The Coaching Spectrum: A Guiding Principle Every Coach Should Consider

A Nod to My Mentor

Before we dive in, I want to give a shoutout to my first coaching mentor, Joyce Campbell. She was the one who introduced me to the idea that coaching exists on a spectrum from facilitative to directive, an invaluable insight has remained a cornerstone of my practice.

Let's get one thing straight: coaching is not one-size-fits-all. Much like the mistaken belief that you have to pick your niche before you've even begun your coaching journey, the idea that there's a "correct" way to coach is deeply flawed.

The Coaching Spectrum

The coaching industry is teeming with buzzwords and methodologies, but if we cut through the noise, coaching fundamentally exists on a spectrum ranging from facilitative to directive.

Facilitative Coaching: More Than Just a Listening Ear

While the idea of facilitative coaching might be considered passive or non-interventionist, it’s quite the opposite. A facilitative coach is like a masterful therapist or even a Socratic teacher, asking insightful questions that guide clients toward aha moments.

This style works is very powerful when clients seek self-discovery and growth. It’s about helping clients find their own "signature cookie recipe," if you will, through an interactive process of exploration and reflection.

Directive Coaching: Expertise with a Purpose

On the other end of the spectrum lies directive coaching, often idealized as the go-to approach for delivering quick results. But let's be clear: directive coaching isn't about spoon-feeding solutions. It’s about leveraging your expertise, aligned to your client’s needs, to provide a targeted roadmap for your clients.

Directive coaching is like a master chef giving an apprentice a proven recipe to follow, knowing they want to produce a particular kind of cookie and they want it now.

The Best of Both Worlds - Coachsulting

Michelle Ward coined a brilliant term for the middle ground: "coachsulting." It encapsulates the essence of a blended approach, flexing between facilitative and directive based on what the client needs. Many coaches (myself included) slide along this spectrum as the situation and client dictate.

Let's Get Real

This spectrum isn't about locking you into a style; it's about expanding your toolkit. In the whirlwind of establishing your coaching practice, remember the focus here: the coaching itself. Take the time to work with a diverse range of people, offer your services in various styles, and note what really lights you up.

Whether you’re just starting and offering free sessions in exchange for feedback, or you're further along, this is your journey. Be willing to adapt, refocus, and even pivot as you see fit.

And if anyone insists that you must adopt a particular style or pick a niche early on, kindly remind them that your coaching practice is a living entity. It needs room to breathe, grow, and stumble.