Coaching: A Listening Space, Not a Fixing Place

From the desk of Siobhán Cahalan, Coach Support and Coach Success Manager

The Realisation

It took me some years to realise that, in general, most people do not know what coaching is. In many conversations, people assume coaching is akin to advice-giving or mentoring. A neighbour once laughed when I said I was a coach. She clearly pictured me pacing a sideline, shouting instructions at players on a pitch.

It’s true that coaching has roots in sport. In fact, the word “coach” may come from two origins: one, a four-wheeled carriage that gets people from A to B; the other, tennis coaching—helping someone reach their potential and enhance performance. 

Based on these kinds of reactions, it seems coaching is still in its infancy in the public imagination. Yet, according to one source, “the online coaching segment is expanding rapidly, with forecasts projecting it will grow to $11.7 billion by 2032.” Source.

Coaching Defined

When people ask what I do, I simply say: “I help people make positive changes in their lives.”

Coaching is a distinct practice. At its heart, it’s about creating space—a space to think, feel, explore, and act toward a chosen goal.

“Coaching isn’t about fixing. It’s about listening so someone can hear themselves.”

Recently, I delivered a two-day workshop on coaching skills. In the morning session, we covered active listening, powerful questioning, presence, silence, contracting, and creating a safe space. By that afternoon, the participants admitted that not one of them had known what coaching was before the course.

Then, after lunch on day two, something beautiful happened. I invited the group to choose an image and describe how it symbolically represented coaching to them. Their responses were rich, insightful, and deeply accurate. I felt humbled—and elated.

“What a turnaround,” I said to them. From not knowing what coaching was…to being able to articulate it with such depth and clarity.

Two Core Elements

At the end of the course, two pieces of feedback stayed with me.

1.The participants had a new awareness of what it means to truly listen.

2. They recognised how often they had been quick to solutionise—and they planned to do less of it. 

One participant, insightfully, said: “People are hired for a reason. They’ve got the skills. Why would they need someone else to solve it for them?”

Exactly.

Active Listening

We often think we’re listening. But true coaching calls for a different kind of listening. It’s not waiting to speak. It’s not listening to fix or advise. It’s holding space so the other person can actually hear themselves. In coaching, the coach doesn’t hold the answers. They hold the space—for the coachee to find their own.

The Not Solutionising

This might be the most surprising part. Coaching isn’t about giving solutions. In fact, the skill often lies in resisting that urge. It can feel counterintuitive—especially for those used to helping by offering advice. In coaching, there’s power in slowing down. In letting a question land and allowing it to unfold. Sometimes, the biggest shift doesn’t come from solving the problem—but from expressing it, and seeing it differently.

Coaching Uncovered

Coaching is a collaborative process. The coach brings presence, curiosity, and trust in the coachee's own resourcefulness. It’s powerful. Real coaching honours autonomy. It supports the coachee’s thinking, values, and pace. It’s not about doing the work for the coachee. It’s about walking alongside them as they figure out what matters most. And what surprises many is how deeply transformative the simple act of holding space can be.

I’ve come to realise there’s always more to learn about coaching. It’s a deep well of skill, insight, and growth.

Coaching isn’t a role exclusive to coaches. It’s an inclusive way of being for everyone—with others, and with ourselves. 

Curious to explore how coaching could support your organisation?

Contact us today to to start a conversation—we’d love to hear from you.