coaching is whatever you want it to be.
Coaching is not about changing your career, getting a promotion, or starting a side business. It can be, but it doesn’t have to. Coaching can be anything that supports you in dealing with something and helps you appreciate where you are.
It could be about finding meaning in your current job or dealing with something heavy that happened to you, blurring your view of your opportunities. Maybe it’s about recognizing your strengths. And sometimes, it’s about asking for help and needing a safe and confidential space to speak your thoughts without worrying about feeling judged.
Coaching doesn’t need to make you reach your potential or be the most successful version of yourself. If that resonates with you, you should approach coaching like that. But if it doesn’t, coaching might still be for you. Coaching can give you tools to handle worries and be more present. It can help you identify your values and tweak your life and your work to find more meaning for you. Coaching should mean something different to every one of us because we all have different needs and goals.
I have worked with two career coaches so far. The first one helped me build up my confidence bit by bit after burning out and nudged me to sign up for therapy. The second one gives me space to reflect on things I always thought were not for me to explore. I don’t care about fulfilling some sort of potential. What I care about is knowing that I’m doing the best I can with the resources I have at this very moment—and I want to appreciate the journey while I’m at it, too.
That’s what coaching means to me. I'd love to hear what it means to you.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
