How Coaching Improves Self-Awareness

To my fellow coaches, I've found that Internal Family Systems and Hogan go very well together. Here is what I've learned so far. Hogan is gold for coaching because it moves beyond self-perception and uncovers the patterns others see—many of which your clients may not be fully aware of. Internal Family Systems (IFS) takes the work deeper by helping clients understand why they lead the way they do. While Hogan shows what’s happening on the outside, IFS helps clients work with the inner dynamics driving those behaviors. 1️⃣ Move Clients from Awareness to Transformation Hogan identifies what’s holding them back. IFS helps them unburden those patterns so they stop repeating. 2️⃣ Help Clients Lead with True Authority, Not Old Survival Strategies Many high-achievers lead from adaptations they developed in childhood—like proving their worth through work or avoiding conflict to keep the peace. IFS helps them see these patterns, work with them, and lead from a more grounded, authentic place. 3️⃣ Make Your Coaching More Impactful & Scalable Hogan gives you clear, objective data to use as a starting point. IFS equips you with a powerful framework to guide deep inner work. Together, they create lasting transformation—not just surface-level behavior change. If you’re ready to take your coaching to the next level—where clients don’t just understand themselves but actually transform—this is one powerful path forward that I regularly experience.

The Coaching Truth Most People Don’t Want to Hear (But the ones who grow the fastest know…) After two decades of being coached, building teams, and helping leaders hit their next level here’s what I’ve learned: 1. The call isn’t the breakthrough. What you do after it is. Coaching reveals the gaps. But the real growth comes from the work after the call. Reviewing your notes. Taking action. Following through. Great coaching is a multiplier but only if you’re moving. 2. Results are your responsibility. Your coach can challenge, inspire, and guide but they don’t own your outcomes. If it’s to be, it’s up to you. Ownership is what separates the talkers from the transformers. 3. Consistency creates momentum. Our weekly coaching calls are locked in. Non-negotiable. Because clarity compounds. It’s not about one big insight, it’s about small wins stacking up over time. 4. Real coaching goes beyond theory. This is where self-awareness meets strategy. We don’t just talk goals, we uncover patterns, blind spots, and behaviors that impact every area of your life. It’s leadership work. It’s identity work. 5. Who coaches you matters. I’ve watched average performers rise and elite producers evolve simply because they had the right person in their corner. Someone who’s done it. Someone who can see what you can’t. Someone who won’t let you stay where you are. If you’re not growing at the rate you know you could… It’s probably not more hustle you need. It’s a pro-level coach in your corner, on your team. Stop trying to do this solo. You weren’t meant to.

I will keep on beating the drum. 🥁 Coaching work does not exist in a vacuum. It relies on synergies. In my 10 years as an executive coach, I've seen how mindfulness amplifies the impact of coaching. Here's 1 example that illustrates this powerful synergy: A CEO client came to me feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Her toolbox was full of strategies that had worked in the past, but she felt stuck in the face of new challenges. We started by planting a seed: a contemplative practice. My client chose a daily 5-minute meditation practice. It seemed small at first, but it was the key to unlocking deeper work in our coaching sessions. As she cultivated this practice, our bi-weekly sessions became increasingly profound. Her growing self-awareness allowed us to dig deeper, uncovering insights we might have missed otherwise. Her improved emotional regulation meant we could navigate challenging topics more effectively. The mindfulness practice created fertile soil, allowing the seeds we planted in our coaching sessions to take root and flourish. It wasn't just meditation alone, nor coaching alone, but the powerful combination that drove results. Four months in, she shared a breakthrough that she noticed a difference in how she approached situations. She was leading again, not just reacting. It was exciting to hear her experience since I had noticed our sessions taking on new depth as she was more present and growing in her self-awareness. This is why I emphasize M = f(m) → Mindset work is a function of Mindfulness. Your mindfulness practice creates the space for the Mindset work. All of this enhances the coaching work, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and development. My mindfulness practices have been a game-changer. I meditate, pray, journal (less consistent with this one), and teach/practice yoga. What mindfulness practices support your journey of self-awareness and presence? ------------------------ ♻️ If you found this helpful, please reshare it so your network can learn from it too. Follow Shawnette Rochelle for daily leadership content like this. #MindfulLeadership #CEOCoaching #leadership #mindset