Turning Blockers to Breakthroughs as a Coach

As coaches, we often wish for a smooth path to success, filled with inspiring client breakthroughs and personal fulfillment. Yet, the reality of our journey is often a bit more complex.

At Lumia, we've come to recognize that the obstacles people face – what we call "blockers" – can become the foundation of our greatest strengths as coaches.

In a recent conversation on the Everything Life Coaching podcast, Lumia co-founders John Kim and Noelle Cordeaux get very real about the impact of personal and professional challenges on their coaching journeys. 

What is a Blocker?

Blockers come in many forms. Some are deeply personal – perhaps a struggle with self-doubt, a history of trauma, or ongoing mental health challenges. Others are rooted in our identities and how the world perceives us – our gender, race, sexuality, or cultural background can all bring unknown hurdles in our professional lives.

Then there are the blockers that come from our relationships and social environments. The people we surround ourselves with can either lift us up or hold us back. Our emotional landscape, too, can become a blocker when we struggle to manage intense feelings or overthinking tendencies.

Many of us also grapple with achievement blockers – negative beliefs about our ability to succeed that can keep us from recognizing our true worth and potential. 

And perhaps most challenging of all are the authenticity blockers – the fears and hesitations that prevent us from showing up as our true selves in our work and lives.

"In coaching, that's where part of the capacity for constant reinvention comes in, is that if you hit a point where you feel like you're no longer being authentic in your work, it's actually not a blocker, it's an invitation." - Noelle Cordeaux

Coaching Transforms Blockers into Breakthroughs

The magic of coaching lies not in avoiding these blockers, or pretending they don’t exist, but in learning to transform them. This begins with self-awareness – a willingness to look directly at our challenges and understand where they come from.

We have to ask ourselves tough questions that we may not always like the answers to!

Questions like: 

• What thoughts or behaviors are holding me back? 
• How have my experiences shaped my perspective? 
• What triggers keep me from making progress?

As you gain clarity on your blockers, you can begin the powerful work of reframing. 

• That struggle with anxiety? It might be the very thing that allows you to empathize deeply with clients facing similar challenges. 
• Your experience as a minority in your field? It could be the key to connecting authentically with clients who feel like outsiders in their own lives.

This reframing process is supported by cultivating a growth mindset. Instead of seeing your blockers as fixed, insurmountable obstacles, you can view them as opportunities for learning and development. 

The Power of Community and Authenticity

"In order to build a relationship with a client, that is honest, you have to be authentic. There's no other way.” - John Kim

One of the most potent antidotes to our blockers is community. 

Surrounding ourselves with supportive, like-minded individuals can make all the difference in our journey. This could look like connecting with fellow coaches, finding a mentor, or engaging with professional networks. These relationships are supportive and provide great opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth.

Hand in hand with community is the practice of living an authentic life. Being our true selves in our coaching practice can feel vulnerable, even scary. But it's this very authenticity that allows us to form deep, transformative connections with our clients and make a real impact on the world around us. 

Start small – share a personal story related to a challenge you've overcome, express your genuine thoughts and feelings in your content, align your coaching style with your personal values and beliefs. As you embrace your authentic self, you'll find that your so-called blockers become real points of connection and insight.

Redefining Success and Embracing Change as Coaches

"The way that I see achievement now is my relationship to ease. Do I have what I need? Do I feel ease in my days? Can I be peaceful in my mind and in my soul?" - Noelle Cordeaux

We must reassess our definition of success as people and as coaches.

The traditional markers of achievement – number of clients, income, or awards – these tell only part of the whole story. True success in coaching will look different for everyone, but should be  measured by the impact we have on our clients' lives, our personal growth and learning, our values alignment, or the satisfaction we have with our work.

Our journey with blockers is ongoing! 

Stay open to new ideas, techniques, and perspectives. Engage in continual learning, whether through formal education, industry publications, workshops, or peer discussions. And always, always prioritize self-care and healthy boundaries. Your well-being is the foundation of your effectiveness as a coach.

Your story is your gold. Your authenticity, shaped by everything that has happened to you, is your greatest asset as a coach. It's what will allow you to form authentic connections and inspire real change in the world.

So embrace your blockers. They’re raw material waiting to be transformed into your coaching superpowers. 

Ready to Become A Coach?

One of our values at Lumia is that we dare to be different. Our life coaches ignore the expectations society tries to impose on them, and seek to live from their own truth instead. 

If you are ready to step into your power and you’d like a partner in the process, come check out Lumia Life Coach Training and Book a Call with one of our Admissions Coaches. Grounded in science, our ICF accredited program features authentic instructors, a robust curriculum, and business instruction to prepare you for liftoff.

‍Lumia Coaching: Vibrant community. Evidence-based life coach training. Lifetime support.