5 Mistakes New Coaches Make (and How to Avoid Them)

If you’re just stepping into the coaching or counseling space, first, well done.

You’ve chosen a path that requires both heart and backbone because you are not just helping people feel better, you are walking with them toward truth, healing, clarity, and transformation.

But can we talk about how easy it is to stumble at the beginning?

We’ve walked with many new practitioners - bright, passionate, and called but sometimes a little uncertain. So if you’ve ever wondered “Am I doing this right?”, this post is for you.

Mistake 1: Thinking Advice Is Coaching

We all want to help and often, that help comes out as suggestions, instructions, or “If I were you...”

But coaching isn’t about giving answers, it’s about helping people find their own.

When you advise, you direct.

When you coach, you guide.

The real power lies in questions, not answers. In presence, not pressure and if you're offering more solutions than listening deeply, it might be time to pause and start:

- Learning to ask empowering, open-ended questions
- Creating space for silence, reflection, and self-awareness
- Trusting your client’s wisdom and process

Mistake 2: Not Defining a Niche

You can’t help everyone and that’s okay.

Trying to coach everyone will leave you drained, confused, and ineffective.

Your niche isn’t a category; it’s your heartbeat. It’s the pain you’re most passionate about healing, the people whose language you understand without words.

Find it by:

- Asking: Who am I uniquely equipped to serve?

- Leaning into your story: What have I overcome?

- Naming your lane and staying there confidently

Mistake 3: Ignoring Ethics and Confidentiality

When clients open up to you, they’re not just sharing problems, they're offering their trust.

One broken promise of privacy can undo months of progress.

Gossip, over-sharing, or even casual storytelling can become harmful in disguise.

Avoid it by:

- Keeping clear confidentiality agreements

- Avoiding sharing any client details without explicit consent

- Seeking accountability from mentors and professional boards

Mistake 4: Poor Boundaries with Clients

This one’s tricky because coaching is personal. It’s vulnerable work.

Sometimes, you’ll feel emotionally entangled but your job is not to become your client’s best friend or 24/7 support line.

Poor boundaries will lead to burnout, blurred roles, and even resentment.

Avoid it by:

- Having clear session times, communication rules, and expectations

- Detaching from outcomes - you guide, but you don’t control

- Prioritizing self-care and supervision

Mistake 5: Not Investing in Continuous Growth

The world is changing and families are evolving. As such, what worked ten years ago may not work today.

You cannot give what you haven’t cultivated. A coach who stops learning becomes stagnant and eventually, irrelevant.

Avoid it by:

- Committing to ongoing training and certifications

- Reading, researching, and staying curious

- Surrounding yourself with mentors and a strong professional community

The truth is, you will make mistakes and that's part of growth but if you stay reflective, teachable, and connected, you’ll not only avoid the common traps, you’ll rise into the practitioner your clients need.