From Consulting To Coaching

I have almost completed my first month of the UBC Organizational Coaching program. It has been an eye-opening experience so far, to say the least.

Through ForeReach Consulting, I thought I was “coaching” lawyers and law student clients for the past 6 years. I thought my only gap was that I could not hold myself out to be a coach because I was missing the professional certification. I was wrong.

I have learned that true coaching as a profession is very complex and requires a significant amount of discipline, restraint, curiosity and neutrality. Coaching offers a structured process that has been proven effective by research in helping clients to achieve their goals.

I’ve also learned what coaching is not. It is not therapy. It is not mentoring. It is not advising. It is not consulting. It is not leadership. It is a partnership between coach and client, walking side-by-side throughout the process, not pulling back to the past or pulling forward to the future.

I have always leaned on my years of experience as a lawyer, recruiter and law firm management professional to advise individual clients on how to best achieve their career goals. I have realized through this program that I have been advising and consulting, not coaching. Clients come to me for my advice, expertise and experience. In coaching, my experience is not relevant. If I’m giving advice, I am not coaching. If I’m sharing my expertise, I am not coaching.

Through the intensive learning sessions of the UBC program, I have realized that I have never truly “coached” anyone before. As a 55-year old woman cruising towards retirement, I am learning a completely new skill.

This realization came as a shock and instantly made me feel anxious and uncomfortable. What had I gotten myself into? At this stage of my life and career, am I capable of taking on an entirely new profession? Will I be able to set aside my experience and nature as a “fixer” to be a true listening partner for my clients to achieve their goals?

The answer is yes.