What a good question and often on many people’s minds.

New coaches are clearly taken away from the path of consulting. The first lesson learned is that it isn’t about your agenda, it is about the coachee. Since most new coaches have been consultants, at one point or another, an important part of the training is to break the habit and temptation to consult or advise. Sometimes the habit is so well broken that the new coach falls into the opposite, fear of suggesting anything.

One key crucial aspect of coaching is trusting your intuition. If well aligned within yourself to trust the coachee has the answer deep within, then your intuition becomes a powerful ally.

One thing that became clear at the ICF conference last week was how it is OK and even normal to slip into a consultant or adviser role, as long as it is clearly stated and understood by the coachee. This lifts a heavy weight on a new coach and I experienced it with my coach the following day.

It is OK to advise when you know it will benefit the coachee, as long as the coachee is aware of it and you asked for permission. The trick is when and how often, if little at all.