Comments on: 3 Myths about Coaching

By: Myths in Life Coaching « Jeffrey T. Sooey

Myths in Life Coaching « Jeffrey T. Sooey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:15:33 +0000

[...] Life coaching is becoming one of the most sought after profession/career. It is becoming one of the most effective tools to improve performance. Life coaching as a technique is full of myths. Read more and learn these common myths in life coaching. Amplify’d from howtobecomeacoach.com [...]

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:44:30 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this. I agree with it all. However I wanted to comment on the first one about coaches never giving advice. I was taught this too. But when I set up my website I decided to call myself “life coach/mentor/consultant” (although I’m thinking of changing the consultant part but can’t say why or to what now). I think I knew intuitively that there would be times when I would do all three. I’m still a fairly new coach (6 months) and I can tell you with the clients I’ve had so far I’ve already put on the mentor cap. There are times when a client simply is dumbfounded. But I still pefer not to give advice. I DO prefer to give suggestions. The difference? Advice to me is more like telling someone what you think they “should” do and a sugesstions is well, simply that, a suggestion. It leaves it more open. And you can do this in the form of a question such as “What if you tried this…?” or “What if you did this…?” You’re not telling exactly and you’re putting the ball back in their court and hopefully encouraging them to make their own decision.

Thanks, Diana

By: Hilary

Hilary — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:12:47 +0000

Great post! I’ve been hearing more and more lately that clients don’t have all the answers. My training school has stressed that they do and it appears to me from my experiences with clients that they don’t necessarily. I think as long as you ask permission and remain unattached to the outcome of your suggestion that it is ok to make them if needed.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:27:37 +0000

Thanks Rey. Your comment reminds me how important examples are as they serve to bring clarity to a point. Otherwise more assumptions could be made.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:25:11 +0000

Thanks for sharing Paul. Theory can help form a basis but real life adds twists and turns that aren’t in the books! It really comes down to trusting yourself and listening to those inklings. There’s nothing wrong with saying that something doesn’t feel right.

By: Paul Guibord

Paul Guibord — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:51:00 +0000

I do agree with your comments here Sue. One of the things that has served me well over the years is being flexible, resourceful and adaptive. It’s nice to learn the theory but a lot of what I learned in books and classes throughout my years in IT do not compare with what I have learned in the field.

Thanks

Paul

By: Rey Carr

Rey Carr — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:55:03 +0000

Great descriptions of three assumptions often made in the coaching world. I like the way you’ve given examples from practice in each of the three as to why that assumption is more of a stereotype or myth.

I particularly liked the way you stated that you’d ask for permission to share your wisdom/experience instead of just steamrolling the client into listening to your story.

Cheers.

Rey Carr