Self-confidence and wellbeing: foundations for growth in coaching
At its core, coaching is always about development: unlocking potential, breaking unhelpful patterns and taking purposeful steps towards a goal. Beneath every change process, however, lie two essential foundations: self-confidence and wellbeing. Without a healthy self-image and inner wellbeing, sustainable change often fails to take hold. This is precisely where you, as a coach, can make a real difference.
Self-confidence as a starting point
Self-confidence is the belief in one’s own ability. It largely shapes how someone thinks, feels and behaves. A client with low self-confidence may doubt their decisions, struggle to set boundaries or continually question themselves. In coaching, strengthening this confidence is essential if clients are to move forward with courage.
What can you do as a coach?
- Acknowledge small successes: Highlight what is going well, even if it seems minor. This helps clients recognise their own strengths.
- Use scaling questions: For example, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident do you feel about this?” Then explore together what would help move that number up by one point.
- Reflect and affirm: Name the qualities you observe, even if the client cannot yet see them. “What stands out to me is that you did take the step to be here today.”
Wellbeing: creating space for growth
Where self-confidence influences doing, wellbeing relates to being. Does someone feel safe, heard and accepted? When that foundation is present, space opens for reflection, growth and change. When it is missing, clients often remain in survival mode.
How can you support this as a coach?
- Build psychological safety: Be congruent, non-judgemental and fully present.
- Slow the pace: Allow space for emotions. “What is happening for you as you say that?”
- Work with values: Explore what truly matters to someone. Connecting to core values strengthens a sense of direction and meaning.
Self-Confidence + Wellbeing = Resilience
When people trust themselves and feel good about who they are, resilience develops: the capacity to cope with setbacks, learn from mistakes and rise again. As a coach, you support clients not only in achieving their goals, but also in finding inner calm, clarity and strength.
The next step in your development as a coach
In our Coaching and Counselling Year 1 and Year 2 programmes, you will learn how to work in depth on strengthening self-confidence and wellbeing. You will gain coaching methodologies that help clients (re)discover their strengths, explore internal barriers and move forward with greater self-awareness and calm. Because sustainable change begins from within.
Interested in our approach? Download the free trial lesson from Coaching and Counselling Year 1 and see the difference a comprehensive training can make.
