Why Traditional Coaching Approaches Don’t Work for Many Clients
Posted on July 04, 2025 by Mark Bellini, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Why Traditional Coaching Approaches Don’t Work for Many Clients
Why Traditional Coaching Approaches Don’t Work for Many Clients
why-traditional-coaching-approaches-dont-work-for-many-clients
You eagerly pay for a coaching package, hoping that it will finally provide a solution to the problem you have been struggling with. After spending session after session being told by your coach that you “have the answers inside of you”, you realize that you still have no idea how to solve your problem. Worst of all, you have now lost a few hundred dollars!
Unfortunately, the traditional personal coaching approach of letting the client figure out the solution to his/her problems simply doesn’t work for many types of client issues.
Coaching clients with the following types of problems are basically lost and need a coach who is able to offer best practices, even advice, in order to help them find a sense of direction:
Lack of Knowledge or Experience:○The Client Lacks Knowledge: If a client genuinely lacks information, technical knowledge, or exposure to different possibilities, they will not be able to magically acquire that knowledge without some guidance.
○The Client is New to the Field: For someone new to a career path, they may need guidance on best practices, common pitfalls, and shortcuts.
The Client is Overwhelmed:○Too Many Options: When a client is completely overwhelmed by choices or feels stuck with no obvious direction, they will simply be unable to make any progress without the coach offering some information or insight.
○Decision Insecurity: If they’ve been struggling with a problem for a long time, they have probably lost any hope of being able to decide the best way to solve the problem.
Self-Esteem and Confidence Issues:○Imposter Syndrome: Clients with low self-esteem might know of a potential solution, but lack the confidence to take action. They need validation, encouragement, even specific suggestions to feel secure enough to implement a solution.
○Fear of Failure/Perfectionism: These personal challenges can paralyze a client.They need a coach who knows how to guide them to take more calculated risks, or who can teach them how to aim for excellence, instead of perfection.
○High Impact Situations: When the stakes are very high (e.g., job loss, significant financial decision), clients probably expect and benefit from more direct advice or input from their coaches.
Limiting Beliefs:○Sometimes, deeply ingrained negative thought patterns can prevent a client from even noticing potential solutions that are right in front of them. His/Her coach might need to gently suggest alternative perspectives.
Need for Structure and Accountability:○Clients who are lost usually need a more structured approach, with clear assignments, helpful resources, or even direct recommendations for tools or strategies that can help them.
A Blended Approach to Coaching is More Effective
While it’s true that coaching clients usually have the solutions to many problems within their subconscious mind, that doesn’t mean they will be able to access that knowledge without some external help.
It is possible for coaches to follow a client-centered philosophy while being flexible and open to acting more as advisors when needed.
Here are a few ways to provide some direction while letting clients decide how to use that input:○Offer Suggestions: “Have you considered doing ….?” or “Some people in this situation find this approach helpful.”
○Provide Resources: “I have a list of books and courses on this topic if you’d like to explore them.”
○Share Your Experiences: “In my experience, when people face this, sometimes they…”
○ Offer Ideas: “What if you tried [a specific action]?”
Conclusion
If someone with a significant personal challenge has invested in coaching, they have made this decision because they simply cannot figure out the solution on their own. They need someone to provide guidance and structure. That’s where the need for a more directive coach comes in.
If the client realizes from the first coaching session that his/her coach is unwilling to offer any suggestions or input, he/she should probably cancel the remaining sessions and seek out a trusted friend or acquaintance instead. He/She might actually get a better outcome!
Mark Bellini – CampagnerHypnoticCoaching
