Beyond the Badge | Week 2
ICF Core Competency 2: Embodies a Coaching Mindset
There was a moment during my PCC journey when I paused after listening to one of my own coaching recordings.
I had asked the question.
The client had responded.
The conversation had moved forward.
On the surface, everything looked fine.
But something inside me knew – I had moved too quickly.
I had listened to the words.
But I had not fully stayed with the person.
That recording became a quiet teacher.
It reminded me that coaching is not just about asking powerful questions.
It is about the mindset from which those questions emerge.
Curiosity. Reflection. Self-awareness.
For senior leaders, this becomes even more critical.
Because the higher one rises, the fewer truly reflective spaces one gets.
Most conversations come loaded with advice, expectation, judgement, or urgency.
A coaching conversation must be different !!
It must create a space where a leader can slow down, hear themselves think, notice their assumptions, and find clarity without being pushed.
For me, this competency – Embodies a Coaching Mindset – has been one of the deepest reminders of my own inner work.
To stay open when I think I know.
To pause when I feel tempted to solve.
To listen beyond the spoken word.
To keep growing, so I can support the growth of others.
My powerful learning from this competency:
A coaching mindset is the discipline of staying curious when certainty is easier.
And perhaps that is what makes coaching so powerful.
It does not rush leaders to answers.
It helps them access better thinking.
Ping me for a Virtual coffee.
No agenda. No obligation. Just two professionals sharing learning and exploring possibilities….
Chander Sharma
Executive Coach | Leadership Coach | Facilitator | Conversationalists