What Is Coaching?
If you’ve ever wondered what coaching actually is and how it can build confidence, you’re not alone.
It’s one of those things people talk about…
But not everyone really explains what it is.
So, let’s keep it simple.
Coaching is about talking things through.
It’s about helping you get unstuck.
And making sense of the stuff that doesn’t make sense.
What Coaching Really Looks Like
At its core, coaching is a conversation.
But not just any conversation.
It’s a space where:
- You can think out loud
- You can explore what’s going on
- You can start to see things differently
Because when you’re in something, whether it’s work stress, a tricky working relationship, or a confidence wobble, it’s often hard to see clearly.
That’s what a coach brings to a situation:
- A different perspective
- An unbiased view
- Someone who isn’t in the situation with you
- Someone who doesn’t have an opinion on the situation
Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
What Coaching Is Not
Coaching is not therapy.
It’s not about working through deep trauma or past experiences.
If that’s what you need, a therapist or counsellor is absolutely the right place to go, and a good coach will always tell you that. They will probably be able to help you find someone right for you too.
Coaching is focused on:
- The present
- The future
- What you want to change or move towards
How Coaching Helps Build Confidence
A lot of people come to coaching because of confidence.
But not always stating that ‘they need more confidence’.
There’s often a theme that underpinned by confidence in way, these are things like;
- Avoiding difficult conversations
- Overthinking decisions
- Feeling stuck at work
Confidence is often sitting there quietly in the background and has taken a dip, or a knock.
Coaching helps you build confidence by:
- Giving you space to think clearly
- Challenging your thinking (in a supportive way)
- Helping you take small, brave actions
Because confidence doesn’t just appear.
It builds through taking action.
What Happens in a Coaching Session?
There isn’t a rigid formula if you work with me as your coach.
And that’s because coaching is human and you and me are human too!
A session might look like:
- You bring something you want to talk about
- We explore it through conversation together
- You’re asked questions that help you think differently
- You might be challenged or offered a different perspective
With your permission or prompting I might offer you a reframe, a conversation, a discussion or an example that might help your thinking.
And sometimes, you might just need to talk it out loud.
That’s okay too.
Some people come to a session and need to rant first. We can definitely work with that.
Because often, clarity comes after you’ve got things out of your head and said it out loud.
Do You Need a Coach in Your Industry?
This comes up a lot.
People often say: “I want a coach who understands my industry.”
And that might feel important.
But interestingly, some of the most powerful coaching happens when your coach doesn’t know your world.
Why?
Because they:
- Don’t make assumptions
- Don’t have an opinion on how things work
- Don’t know the people so have no perception of them
- Ask questions you might not think to ask yourself
- Challenge things you see as “normal”
Sometimes, that fresh perspective is exactly what creates change.
What Can You Bring to Coaching?
Pretty much anything.*
- Work situations
- Confidence challenges
- Leadership questions
- Difficult conversations
Or even something as simple (but powerful) as: “I just want to go on holiday and not be interrupted.”
That was a real client goal.
And yes, we worked towards it and my client made it happen.
Because coaching meets you where you are.
*When I say you can bring anything, all sessions are completely confidential between you & your coach. Personally, I have 3 exceptions to this rule.
- If you put you or me at risk by telling me something that breaks the law
- If I’m concerned about your mental health I might ask you if we can involve someone else
- I might use your session for my own development with my Coach Supervisor, but I’d never identify you
Why Coaching Works
Coaching isn’t about giving you all the answers.
It’s about helping you find your own.
Because when the answer comes from you:
- It sticks
- It feels right
- It’s authentic to you
- You’re more likely to take action on it
And that’s where the magic of coaching happens.
The “Big Pants” Moment
There’s always a point where thinking and talking has to turn into doing and taking action. Coaching will only work if you are prepared to take action to make a change.
Where you decide to:
- Have the conversation
- Speak up in the meeting
- Try something new
I won’t let you sit in that overthinking space for too long because that moment where you’ve decided to take action is your BIG PANTS moment. You pull them up and you go and do the thing you’ve been putting off.
And coaching helps you get there.
Not by pushing you.
But by helping you feel ready.
Find out more about why BIG PANTS can help with confidence building.
Final Thought
Coaching isn’t about fixing you.
You’re not broken. Far from it
It’s about:
- Helping you see things clearly
- Supporting you to move forward
- Giving you the courage to take action to build confidence
And sometimes, that’s all you need.
If you’re curious to find out more about 1:1 Confidence Building Coaching, I offer a FREE 45 min, no obligation Curiosity Chat. Book into my DIARY.
