It’s Nice to Have a Friend… But Sometimes You Need a Coach

Let’s get this out the way: coaching is not just having someone nod at you like a bobblehead while you vent about your boss over a flat white.

Yes, it is nice to have a friend. Someone who tells you you were absolutely right, that your boss was out of order, and that yes, you do deserve better. But here’s the thing — a coach is not there to rubber-stamp your version of events or hand you a moral high ground on a silver tray.

A coach is not in your corner… because there are no corners. Coaching is not a fight. There are no sides, no 'taking team you'.

So… What is a coach, then?

Coaching is not about giving advice, dishing out pep talks, or handing over ten steps to find your ‘best self’ (whatever that means). A coach listens — properly listens — in a way most people never have time to. Not waiting to reply. Not secretly plotting how to steer the conversation back to their weekend in Santorini.

They are not in your corner… because there are no corners. Coaching is not a fight. There are no sides, no 'taking team you'.

Instead, a coach will ask the question — the one that makes you pause, scrunch your face a bit, and mutter, “Oof. That’s a good one.”

And when the silence gets awkward? They do not fill it. They let it breathe. Because in that space, something shifts. Possibilities open. Stories unravel. Patterns reveal themselves. And no, it’s not always comfortable — but neither is growth.

A Personal Detour: How I Found Out What Coaching Really Is

I used to think coaching was just another school initiative. Something pastel-coloured and slightly corporate. It all changed when I started an NPQ and was assigned a coach.

Picture this: new job, new country, and the Principal ‘left for personal reasons’ six weeks in. (Spoiler: it was not personal. It was a full-blown plot twist.)

Suddenly, I was in the hot seat. Everything was on fire and someone had hidden the fire extinguisher.

Having a coach was not just helpful — it was vital. They gave me the space to think, to reflect, to feel a bit less like I was making it all up as I went along (even if, sometimes, I was). They asked the questions no one else would. And when I found myself unravelling slightly — they helped me re-stitch the seams.

So No, Coaching Is Not Just a Buzzword

It is not a trend, a TED Talk, or a hashtag. It is a partnership. A safe, intentional space to explore what matters — your goals, your stuck points, your untapped possibilities — with someone who will not judge, diagnose, or dump a motivational quote on you.

If you are curious, if you are navigating a new job, a tough decision, or just want to get out of your own head a bit more — I get it. Been there. Still go there occasionally.

Let’s talk. No pressure, no hard sell — just a coffee and a proper chat.

Because it’s nice to have a friend. But sometimes, what you really need…is a coach.