Starting out as a coach is an exciting yet often daunting experience.
You may find yourself wondering whether you’re doing it ‘right,’ how to handle unexpected client reactions, or how to navigate the unpredictability of building your own coaching business.
At the heart of these concerns lies one of the most universal challenges in both coaching and life: uncertainty.
But what if instead of fearing uncertainty, we embraced it?
What if we saw the unknown not as something to control or eliminate, but as an integral part of the coaching journey that can deepen our practice and connection with clients?
This article explores the place of uncertainty in coaching, particularly for new coaches, and explores how embracing the unknown can foster a growth mindset, enhance client relationships, and align with the transformative principles that make coaching such a powerful modality.
The Nature of Uncertainty in Coaching
Uncertainty shows up in many forms in the coaching world. New coaches often face doubts about their abilities, unpredictable client behaviours, and the ups and downs of running a coaching business.
But rather than viewing uncertainty as a problem to be solved, it’s important to recognise it as a natural part of the coaching landscape.
Common uncertainties new coaches face:
- Doubts about competence: Am I asking the right questions? Is my client getting value from this session?
- Unpredictable client dynamics: Clients may react unexpectedly, resist exploration, or shift their goals mid-session, leaving the coach feeling unprepared.
- Business unpredictability: Building a client base, managing finances, and navigating marketing can feel overwhelming, especially when results aren’t immediate.
Understanding that uncertainty is not a flaw but a feature of coaching normalises the experience and helps coaches shift from a mindset of fear to one of curiosity.
Shifting from Fear to Curiosity
One of the most powerful ways to navigate uncertainty is to reframe it as an opportunity for learning and growth.
Instead of asking, “What if I fail?” coaches can lean into questions like, “What can I learn here?”
This shift from fear to curiosity allows coaches to embrace uncertainty with a sense of openness and exploration.
Curiosity becomes a guiding principle, helping coaches stay present and engaged even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
This approach aligns with the systemic and phenomenological principles of transformative coaching, recognising that the coaching journey is a co-creative process influenced by evolving contexts and internal landscapes.
Techniques to foster curiosity:
- Reflective questioning: Encourage yourself to reflect on moments of uncertainty with questions like, “What did this situation reveal to me?” or “How did this challenge expand my understanding?”
- Experimentation mindset: View each coaching session as an experiment rather than a performance. This approach helps reduce the pressure to be perfect and opens up space for genuine connection.
Techniques for Embracing Uncertainty in Coaching
Navigating uncertainty isn’t about eliminating doubt; it’s about developing the tools and mindsets that allow you to engage with it constructively.
Here are some techniques that can help new coaches embrace the unknown:
Mindset Shifts: From Perfectionism to Experimentation
One of the greatest barriers to embracing uncertainty is the need for perfection.
Coaches often feel that they must have all the answers or perform flawlessly in every session.
However, this mindset can stifle creativity and connection. Shifting from a perfectionist mindset to one of experimentation invites coaches to see each session as an opportunity to learn, not a test of competence.
Holding Space Without Answers
A key skill in transformative coaching is the ability to hold space for clients without rushing to provide solutions.
This means being comfortable with the not-knowing, allowing the client’s journey to unfold organically.
By embracing the unknown, coaches model for their clients that it’s okay not to have all the answers, and that sometimes, the most profound insights come from sitting in the uncertainty.
Reflective Practices
Engaging in reflective practices like journaling, peer discussions, or supervision can help coaches process their own uncertainties and view them as valuable aspects of their development.
Reflection provides a safe space to explore doubts, celebrate learnings, and recognise patterns that shape your coaching practice.
Examples of reflective practices:
- Journaling: Regularly write about your coaching experiences, focusing on what felt uncertain and what you learned from it.
- Peer discussions: Connect with other coaches to share your experiences of uncertainty. These conversations can provide reassurance that you’re not alone and offer fresh perspectives on navigating the unknown.
- Coaching Supervision: Engaging in supervision with a mentor or experienced coach can provide guidance on handling uncertainties in your practice.
Modelling Uncertainty for Clients
Coaches who are comfortable with uncertainty don’t just benefit themselves—they also model a healthy relationship with the unknown for their clients. Many clients come to coaching precisely because they are facing uncertainties in their own lives.
When coaches demonstrate that it’s okay to not have all the answers, they empower clients to approach their own challenges with greater confidence and resilience.
How coaches can model uncertainty:
- Embrace vulnerability: Be open about your own uncertainties as a coach (where appropriate). This can help clients see that uncertainty is a natural part of growth.
- Encourage exploration: Instead of jumping to conclusions, guide clients to explore their uncertainties with curiosity, asking questions like, “What possibilities exist in this unknown space?”
Creating Psychological Safety: The Foundation for Navigating Uncertainty
Navigating uncertainty, both for yourself and for your clients, requires a foundation of psychological safety.
This means creating an environment where it’s safe to explore without fear of judgement, failure, or pressure. Psychological safety is built through empathy, clear communication, and mutual respect, allowing both coach and client to engage deeply with the unknown.
Ways to create psychological safety:
- Non-judgmental listening: Practise active, empathetic listening that validates the client’s experiences without rushing to fix or solve.
- Establish clear boundaries: Clear communication about the coaching process, session structure, and expectations helps set the stage for a safe and supportive environment.
- Encourage self-compassion: Invite clients to be kind to themselves as they navigate uncertainties, modelling this self-compassion in your own approach to coaching.
The Paradox of Control and Letting Go
One of the most profound aspects of embracing uncertainty in coaching is learning to balance control with letting go.
While having a session plan or structure is valuable, transformative moments often emerge when coaches are willing to deviate from the plan and respond to what arises in the moment.
This balance between preparation and spontaneity allows coaches to adapt fluidly, making room for unexpected insights and breakthroughs.
Conclusion: Embracing Uncertainty as a Path to Growth
Uncertainty is not a problem to be fixed but an opportunity to be embraced.
By shifting our mindset, holding space for the unknown, and modelling a healthy relationship with uncertainty, coaches can navigate the complexities of their journey with grace and resilience.
As we lean into the unknown, we not only grow as coaches but also deepen our capacity to support our clients through their own uncertainties, fostering more authentic and transformative coaching experiences.
