Coaching in Action: Myth vs Reality

As a Certified Precision Nutrition Coach, I align with and LOVE their approach, philosophies and strategies in how to approach our deep health. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have done two certifications with them (and more to come!).

They (PN) shared this recently which is a SIMPLE and TO THE POINT look at what we (coaches) do with our clients:

Ask some of my clients and they'll tell you, they are often met with a question back to their question. Why? Because it's not about THE COACH (me), it's about THE CLIENT (you).

Kate Solovieva (of Precision Nutrition and 'Coach of Coaches') actually opened my eyes to this fact a year or two ago in one of her posts. Experienced Coaches who have 'been in the game' for a long time, don't give 'yes or no' answers. They don't give 'do this, not that' scenarios. They don't coach in the "do as I say because I know it all" approach. Instead, they ask questions to learn more about THE CLIENT; THEIR thoughts, THEIR physiology, THEIR LIFESTYLE and they help GUIDE, SUPPORT and EDUCATE based on the information collected from those conversations.

*This is also a VERY quick and easy way to spot influencers, social media "gurus" etc because they'll give you the 'do this, not that' answer to your questions or queries.

Can you imagine if ALL health professionals were taught this approach?? Can you imagine if your doctor more readily asked questions rather than quickly "diagnosing" something, writing a prescription and saying "good luck" in your 15-min with him/her?! Imagine if before going to pills and medications, they ASKED questions like;

• How's your sleep?

• How do you manage stress?

• How have you felt lately? Energy? Focus?

• How active are you each week?

• What types of meals and foods do you eat often?

and so on...

Imagine if your chiropractor, physio etc asked you about your daily lifestyle, habits etc to help you discover how to see him/her LESS, rather than treating the injury itself and having you go back to the lifestyle that caused it in the first place?

I'm NOT saying Coaches know everything. If you're following me you'll understand I'm trying to point out the opposite: NO ONE DOES!!! I don't care how much schooling and education you've done. What I AM saying is that in Coaching, we are (more so now than ever in my career) learning more about COACHING itself...

... How to talk to our clients

... How to work WITH our clients

... How to help the CLIENT build their self-reliance and resilience so they need the coach LESS over time

... How to be CURIOUS rather than "All Knowing"

and the learning just keeps coming. Both in theory and through experience with real humans.

Take Away Point: When all you get, from someone you follow on socials or someone who knows "the best for you" at the gym, is "my way is THE way" and/or "do this, not that" ~ Let that RED FLAG fly and find another source for guidance.