What Is Coaching? (And How to Know If It’s Right for You)
More and more people are curious about coaching and with good reason. According to the 2022 ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study, awareness of professional coaching is steadily on the rise.
But awareness doesn’t always lead to understanding.
Maybe you’ve heard the word “coaching” floating around. Maybe your friend or co-worker swears by their coach. But you still find yourself wondering:
What does a coach actually do?
Is it just “woo woo” or does it really work?
Is it worth the investment?
What Is Coaching?
Ask 10 coaches and you’ll get 10 slightly different answers. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines it as “a thought-provoking and creative process to maximize personal and professional potential.
Here’s my take: Coaching is a true partnership. It’s your dedicated “me time” in a busy world — a space to slow down, get unstuck, organize your thoughts, and create a plan you feel excited to follow through on.
As your coach, I’m not here to give you advice or tell you what to do. You are the expert in your own life and career. My role? To ask the right questions, offer fresh perspectives, and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Why Coaching Works
Coaching isn’t just theory. It’s a practical, action-oriented tool that drives real change.
It works because it’s:
Focused: Every session centers on your specific goals and challenges.
Collaborative: You’re not figuring it out alone, you have an objective partner by your side.
Rooted in Lasting Change: Coaching goes beyond goal setting to uncover and address the hidden blocks that can hold you back, creating meaningful results that last.
Action-Oriented: We turn insights into concrete action steps, and I help hold you accountable for follow-through.
When to Consider Coaching
Coaching can be especially powerful if you’re:
At a career crossroads and unsure of your next step
Struggling to balance the demands and burn-out of your current role while searching for a new one.
Ready to pivot but unclear how your skills transfer
On parental leave and wrestling with the decision to return (or not)
Daydreaming about leaving corporate life to open that long-imagined bookstore-café-flower shop
The Benefits of Coaching
With the right coach, you gain more than clarity, you gain momentum. Coaching helps you:
Define what you truly want
Uncover what’s getting in your way
Take meaningful, confident action forward
Many clients tell me they feel more like themselves again: clear, grounded, and energized. They see possibilities they couldn’t before and feel empowered to go after them.
Ready to Explore Coaching?
If you’re curious about whether coaching is right for you, let’s talk.
Contact me to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before we start. That’s what the work is for.