I say this a lot: Coaches are human first, coaches second.
It’s surprising to me how many coaches seem to think that Being a coach somehow immunizes them from all the typical human problems other people deal with.
It’s often (but not always) newer coaches who are working to build a business, support clients, and grow their skills all at the same time, and they’re doing it alone.
No coach. No thought partners. No one reflecting anything back to them or pointing out gaps they don’t see.
It’s like trying to read the label from inside the jar.
No matter how smart this coach may be, they just don’t have the best perspective.
Why Coaches Need Coaches
Here are a few solid reasons to consider:
1. You can’t see your own blind spots (no matter how good you are).
Working with another coach gives you a mirror for your thinking as well as for your patterns, assumptions, habits, etc. Sometimes what’s holding you back isn’t a lack of skill, it’s something you’ve been overlooking for months without even realizing it.
2. You need a space where you don’t have to be “the coach.”
If you’re always the one holding space, asking questions, and being present for others… where do you go to just be human?
Coaching isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of being. Having your own coach gives you a place to exhale, process, and be supported in your own work.
3. Your growth matters just as much as your clients’.
It’s easy to focus all your energy outward on your clients, your programs, and your business, but if your own growth stalls, everything else eventually will too.
Working with your own coach keeps you stretching, refining, and evolving as a skilled professional, a business owner, and as a decent human being.
4. It strengthens your credibility (and integrity).
If we’re telling clients that coaching is valuable, transformational, and worth investing in, but we aren’t willing to invest in it ourselves—what message does that send?
Having our own coach isn’t just helpful. It’s aligned with ethical practice.
5. You become a better coach by being a client.
One of the best ways to improve your coaching is by being in the client’s seat.
You get to experience what works, what really resonates, and what feels “off.” This helps shape how you show up with your own clients. It also gives you real empathy and understanding for how your clients feel when they share their personal and vulnerable situations with you.
Why Do Coaches Sidestep Support?
Let’s look at some common reasons/excuses.
•“I can coach myself.”
You can reflect. You can journal. You can ask yourself good questions.
But it’s still you talking to… you.
There’s no interruption of your thinking, no fresh perspective, no challenge coming from outside your own mental filters.
•“I don’t have the time.”
I can definitely relate with this one.
Unfortunately, what often follows is feeling stuck, overthinking, or spinning in circles for weeks.
A coaching conversation will likely save you time.
•“I don’t have the money.”
This may be a totally realistic consideration.
It’s worth asking: what is it costing you not to have support?
Keep in mind that there may be ways to receive coaching as part of a peer coaching exchange with a colleague, through a barter agreement, or through low-cost programs like ReciproCoach.
•“I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
Says who?
And more importantly… why would you want to?
I speak from personal experience as a former lone wolf entrepreneur. Collaboration and learning together is faster and a lot more enjoyable.
What Kind of Coaching Might You Need?
Not all coaching is the same. Different types of support will make sense at different times depending on what you’re currently working on.
•Personal Coaching
This is about you and your life, your individual goals, and your challenges.
Coaches don’t stop being individuals with complex lives just because we have clients.
•Mentor Coaching
this specifically focuses on helping you improve your coaching skills in alignment with the ICF competencies. This kind of coaching allows you to get specific feedback and helps you refine how you show up in sessions with your clients. This is very important as you work towards your first or next ICF credential.
•Coaching Supervision
This offers a deeper, more reflective space that looks at how you’re showing up as a coach, your client dynamics, and the broader impact of your work.
•Peer Coaching / Coaching Exchanges
This can be a great way to stay in practice, learn from other coaches, and build professional connections. It works best when there’s some structure and a defined mutual commitment.
A Final Thought
If you’re a coach who isn’t currently being coached, here’s a simple question to sit with:
What might be possible if you didn’t have to figure everything out on your own?
Not because you can’t, but because you don’t have to.
If you know you’d like some support, but you’re not sure where to start, I’m happy to meet with you privately to discuss what you need and the possibilities available for you. Please feel free to book at call with me at www.coachnikkib.com/discovery.
