Recently heard a Coach saying: “pure coaching doesn’t work.”

I disagreed.

Coaching works but not with everyone, as it’s not for everyone.

The real issue is this - not every person is ready for inquiry.

And coaching is a form of pure inquiry.

If you look closely, this is not new. One of the concepts from Indic knowledge traditions we teach in Coachness™ based modules is:

श्रवण → मनन → निदिध्यासन

(śravaṇa → manana → nididhyāsana)

1) Listening.

2) Reflective inquiry.

3) Deep assimilation.

Now compare this with components of a strong coaching conversation:

• Attentive listening

• Reflective questioning

• Insight → action

Same movement, but different context.

But here’s where things break.

We try to coach everyone. Even those who:

• Want answers, not inquiry

• Want direction, not reflection

• Want relief, not responsibility

And when it doesn’t work…

We say: “Coaching is ineffective.”

No. The client was not in a coaching readiness state.

This is where maturity as a practitioner begins.

To recognise:

• When to coach

• When to mentor

• When to consult

• When to refer

And that’s not a weakness, but clarity.

Though this is part of coach education, ironically many use this knowledge only to clear credentialing test.

Coaching, at its best, is not about fixing people. It is about creating a space where clarity arises within the individual.

This is exactly how Indic inquiry has always worked.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?

Coaching refines the personality ie self.

Indic inquiry reveals the Self.

Different destinations but a deeply similar path - Dialogue → Reflection → Realisation

So instead of asking: “Does coaching work?”

Maybe we should ask: “Is this person ready for coaching, now?”

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁… 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲.

And when needed… refer with integrity.

(Or wear another hat 🧢 consciously.)

The market is not crowded. It only looks that way when you lack clarity.

There is space for everyone:

• Coaches

• Mentors

• Consultants

• Therapists

• Teachers

• Those who wish to mix & match

The real work is not competition but discernment.

And ultimately… you must decide:

- Where are you in your journey?

- What are you ready for?

- How do you want to proceed?

The rest will follow…

Such questions we explore in Coachness™ - a consciousness‑based approach rooted in Indic Wisdom.

As we reiterate, “our programs are like ‘starting school’ for life than a ‘finishing school’ for a career.’

‘Integrating Coaching Competencies with Indic Wisdom’ approved by ICF is a 20hrs program that is part of the larger Coachness™ portfolio.

Know more: https://www.coachness.org/coaching-with-indic-wisdom