The Art of Coaching: Asking, Not Telling
When people hear the word “coach,” they often imagine someone on the sidelines giving instructions, pointing out mistakes, or telling you exactly what to do next. But executive coaching — and coaching in general — is something very different.
At its heart, coaching is not about giving answers. It’s about asking the right questions.
What It Means to Be Coached
To be coached is to step into a space where your own thinking is expanded, challenged, and deepened. A coach doesn’t hand you a playbook or prescribe a solution. Instead, a coach creates the conditions for you to uncover insights that might otherwise remain hidden.
Great coaching feels like turning on a light in a room you’ve been sitting in for years. Suddenly you see possibilities, patterns, and choices you didn’t realize were there — but they were always yours to discover.
What It Means to Be a Coach
To be a coach is to practice the discipline of curiosity. Instead of rushing to solve, a coach listens deeply and asks questions that open doors:
What’s most important here?
What assumptions might you be holding onto?
What outcome would feel truly aligned for you?
A coach resists the urge to be the expert in the room, because the client is the true expert — in their own life, career, and goals.
Coaching vs. Consulting
Early in my own coaching journey, I realized how strong my “consultant reflex” was. I wanted to jump in with solutions, frameworks, and answers — after all, that’s what consultants do. Consultants diagnose problems and prescribe actions. That can be incredibly valuable in the right context, but it’s not coaching.
Coaching requires restraint, patience, and trust in the client’s own resourcefulness. It’s about holding space rather than filling it. It’s about shining a light rather than directing the path.
Why Pursue a Coach?
You might seek a coach if you’re:
Facing a transition in leadership, career, or life direction
Struggling with clarity or confidence in your decision-making
Wanting to grow your influence and impact without burning out
Feeling stuck and needing a space where you can think freely, without judgment
A coach provides accountability, reflection, and powerful questions that help you access new levels of clarity and conviction. Coaching isn’t about fixing you — it’s about unlocking what’s already there.
What Coaching Looks Like With Me — Dr. K, a Disruptive Leader
My coaching is not about comfort. It’s about transformation.
As a Disruptive Leader, my role is to leave you both convicted in your purpose and equipped to pursue it with power. Working with me means you will be challenged, stretched, and held to the standard of the leader you are capable of becoming.
In our work together, you can expect:
Radical Clarity: You’ll walk away from each session with insights that cut through the noise and reconnect you to what truly matters.
Accountability With Compassion: I will push you — but I’ll also walk alongside you as you take bold steps forward.
Purpose in Action: Coaching with me is not theory. It’s about aligning conviction with execution so that your leadership creates real impact.
If you’re ready to disrupt your old patterns, unlock your highest potential, and lead with deeper purpose, coaching can be the catalyst for that journey.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If this resonates with you, I invite you to:
Book a free consultation with me.
Download my Employer Justification Letter if you’d like to explore professional development funding through your organization.
Your journey to purpose-driven, disruptive leadership starts with a single conversation. I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
