Cathy Liska By Necie Black
Hey coach! Have you ever found yourself thinking that you knew exactly what a client needed to do to solve their issue? Or, if they’d just do this (or that) in their life, business or relationship would flow so much smoother? If you have, then congratulations; you’re human. For most beginning coaches, it’s normal to feel our expertise or relatable experience gives us the right to offer what we think are perfect solutions for a client’s need. Perhaps we have good insights, and at the same time giving solutions is not what coaching involves so we must deliver ourselves from the fix-itmentality.
As a new coach, I struggled with a fix-itmentality. I wanted to do a great job for my client. I wanted to be perceived as the expert. I wanted to be known as the coach who got results. The operative word overall was I, and “I” had to learn to be comfortable and confident in my skills without trying to perform for my client. This is why authenticity is an important foundation for coaching. While we may have expert credentials, the client is the expert of their own life and when a coach shows up open and authentic, it’s releases the pressure to focus on our performance. Whew! Isn’t that a relief?
Read more in my chapter in Coaching Perspectives VIII, An Authenticity Guide for the New Coach.
