Coaching

In the last year, I have interviewed several coaches for my podcast. In this blog, I want to share what I have learned from them. In this article, I will cover three coaches: Executive, Career, and Life Coaches. There is an introduction that provides some insight into what coaching is about and what a client can expect. There is a conclusion with final thoughts.

 Introduction

Coaching has emerged as a powerful tool for personal and professional development, different from more traditional therapeutic methods than those offered by social workers or psychologists. While therapy often delves into analyzing and understanding the roots of our challenges, coaching is designed to recognize issues and help clients build actionable paths forward. Ultimately, choosing between coaching and therapy, or integrating both, comes down to your unique needs and expectations.

The prevalence of coaching in today’s world didn’t happen by accident. Top athletes and successful executives have long relied on coaches to gain a mental edge. Our minds, after all, are tools. The process of learning how to use them effectively can elevate our performance in life and at work.

At its core, coaching is about talking through your thoughts with someone who listens actively and without judgment, then provides feedback, often in the form of thought-provoking questions. Sometimes, it’s those seemingly small blocks that prevent us from moving forward. By purging our thoughts and examining them from new angles, we gain perspective, insight, and clarity.

It’s important to recognize that, while the rapport with a coach is warm and supportive, it remains a professional relationship. They are not our friends. Coaches are there to help us grow by challenging our thinking. Finding the right fit is crucial. Do your research: read their websites, listen to interviews (like those on my podcast), and take advantage of complimentary sessions most coaches offer to prospective clients.

In this article, I’ll share insights from three coaches I recently interviewed: an executive coach, a career coach, and a life coach.

Executive and Leadership Coaching

In my conversation with Monique Daigneault https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/life-lessons, I gained a perspective on what it means to be an executive coach. Monique specializes in working with both experienced executives and front-line employees. She helps the former become more effective leaders and the latter navigate workplace challenges with management. In many ways, she describes herself as an “organizational therapist.”

In today’s workplace, technical skills have been prioritized for decades. Most of us have had little formal training in “soft skills,” such as emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution. Yet these are the roots that underpin successful teams and organizations. Personality conflicts, miscommunication, tight deadlines, technological advances, and economic pressures all conspire to create workplace stress.

Monique’s approach is about helping clients, who are executives or employees, to develop these overlooked soft skills, to step into their potential, and to communicate more effectively. For managers, that might mean learning to lead with empathy; for employees, it’s often about finding their voice. The goal is organizational growth and personal empowerment.

Career Coaching

If we know it is more about our careers, then Katie O’Malley may be the person to seek out. In her interview https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/nbspmaking-a-difference, she walks through her career. In doing so, it is clear that she is well-versed in how the world works, especially in the corporate world.

With a background in non-profit management, student counselling in the MBA program at Chicago Booth, and leadership coaching, Katie brings both practical experience and academic basis (she holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology) to her clients.

Her work is career counseling, leadership coaching, team development, and life coaching with a focus on the professional scope. Katie’s expertise is in helping people navigate career crossroads, reframe their professional narratives, and approach job transitions with clarity and confidence.

Life Coaching

Sometimes, what we need isn’t more advice about our careers or leadership style. It's cutting through the noise to understand who we are and what we truly want. That’s where life coaching comes in.

My interview with life coach Anne Roche https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/learning-to-live-with-her-heart-above-her-head  provided a window into how transformational this work can be. Anne’s own story entails leaving behind a law career and the identity that went with it, and how she built a new life. Learning to trust her intuition shapes her coaching approach. She offers clients a safe, judgment-free space to examine their desires, define their goals, and pursue meaningful change.

Anne’s philosophy is empowering: you can integrate change into your life without blowing it up, though it does take honest self-examination and hard work. Life coaching isn’t simply about careers or productivity; it’s about learning how to live authentically and reach your fullest potential.

Conclusion

The three coaching areas covered are executive, career, and life, which offer unique benefits, but all share important principles. First, coaching is an unregulated industry, so it’s especially important to do your homework. The coaches I’ve featured are all certified by governing bodies and have invested in their own professional and personal growth. Many other coaches may only work from their life experiences. Not saying one is better than the other, the key is to find someone whose approach, expertise, and personality resonate with you.

Most coaches require a time commitment of three to six months, because meaningful change isn’t instantaneous. It is a process that encompasses time, effort, and patience. Approach the process with an open mind, be willing to try new things, and it is a learning process. The daily process is not linear; however, overall, there is progress. Monitor this, and this is something to ask. Good coaches will help you do this. At times, we may have outgrown the work with one coach, and we need to move on to someone else.  It is a journey, not a means to an end.

Ultimately, what you get out of coaching depends on what you put in. The process entails you, as the client, to do the talking, to dig deep, and to sit with discomfort. The coach’s role is to listen deeply, challenge you with tough questions, and help you take actionable steps forward. That discomfort is the engine of growth. If you’re ready for it, coaching can be truly transformational. Thank you for reading, and I hope this blog helps.