It was a sunny day and I was bubbling with a mix of excitement and nerves. Armed with my freshly minted coaching certification, a head full of techniques, and a heart full of passion, I was ready to coach my first client. Little did I know, I was about to navigate the blurry lines of mentoring, coaching, and consulting.
Jane, a budding entrepreneur with a penchant for colorful hats, was my first client. As she walked in, sporting a flamboyant feathered fedora, I thought, “This is going to be fun!” But Jane, underneath that hat, was a cauldron of queries and concerns.
“So, tell me about your business,” I began confidently, expecting a standard conversation.
She sighed, “I’m just overwhelmed. I started selling these hats, thinking it was a niche market. Now I have orders, but I can’t keep up.”
Instantly, my inner mentor sprang into action, wanting to guide her based on my experiences. “When I started my business…” I began, eager to impart wisdom. But wait, wasn’t I supposed to be coaching?
I corrected course. “What would you like to achieve at the end of our session?”
Jane looked hopeful, “I need a system. Something to handle these orders efficiently.”
Ah, a chance to put on my coaching hat (pun intended). I prompted, “What options do you think you have?”
Before she could answer, I jumped in with suggestions, morphing into an unintended consultant. “There are some great tools out there. Have you considered tool X or software Y? I can help you set up a process.”
Jane, looking slightly overwhelmed, said, “I thought you’d help me figure out the answers, not give them to me.”
Bingo! The lightbulb went off.
I realized in my eagerness, I’d traversed the spectrum from mentoring to consulting, bypassing coaching. Coaching was about empowering Jane to find her own answers, not serving them on a silver platter.
Taking a deep breath, I reigned in my runaway roles. “You’re right, Jane. Let’s explore your ideas and find the best way forward for you.”
As the session progressed, I consciously curbed my instinct to advise, instead facilitating Jane’s journey of self-discovery. By the end, she had a clarity-driven plan, and I had learned a valuable lesson.
Post-session, as I reflected, the differences became crystal clear:
- Mentoring was about guiding based on personal experience.
- Coaching was facilitating self-discovery, empowering individuals to find their own answers.
- Consulting was providing expert advice and solutions.
As coaches, it’s easy to slide into other roles, especially when we want to help. But true coaching magic happens when we empower clients to find their path.
The feathered fedora on my coat rack, a gift from Jane, now serves as a quirky reminder of my first coaching adventure and the fine line between mentoring, coaching, and consulting. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded to wear the right ‘hat’ for the occasion. And to always, always let the client lead the dance.
