EPISODE 5

SEASON 5

The Truth About Professional Coaching in 2025✨

Hello Shiny Minds,

Have you ever thought coaching was just about giving advice?

Like, if someone has a problem, you just tell them what to do, and boom—problem solved?

Well… what if I told you that’s NOT what coaching is about?

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Shiny Minds Show™.

Today, we’re breaking down the biggest myths about coaching and uncovering what it really means to coach at a transformational level.

Because coaching isn’t just about guidance—it’s about growth.

And when you understand this, you unlock a whole new way of empowering yourself and those around you.

What Is Coaching, Really?

According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is:

✨ Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their potential.

Notice the key word? Partnering.

That means coaching is NOT:

🚫 Solving someone’s problems for them.
🚫 Telling them what to do.
🚫 Giving advice based on personal experience.

Instead, coaching is about holding space for someone to access their own inner wisdom.

It’s about asking powerful questions, listening deeply, and helping them uncover the answers that already exist within them.

Because here’s the truth: the most profound breakthroughs don’t come from external advice.
They come from within.

Myth #1: “Anyone Can Coach”

This is a common assumption. Yes, anyone can learn how to coach—but not everyone is a coach. Coaching requires skill, mastery, and a deep understanding of the mind.

The ICF has identified eight powerful coaching competencies that separate elite coaches from those just giving friendly advice. If you’re not demonstrating these skills, then what you’re doing might not actually be coaching.

So, how do you bust this assumption?
✅ Start with the definition of coaching.
✅ Compare it to your skillset.
✅ Ask: Am I truly coaching, or just giving advice?

And here’s why this matters: Coaching is not a regulated industry in most countries—except for a few, like my home country, Turkey, where coaching businesses require government certification. That’s why it’s even more important to align with ICF standards and uphold the gold standard of coaching excellence.

Myth #2: “Coaching Isn’t for Me”

This belief stems from two extreme mindsets:
1️⃣ “I’m too special, I don’t need coaching.”
2️⃣ “I’m too broken, even coaching won’t help.”

Both are false. ❌ Coaching has transformed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. If it hasn’t worked for you yet, it’s not because coaching doesn’t work—it’s because you haven’t allowed it to work.

Your neurons are listening to you. If you tell yourself, “Coaching isn’t for me,” your brain responds: “Got it! We won’t let it work for you.” 🧠💥

But what if, instead, you opened yourself to the possibility? Coaching creates clarity, rewires your thinking, and helps you design a life that aligns with your highest self.

Myth #3: “I Don’t Need a Credential”

Would you go to a doctor who hasn’t studied medicine? No? Then why work with a coach who hasn’t studied coaching?

A credential is not just a fancy piece of paper—it’s proof that a coach has mastered the art and science of transformation.

When you’re coaching, you’re not just talking to people. You’re reprogramming their neural pathways, shaping their identity, and influencing their decisions. Coaching is a responsibility. And with great power comes great accountability.

Why Coaching Matters Now More Than Ever

We live in a world filled with distractions, self-doubt, and external noise.

Real coaching cuts through that noise and helps people reconnect with their truth.

✨ It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about helping others find their own.
✨ It’s not about giving solutions—it’s about empowering transformation.
✨ It’s not about fixing people—it’s about illuminating the brilliance they already have.

So, ask yourself:

💡 How do I show up in my conversations?
💡 Am I truly listening, or just waiting for my turn to speak?
💡 What if I embraced the power of coaching—not just for others, but for myself?

The world doesn’t need more advice-givers.

It needs more coaches, leaders, and light-bringers.

Made with love ❤️ for a world with more #light, #love, and #ShinyMinds in it...

By Dr. Shiny Burcu Unsal ✨