Female Focus: The transformational power of coaching starts with being unprepared for it

Coaching is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, offering transformation even when you’re unsure of where to begin. You don’t need to be prepared for coaching; you only have to show up for your session. Unlike other areas of life where preparation is vital, coaching welcomes you as you are — whether you’re feeling clear-headed or completely uncertain. It’s okay not to have all the answers or even know what questions to ask. This space is designed to help you navigate those uncertainties. We, as coaches, are your “thinking partners”. We provide tools and opportunities to find the perfect combination that will work specifically for you.

I have observed that many clients enter coaching feeling stuck, unsure of their goals or where they want to be in the next five years, especially considering the fast-changing world we live in now. This is perfectly normal. You don’t need a defined roadmap before starting your coaching journey. In fact, being in a state of ambiguity can often be the best place to begin, as it opens a world of possibilities. Through coaching, you’ll explore these feelings and uncover the answers already within you, even if they seem elusive right now. It may occur during the coaching practice that some of these first solutions and plans were not entirely your own but rather imprints of other people’s opinions, life examples or just social and cultural norms that exist in society. It’s especially true for female coachees, aspiring and establishing professionals juggling different roles as they progress towards their desired success. As a female, you might face expectations to study hard, to be more present in the community, balancing an active social and professional life while keeping up with the latest trends and aspiring to create a family of your own. In the workplace it may be translated into following a career path that is considered acceptable by family, leading to more stress especially as time passes by.

Of course, you might come into coaching with a specific question or area you’d like to work on, and that’s a great starting point. However, be prepared for the possibility that this initial focus might lead to deeper, more meaningful conversations. Coaching is not just about solving a particular problem; it’s about guiding you through a broader journey of self-discovery. Often, the process may be to start working on one’s values during an efficient work-related conversation. It may seem like a detour at first, but determining your values may be the critical shortcut to the decision-making process you could be looking for. Some clients have experienced the most significant transformations in their mindset after hearing the tiniest observations or unexpected questions they have never been asked in the same situation. Coaching is an excellent tool for distracting ourselves from our thinking patterns and seeing a clearer picture, or a completely different one. This is especially true for female clients who experience the influence of many ideas and stereotypes in their personal and professional lives. These moments of insight, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect, leading to significant changes in how you view yourself and your path forward.

So, you don’t have to bring your best self to the sessions or prepare for coaching first. You just have to come to the session.