25/03/2026
I recently came across a question that many of us as coaches quietly reflect on:
Do we need to have walked the exact same path as our coachee to truly guide them?
After over two decades in the corporate world and my journey as a coach, here’s what I deeply believe:
Coaching is not about having more experience—or even the same experience—as the person you’re supporting.
It’s not about having lived their story. It’s about helping them see their own path more clearly.
Because most leaders don’t lack intelligence or experience. That’s rarely the real challenge.
What they often lack is space.
Space to slow down.
Space to observe their thinking.
Space to notice the patterns shaping their decisions.
Space to hear their own voice beyond expectations and noise.
And something I’ve observed closely over time—sometimes, expertise itself becomes a barrier to insight.
When we “know too much,” our instinct is to jump to solutions. But those solutions are shaped by our own interpretations of pressure, conflict, uncertainty, and responsibility.
That’s where coaching becomes powerful.
Not by giving answers, but by gently helping shift patterns—so clarity and new behavior emerge naturally.
Look at it this way:
Does a doctor need to have experienced an illness to treat a patient?
No. They study, observe, ask the right questions, and understand patterns.
Coaching works much the same way.
And this is the work that continues to feel deeply meaningful to me.
