NIRVANA

This article entails the common mistakes new coaches make when entering the coaching industry. With the support of my mentor, Dr. Krishna Athal, I learned how to recognise and avoid them.

1. Asking Closed-Ended questions or Leading questions

Closed-ended questions are questions that can be answered by either a yes or a no. For instance, a closed question may be: “Is this an effective strategy for you?” Instead of asking closed-ended questions, an open question would be: “What makes this an effective strategy for you?”. Open-ended questions invite insight and self-reflection. Additionally, starting a question with “Why” may put the coachee on the defensive and provoke judgements or over-explanations. Instead of asking, “Why do you want to move to Australia?”, ask “What values motivated you to want to move to Australia?

2. Not being present enough

Being a coach, it’s important to be present during coaching sessions. But what does being present actually mean? Being present means to listen actively and be there totally with the coachee. Since as a coach we are also a human being, it might be challenging to be present all the time. The key here would be to recognise firstly that we are not present which would automatically propel us to the NOW. Mindfulness techniques such as practising meditation and breathing exercises can help us to stay grounded so that we can be fully present with our coachee.

3. Not Setting proper boundaries with the client

It is important to set proper boundaries with the client from the beginning including the expectations of the coaching sessions in line with the ethics of the practice. The coaching agreement defines clear, agreed-upon guidelines and ensures the professional nature of the relationship. These may also take into consideration communication methods, payment schedules and legal terms. Moreover, it helps to manage expectations of both parties and fosters mutual trust, respect and alignment within the coaching relationship.

4. Interrupting the coachee

After asking a powerful question, there may be a moment of silence where the coachee is self-reflecting or looking for his or her own answers. Sometimes the tendency is to fill in that gap and interrupt the coachee which interrupts the reflection process. The best way that my mentor taught me is to be comfortable with silence and witness the Power of Silence. When we give the coachee time to reflect, he or she can tap into one’s own inner wisdom and find one’s own answers.

5. Jumping to assumptions

Jumping to assumptions too quickly may cause the coach to miss deeper insights and not see the bigger picture of the coachee’s situation which may also lead to misunderstandings based on incomplete information. By taking time and being patient, the coach can reach to the heart of the matter. In cultivating awareness and approach the situation with curiosity and an open mind, the coach can better empower the coachee. As a human being, we have a tendency to jump to assumptions quickly hence, it is important to challenge our own assumptions.

6. Strive to be a perfect coach

Drawing from my own experience, I have a tendency to put pressure on myself to be the perfect coach in my own views. Then, my mentor, Dr. Krishna Athal explained to me that I don’t need to be the perfect coach and that I only need to become the most authentic version of myself. True mastery often begins when we let go of control and trust in our own being. That changed my perspective of me striving to be a perfect coach. It is important to understand that we are all human beings and by embracing our imperfection, we can become the most authentic version of ourselves.

7. Believing everything that the client says

In a perfect world, everyone would be totally honest with themselves and with other people but in reality that is not the case. People often hide things that they are not ready to confront themselves or they may be afraid of being judged. That is why, as a coach, it’s important to learn to read people based on their body language and postures. We learn to read the words beneath the surface, scan the energy of the room, and trust our instinct as well. In doing so, we can detect whether the client is being totally honest with us or not.

My Conclusion

Making mistakes is a part of the journey which is why it is important to have a mentor to guide us and support us in this process. I believe that these lessons cannot be learnt overnight but comes with practice. By being patient with ourselves, working on our small improvements, and embracing our authenticity, we can become a wiser version of ourselves.

I am grateful to my mentor, Dr. Krishna Athal for his support and guidance in my coaching journey.

Yashna Veera, Life Coach and Yoga & Meditation Practitioner

NIRVANA