Man in the Mirror

Coaching Module #1: What is Coaching?

Excited to begin this new journey in 2023, I'm glad I finally took the plunge and signed up for the programme.

Module one kicked-off with everyone taking turns to introduce themselves and wow! what an interesting group of people (though some believe themselves to be boring 😅)... from web designers to educators, from Singapore to Abu Dhabi. I'm truly honoured to be part of Cohort 10, looking forward to getting to know everyone a little better in the coming weeks.

As I reflect on the first module, and the many lessons that were taught, a song by Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror, came to mind. The chorus of the song goes as follows:

I'm starting with the man in the mirrorI'm asking him to change his waysAnd no message could've been any clearerIf they wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make a change

And I thought, the words in the chorus, really sum up module one for me. As I embark on this journey to be a Certified Catalyst Coach, I need to look in the mirror and begin with myself. What do I need to begin doing?

  1. Unlearn what I think I know about coaching.
  2. Be aware of how my past experiences may influence my approach to coaching.
  3. Be aware of my values, beliefs and biases, and how they could affect my thoughts towards people I would coach.
One may wonder why I'm so focused on myself when coaching should really be about the other person. If that's what you're thinking, you're not entirely wrong... coaching SHOULD be about the other person, but I'm starting with me, so that I don't get in the way or at least be aware when I am standing in the way of the other person during coaching.


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