Twenty-five years have passed since I started my career coaching business. I clearly remember the anxiety flowing through my body as I saw my first few clients. I worried I would not deliver and would not be worth the money I was charging.

This normal, but incredibly uncomfortable bout of imposter syndrome, fed my advice monster. Rather than asking powerful questions and tapping into the wisdom of my clients, I got into expert mode. I shared my knowledge and told perfectly capable people what to do. I gave “green advice”.

When you get started as a career coach, the temptation to show your clients how much you know is enticing. Compounding the problem, your clients might think you have the answers, or worse, expect you to do the work for them.



How do you integrate coaching into your career services and keep your clients happy? Here are a few tips I wish I had known when I got started:

• Your clients are desperate to be listened to. They will be impressed when you ask brilliant, probing questions that produce deep clarity and self-awareness.
• The coaching approach promotes client autonomy, confidence, and motivation. If you position yourself as the expert, you are undermining your client’s growth and ability to succeed.
• Your green advice is influenced by your needs, your life, and your experiences. The best answers for your clients can only come from them.