Coach the Person Not the Problem

Aug 17, 2026

What if the problem your client brings to coaching is not actually the thing that needs coaching? In this episode, we explore what it really means to coach the person rather than becoming absorbed by the presenting issue. A client might arrive wanting help with time management, delegation, boundaries or another practical challenge, but if the solution were purely about strategies and actions, there is a good chance they would already have found one. This is where our curiosity as coaches needs to go deeper.

We explore the difference between transactional and transformational coaching, looking beyond the symptom towards the beliefs, values, identity, attitudes and patterns that may be shaping the client's experience. Using delegation as an example, we consider how a practical problem might actually be connected to fear of failure, responsibility, confidence, relationships at work or even a deeper misalignment between somebody's values and the life or career they are pursuing.

We also reflect on why coaches can become pulled towards solving problems. When a conversation feels stuck, offering ideas or moving rapidly towards actions can create an immediate sense of progress for both coach and client. Yet sustainable coaching is about developing the client's own resourcefulness rather than creating a cycle where they return with another problem to be fixed. There is still a place for actions and accountability, but they can become far more powerful once the person has developed greater insight into what is happening underneath the problem.

Ultimately, person-centred coaching is not about helping somebody create a life without challenges. It is about helping them develop a different relationship with themselves and the challenges they encounter. For us as coaches, that means noticing the internal pull towards solving and replacing the question, "How can I solve this with them?" with greater curiosity about who the client is, what they are learning and who they are becoming through the experience.

Timestamps

00:07 Coaching the person, not the problem
00:39 Looking beyond the presenting issue
01:29 Symptoms versus underlying causes
03:13 Transactional and transformational coaching
04:50 Why the problem still matters
05:51 The delegation example
07:02 When action becomes a sticking plaster
09:26 Identifying patterns in a client's experience
11:40 When the problem is not really the problem
13:41 Avoiding dependency and the fix-it mentality
15:29 When practical problem coaching has a place
17:10 Developing a different relationship with problems
19:12 How to recognise what you are coaching
21:36 Moving from solving to curiosity
22:08 Final reflections on person-centred coaching

Key Lessons Learned

The presenting problem is often a surface expression of something deeper.
Values, beliefs, mindset and identity can influence why a particular situation becomes a problem for one person and not another.
Transactional coaching can support action, but transformational coaching can create more sustainable change.
Practical questions become more useful after deeper barriers have been explored.
Moving too quickly towards solutions can lead coaches towards advising, suggesting or guiding.
Person-centred coaching helps clients build their own capability and reduces dependency on the coach.
Coaches need to notice their own desire to solve, especially when they recognise the client's problem from personal experience.
Great coaching can shift the focus from removing problems to helping clients become more resourceful in how they relate to them.

Keywords

coach the person not the problem, person-centred coaching, transformational coaching, transactional coaching, coaching skills, coaching techniques, coaching clients, professional coaching, coaching questions, client resourcefulness, coaching development, coach training

Links & Resources

My Coaching Course: mycoachingcourse.com

Take Our Quiz - Which Coaching Course is Right For Me?

Yes take me there!

Join our community of aspiring and practising coaches!

Join us to receive the latest news and updates from Jo and Zoe.

We value your privacy and your information will never be shared.

Coach the Person Not the Problem

Take Our Quiz - Which Coaching Course is Right For Me?

Join our community of aspiring and practising coaches!

Join Our Free Trial