Coaching at a Glance
Statue of Antony Gormley, “Another Place” at Crosby Beach in Liverpool, UK
What coaching really is (and isn’t)
Coaching is a future-focused conversation that is centered on your thoughts, feelings, goals, and challenges. It is semi-structured, and I am there to facilitate the conversation so that your progress is ensured.
As a general rule, coaches do not give advice or directly tell you want to do; that would be mentoring or consulting.
How it works
When you show up to the call it is helpful to have a question in mind that you’d like to work on, but it’s ok if you don’t. I will help you identify and define the question so that it is clear what we will be working on for the session. Example questions people I work with have brought:
Which career path should I choose?
How should I prepare for my upcoming meeting with my manager?
What should I focus on this month?
Why am I procrastinating on this project and how can I stop?
Regardless of the challenge you bring, I will guide you through a series of questions to refine things further. This is so that you can be sure that this is truly what you want to explore and you understand your reasons why it matters to you. Also, where we’re trying to get to with it, e.g., a decision made, clarity gained, confidence raised, feeling prepared, etc.
And it’s ok if you don’t know! We often don’t. Even while we’re talking. By exploring together, answers emerge.
Why it works
We live in a world that is very time-constrained. In meetings, we often have to jump in quickly and get right to the point. We learned this pattern young. Growing up, we scrambled to fill our plates, get our time in the bathroom, and finish the endless chores.
This time-and-energy scramble followed us into adulthood. Which is why it can feel incredibly liberating to have space to think that is all yours. To have a conversation where you won’t be interrupted. To really work through a problem, without all the voices and distractions.
This is your time to think. I’m here to help you make the most of it.
Why talking to a person is better than AI
AI can ask you relevant questions, but it’s not here for the answers. It can’t really question. It can’t even notice. And it certainly can’t challenge your thinking, at least not intentionally.
AI isn’t present, it doesn’t care, and it won’t make you feel seen or heard, for it has no mind to.
You can get started with AI, but it won’t get you where you need to go with clarity and confidence. It won’t help you clarify your reasons. You need a coach for that.
