As coaches we sometimes get carried away in our jargon. Let me try to decode some key concepts below or jump ahead and learn about how a coaching relationship flows.
It's a coaching term that scares people and sometimes imagine a stern coach checking in like a school principal. But here’s the truth: Accountability in coaching is collaborative. It’s about:
- Setting goals you care about.
- Breaking them into steps that feel doable.
- Having someone in your corner to celebrate progress (and troubleshoot setbacks).
Think of it as partnership, not pressure.
What would accountability look like if it was built for you?
When coaches talk about “challenge,” it means inviting you to step just outside your comfort zone.
Here’s how it looks:
- Asking the question you might be avoiding.
- Gently challenging a belief that’s holding you back.
- Encouraging you to aim higher because you’re more capable than you think.
It’s not about pressure—it’s about possibility. It’s about seeing your potential and nudging you toward it with support and belief.
What’s one area of your life where you’re ready for a gentle push?
Coaching isn’t about me, the coach, having all the answers. It’s about us working together to uncover your answers. It means:
- Designing a plan that works for YOUR goals, personality, and current situation.
- Exploring solutions together—no advice-giving.
- Holding yourself accountable to drive the change you want.
Coaching isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a tailored process.
What could we create together?
The design of the alliance is shaped during the discovery session where we co-create the rules of engagement and share what we both need for the partnership to be successful. Designed alliances are a space where you feel empowered to explore, grow, and transform. They are meant to be revisited regularly as they tend to shift over time.
It’s like setting the foundation for a safe, powerful partnership where:
- We agree on how we’ll communicate (e.g. honestly, openly, respectfully).
- You decide how you want to be supported and challenged.
- We design how to handle moments of discomfort or resistance.
Each designed alliance is unique to meet the specific needs of the client.
What would an ideal partnership look like for you?
In coaching, “holding space” means creating a judgment-free, supportive environment where you can fully express yourself. It’s like hitting pause on the outside world, so you have room to reflect, feel, and think without fear of being rushed or judged. It's not about venting, but exploring what's on your mind and reflecting on what comes up.
Coaching isn’t about fixing you—it’s about making room for you.
Curious about how this feels in practice?
“Inquiry” sounds like a fancy word, but in coaching, it’s simply about curiosity with purpose. It means:
- Asking questions that make you think deeply, like “What’s truly important about this?”
- Exploring the "why" behind your choices and actions.
- Helping you uncover insights you didn’t even know you had.
Inquiry isn’t about getting the “right” answer—it’s about discovering what’s true for you.
Want to experience how powerful a question can be?
A limiting belief is an internal narrative or assumption that feels true but that hold people back from reaching their full potential, e.g.
- “I’m not good with numbers.”
- “I can’t ask for help—it’s a sign of weakness.”
- “I’ll never be able to change.”
These beliefs act like invisible walls, keeping you from exploring what’s possible. The good news? Once you spot them, you can challenge them and build new, empowering beliefs instead.
What belief are you carrying that might not serve you anymore?
It’s about asking the right questions, like to help you know yourself better and reflect on what surfaces:
- “What would this look like if it were easy?”
- “What’s possible if you stop holding yourself back?”
- “What’s most important to you right now?”
These questions help you think differently and uncover answers you didn’t realize you had.
What’s one question you’d love to explore right now?
When you hear “I have a request for you,” it’s not about orders or obligations, but about inviting you to explore new possibilities. A request is:
- An invitation to take action that aligns with your goals.
- A way to experiment with new behaviors or perspectives.
- Always optional—you have the power to say “Yes,” “No,” or “Counteroffer” with something that suits you better.
Requests are about trying on new ways of being, with full respect for your boundaries and choices.
What’s one bold action you’d be willing to experiment with?
We all have an “inner critic”—that voice in your head that says, “You’re not good enough” or “You’ll never succeed.” That is your saboteur voice.
But you also have an inner champion! This is the voice that believes in you, reminds you of your strengths, and encourages you to try.
Coaching helps turn down the critic’s volume and amplify the champion’s voice, so you can move forward with confidence.
What’s one kind thing your inner champion might say to you today?
Transformation sounds like a big word. In coaching, it’s about those small, meaningful shifts that ripple through your life, e.g.
- Learning to say “no” without guilt.
- Changing a belief that’s been holding you back.
- Rediscovering what truly matters to you.
Transformation doesn’t always mean a total life overhaul—it’s often small changes that lead to profound alignment and fulfillment.
What’s one shift you’d love to make in your life?
Values represent who you are right now. They are principles that you hold to be of worth in your life. Values are not chosen, but are intrinsic to you. Your individual values are as distinctly yours as your fingerprint.
Living your values means making choices that feel true to you, not what others expect.
What’s one decision you’ve made that felt deeply aligned with who you are? How does it feel when your decision is not aligned with one of your values?
Let's chat if you want to grow with energy