3 Common Myths about Coaching
Successful businessman, Bob Nardelli, once said, “I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities.” There’s something really powerful about having someone, who is not a friend or family member, support you in reaching the next level of your potential. In fact, some of the most powerful investments I’ve made in myself and my business were in highly qualified coaches.
As of 2022, the coaching industry is one of the fastest growing industries. With most things, there are plenty of pros and cons to a boom in the industry. On the pro side, we’re seeing awareness around how beneficial and life changing it can be to work with a qualified coach. People are interested in thriving, and realize that investing in coaching will help them achieve things at a much quicker rate.
On the other side, there's a risk of lower quality of work. Similarly, when CrossFit experienced a quick rise in popularity, there were people getting certified to teach the average casual gym-goer how to perform olympic weightlifting after a single weekend certification process (which is not nearly enough time to fully learn and understand proper body mechanics). Because of that, we saw an increase in injury associated with CrossFit. Over the past few years, I’ve seen the same thing happen in the coaching industry.
I’ve had a number of clients who’ve come to me after a bad experience with a coach, and it pains me deeply. It is a vulnerable experience for a client to trust a coach with their hopes, dreams, fears, business, etc. and depending on the severity of the experience, it can be traumatic. I also know so many incredible coaches who care deeply about staying up to date with certifications and proper training, so they can serve people to the best of their ability.
Despite high quality training and certification processes, the coaching field currently has no consistent outside regulation. So anyone can technically call themselves a coach without having the proper training and knowledge of how to effectively coach. Which is why, when you’re in the process of hiring a coach, it's up to you to do your due diligence in vetting them to ensure you’re making a high quality investment and are not just attracted to their marketing prowess.
When I graduated college in 2010, I knew I wanted to help people make the most of their lives. I remember reading Tuesdays with Morrie and thinking, “I really hope to help people thrive in life, rather than watch them blindly drudge through each day.” At the time, I had no idea that a coaching industry existed (it’s still a young field). Fast forward a few years later to a health and wellness conference, where I listened to a behavioral psychologist discuss the power of coaching and the psychology of behavior change, and how methods in both domains can be utilized in order to really help others thrive. After that, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
Since then, I’ve spent the past 11 years training through a variety of modalities and theories, and applying that knowledge in coaching hundreds of women. My favorite part of this industry is the fact that there is always more to learn. I’m passionate about this field because I know and have seen the impact it can have on our lives.
Diving into 3 of the most common misconceptions will help you to understand how coaching works, whether it can benefit you, and what to look for and expect when you hire a coach.
Myth #1: A coach must have the exact success you want, because they tell you what to do…
While a qualified coach will have more knowledge and/or training in a variety of topics, strategies, and techniques, their primary role is designed to help YOU tap into your own wisdom and come up with your own answers. Coaching is designed this way because the majority of people do not need more advice. Most people need someone to help them understand themselves on a deeper level, so they can apply the knowledge and information they know in personalized ways that will propel them forward.
Anytime someone tells me, “I just want someone to tell me exactly what to do...,” that signifies a major lack of self-trust over lack of knowledge.
In fact, if a coach is teaching you an exact strategy or giving you specific advice on how to achieve success, it will actually be limiting for you. It often takes quite a bit of curious digging to uncover what will work best for you individually. Now, there are appropriate times when a client may ask for specific feedback and/or advice, where a coach may step into a mentor or guide role, but even then, the way that feedback is communicated to the client is incredibly important.
Instead of being so enamored by someone’s marketing, make sure they have respectable credentials and experience as a coach. It’s always a good idea to talk to their past clients to get an understanding of what working with them might be like, to see if it would be a good fit for you.
Myth #2: Coaches can replace therapy.
Coaching and therapy are very different professions. They can complement each other well (I love it when my clients have worked or work simultaneously with a therapist), but hiring a coach is not a replacement for hiring a therapist, and hiring a therapist is not going to provide the same type of support as a coach.
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Coaching is solution-oriented and future-focused, while therapy is often more about helping people come to terms with their past, treating different mental illnesses or disorders, and helping them heal from trauma. Both involve self-exploration and introspection, but a coach will help you come up with answers, take action and create change in your life. A therapist will support the healing of past hurts that may be complex and need the kind of time, care, and psychological knowledge that is beyond the scope of coaching.
A person can certainly benefit from having both a coach and a therapist, or other mental health professionals since they work in very different capacities. It’s important (for the safety of the client and the coach) that coaches understand their scope of practice. If you're considering hiring a coach, be honest about the support you really need at this moment. Again, I recommend looking at their credentials and their training, to help determine if they are the right fit for you. A good and ethical coach will also know when it is appropriate to refer you to a therapist or another licensed professional.
Myth #3: Coaching is only for people who are struggling or can’t succeed on their own.
When I was in high school, I took private lessons from a coach to help me improve my volleyball skills. While I was already pretty good, I knew with the proper support and training, I’d be able to take my skill to the next level.
Unfortunately, some people believe that coaching is only for those failing or struggling in their businesses. While coaching can be beneficial in situations like that, it’s not designed to “save” or “fix” anyone. Some of the most successful people in the world continue to work with coaches, not because they’re not capable of success on their own, but because they know they’ll be able to rise to new levels with the right support.
Coaching can help you optimize your performance, approach situations with new eyes, and navigate challenges with creativity and resilience. Many of my clients, having already experienced some success, come to me because they want to make sure they’re thriving and tapping fully into their potential.
No matter where you are in your career, your financial status, or any other measure, coaching is about supporting you to learn more about yourself, reach your goals, and thrive in your life. Our world today isn’t really set up to support people to live in balance or to feel empowered. Coaching is for those with a vision for their lives, as they understand that it takes conscious effort to design a lifestyle that matches their values.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level and are craving one-on-one individualized support, click here to learn more about working with me as a coach. I’d love to help you dig deep and reach the next level in your life and business!
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