The Power of Professional Coaching — Episode 1: Awakening Awareness
- Harinath K
- Oct 11
- 4 min read
Harinath
Strategy & Growth – Reliance Retail; EI Outlook Editor
"When we stop judging ourselves, we begin to see clearly."
A Gathering Beyond a Book
The idea for this book club meet began weeks before the discussion in August'25.
All interested member of the EI Society received a copy of The Power of Professional Coaching — a book of twenty coaching stories written by experienced coaches from across industries.
On the announced day, a small but eager group assembled — four accomplished coaches and a motivated audience, each one curious about what professional coaching really means.
The conversation was not about careers or titles; it was about clarity.
What unfolded that evening became a reflection on how we lead, listen, and learn.
1. Self-Awareness — The Foundation of Growth
The first narrator opened with a striking insight:
“If coaching offers just one thing, it’s self-awareness — and that changes everything.”
In the story of Stephen, a senior professional, this awareness became the turning point.
For years, he had worked in an environment that measured him by performance, not perspective.
Through coaching, Stephen realised that he had rarely paused to evaluate how he was showing up.
The coach, being neutral, created a safe space — no competition, no hierarchy, no pretence.
“In a coaching conversation,” the narrator explained,
“you don’t need to guard your weaknesses. That’s where honesty begins.”
Many in the room nodded — perhaps recognising how few of us ever get such conversations at work.
2. Freedom — What Does It Really Mean?
The next story, The Road Less Travelled, turned into a deeper reflection on freedom.
Philippa, a successful professional, felt trapped by responsibility. Her role was prestigious, but her inner voice was silent.
“Every Independence Day,” the narrator said, “we speak of freedom — but are we really free today?”
Philippa’s breakthrough came when she realised she was dispensable.
Once she stopped defining herself through the job, she rediscovered the freedom to choose.
Freedom, the narrator explained, is not rebellion or resistance.
It is the courage to break self-imposed limits and follow what your core truly desires.
Learning Cue for Readers: Freedom in professional life isn’t about leaving a job — it’s about not being imprisoned by it.
3. The Balance Dilemma
The third case, Working with a Dilemma, was about balance. The coachee, a gentle leader, found it hard to be assertive. He equated being firm with being harsh.
Through coaching, he learned that leadership balance means knowing when to be patient and when to be direct.
Ironically, when he began communicating more firmly, his relationships improved — not weakened.
“People,” the narrator observed, “often appreciate clarity more than comfort.”
That simple truth lingered: most of us are afraid of being disliked, when in reality, people value us more when we are authentic.
4. Transitions — The Challenge of Moving
The next story, The World is Your Oyster, dealt with transition — moving from India to Singapore.
It wasn’t just a shift in geography, but in mindset.
The narrator explained that transition coaching is about challenging assumptions.
The coachee carried expectations shaped by culture — how teams communicate, how leaders express authority, how success is celebrated.
Coaching helped him stay open, observe without judgement, and adapt with humility.
Learning Cue for Readers: Every transition — job, role, or place — is an opportunity to test our flexibility. Coaching reminds us that adaptation isn’t losing identity; it’s expanding it.
5. Coaching as a Cultural Shift
In the open dialogue that followed, the audience raised a practical question:
“How do we handle people who resist feedback or need to be pushed?”
The coaches smiled knowingly.
One said, “That depends on the company culture. Some workplaces encourage agency; others reward compliance.
But if you consistently reinforce initiative, people learn to act instead of wait.”
We discussed how agency — the ability to take ownership — is a core expectation in healthy organisations.
In coaching terms, that means helping individuals take responsibility for their own growth, rather than waiting for direction.
The conversation also touched on 360° feedback.
“Feedback,” one coach remarked, “loses meaning when it’s given to please.”
True feedback, they agreed, must be honest, specific, and safe — otherwise it becomes a ritual, not a reflection.
What the Room Realised That Day
By the end of the session, the room had turned quiet — not out of fatigue, but thoughtfulness.
Everyone carried something away:
That awareness is the first step to change.
That freedom is internal, not circumstantial.
That balance requires courage.
That transitions test humility.
And that feedback, when honest, can transform relationships.
Coaching, we realised, is not about answers — it’s about questions that make you pause, reflect, and move forward with awareness.
Ask Yourself: What would change in your work or life if you had a conversation without fear of judgement?
Conclusion — The Silent Teacher
That day, we didn’t just discuss a book; we experienced its essence.
Professional coaching, in its truest form, is a dialogue with oneself — guided by someone who listens without fixing.
In a world obsessed with outcomes, coaching brings us back to insight.
Help is just a conversation away.
These experts offer their time for a nominal fee—just enough to ensure commitment, not cost.
Contact me for details
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