Question from a coach – Why can’t I give advice?
Jennifer Powers, MA, MCC Mentor Coach
Founder of Powerhouse Coaching and passionate about supporting coaches to earn their credentials and become the best in the world.
Question?–?Why can't I give advice during my coaching sessions?
Jennifer?–?Because you're not a consultant. In fact, you're not a consultant, you're not a mentor, you're not a teacher, you're not a trainer. You're a coach. And coaches know and truly believe that the best advice comes from the client themselves. Right?
That’s why all we have to do is?practice active listening?and ask the right questions?to extract the client’s own wisdom,?ideas,?resources and brilliance. They have the answers. The coach doesn’t.
I like to look at it this way:?if?I?give my client advice, the underlying message?is?I think?you are?so pathetic that?you?can't find?your?own answers, and?so you really need?me to provide?your?answers for you.
That's?definitely?not the empowering message or presence we want to have with our clients.?
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Instead, take an?assumptive role?and trust they?are whole and resourceful and that they can easily find their own?answers.?You, the coach, simply need to?facilitate that.
You don't give advice because it's not your job.?You’re a coach.
About the Author ?
Jennifer Powers is an ICF Master Certified Coach and founder of Powerhouse Coaching. Powerhouse Coaching specializes in leading 10-hour Group Mentor Coaching Classes for coaches wanting to attain or renew their ACC, PCC or MCC ? credentialing from the International Coaching Federation . Powerhouse Coaching also offers 75-hour ICF Level 3 Master Certified Coach courses to coaches wanting to move from PCC to MCC. Professional coaches can also join the Powerhouse Coaching Club which features skill building and business building for an international community of coaches.?Learn more at www.phcoach.com .