The Awakening of a Coach
“The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”
The Line that Lit Up…
I had come across this line before, but recently, in a Coaching Unlimited workshop, it landed differently and stayed with me. It made me realise that coaching isn’t a skill we activate only when with clients. It is indeed woven into the way we show up in life. That is when the real art of coaching comes alive: from something we do to something we are.
Signature Patterns We Carry…
This sentence also took me back to earlier years, a time when discipline, habits, and routines quietly shaped how we approached life. Each of us grow with different degrees of consistency and structure, yet we all develop a signature pattern that is ours: a mindset, an attitude,a way of responding, a way to handle stress et all…
And that pattern shows up everywhere, in personal moments, professional spaces, relationships, challenges, and even silence.
Heraclitus captured it beautifully:
“Day by day, what you do is who you become.”
Our small daily choices eventually become our identity.
The Start of My Shift…
Like many coaches, my journey too began with framework, competencies, and coaching models. I practiced listening deeply, asking meaningful questions, staying non judgemental, being present… As our mentors often say, these early stages are like “net practice”, where we consciously follow the rules of the craft.
But somewhere along the journey, a deeper truth surfaced organically. And around the same time, I heard this line, which was the onset of a realization: that if we intend to create Transformational Impact, coaching cannot remain a skill we impart. It must seep into who we are, and not just how we coach.
This insight marked the start of my shift: Coaching was not something to apply but something to embody.
From Becoming a Coach to Being a Coach…
Aristotle expressed this ages ago: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
I am now practicing presence, curiosity, listening, non-judgement, pauses in daily life including conversations with family, in disagreements, in stillness, in self-dialogue. This is an ongoing effort… An effort which slowly, will shift me from doing to being and will become Who I Am!
And that is when the signature pattern will evolve.
Shift to Coaching from the State of Being…
When coaching integrates into the way we think, respond, pause, and engage, everyone in our life experiences the difference. With clients, this shift becomes more meaningful. Trust emerges naturally. This authentic self of ours creates a safe space intrinsically. All of this is not because we mastered the framework but because we live the essence.
That is when we truly walk the talk.
That is when coaching becomes a way of being.
Marcia Reynolds captures this beautifully:
“Coaching mastery is deepening the presence.”
An invitation…
Our journey from becoming a coach, to being a coach, to coaching from our natural state, is ongoing and deeply rewarding : One Habit, One Choice, One shift at a time.
Recently, one of my personal choices has been to eat without distraction, just the food, the moment, and the people I am with AND more so when I am eating alone.
So I leave you with three reflective invitations:
- Where in your life is coaching already a way of being?
- Where is it still something you consciously switch on?
- What is one small daily habit that can deepen your presence?
Sripriya Krishnaswamy
The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.
Additionally, for the purpose of full disclosure and as a disclaimer of liability, this content was possibly generated using the assistance of an AI program. Its contents, either in whole or in part, have been reviewed and revised by a human. Nevertheless, the reader/user is responsible for verifying the information presented and should not rely upon this article or post as providing any specific professional advice or counsel. Its contents are provided “as is,” and ICF makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law specifically disclaims any and all liability for any damages or injuries resulting from use of or reliance thereupon.
Compelling and reflective PoV – thanks for sharing Sripriya 🙏