that in turn comes up with the best answers to any of the questions that the client might have. Therefore, the job of the coach is to guide the client on their journey of self-discovery and to make conscious choices. As such, the coach’s personal and professional experiences are not a factor.

Myth 5: Coaching has to be about a specific topic or need, as opposed to a more general desire, such as becoming more self-aware.

Truth: Although many of my fellow coaches choose to coach around specific issues such as leadership or time management, our main goal is to help our clients take a step back, look at the big picture, and discover their “best self” or inner genius, which is a part of who we are and is much greater and wiser that we have ever imagined. Our best self is also stronger and more powerful than any problem that we could face.

If greater self-awareness or simply the desire to make more conscious choices is your goal, then coaching is certainly your answer.

Joelle Jackson ~ President at Plus 1 Consulting, Life & Management Coach