Separating Fact from Fiction: Debunking 10 Common Myths Around Coaching

Myth #5: Coaches tell you what to do.

Fact: Coaches do not give advice or solutions. They guide you to think critically and explore your own ideas and solutions.

It's a common misconception that coaches provide advice, or even solutions, to the challenges you're encountering. This, however, couldn't be further from the truth. Coaching is not about instructing; it's about empowering. 

Coaches are not there to tell you what to do or how to do it. Instead, they guide you to uncover your own answers and solutions. They create a supportive environment in which you can explore your thoughts and feelings, challenge your assumptions, and uncover new perspectives. Through powerful questioning, they encourage you to think critically, spark your creativity, and inspire self-reflection.

In other words, coaches help you unlock your own potential. They believe that you are the expert in your own life and that you possess the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to overcome your challenges and achieve your goals. Their role is to help you tap into these resources, expand your self-awareness, and take control of your own development and growth.

Imagine a coach as a Sherpa or a guide on a journey of exploration. They accompany you, ask thought-provoking questions to help you navigate, but it's you who decides the direction to take. The coach's goal is to support you in developing the tools and skills needed to navigate your journey confidently and independently.

So, the next time you think about hiring a coach with the idea that they'll tell you what to do, remember: the power to create change lies not in the hands of the coach, but in your own.