What is Values-Based Coaching?
Updated: Aug 26
Are you curious about coaching? Or maybe you’ve heard me talk about Values-Based Coaching and are wondering what it actually means?
You’re not alone! It’s a question that often comes up during my introductory Meet & Greet conversations.
The simple answer is that Values-Based Coaching helps you better understand what matters most to you, so you can make more intentional choices about how you lead, work and live.
Let’s start with coaching itself.
WHAT IS COACHING? AND WHAT HAPPENS IN A TYPICAL COACHING SESSION?
Coaching provides a safe and confidential space to explore what’s happening, gain greater awareness and perspective, and identify options to move you forward.
In a typical coaching session, you might bring a situation you’ve recently encountered, a skill you’d like to develop, a relationship you want to improve, a decision you’re trying to make, or simply something you’d like to better understand.
Together, we explore. We get genuinely curious. We challenge current assumptions and consider different perspectives. When helpful, we work through tools and resources that support greater awareness and understanding.
From there, we identify options and actions that support you to move towards your goals.
Because ultimately, coaching is all about moving forward!
Wondering what happens in a coaching session? This is what you can expect when working with me:
We’re going to have fun
We’re going to have real conversations
We’re going to get curious
We’re going to consider different perspectives and possibilities
And we’re going to identify options that align with your values to move you forward
WHAT MAKES VALUES-BASED COACHING DIFFERENT?
I believe our values are foundational to who we are, and are unique to each of us. They sit at our core and influence how we see ourselves, other people, and the world around us.
Whether we recognize it or not, our values influence our perspectives, beliefs, reactions, communications, priorities and decisions every day.
When we take the time to identify and understand our values, we can become more conscious and intentional about the choices we make.
That’s where Values-Based Coaching comes in.
Values-Based Coaching is about understanding what matters most to you, and guides you towards greater self-awareness.
Instead of only looking at What do I want to do?, we also explore questions like:
Why does this matter to me?
What is really driving my reaction in this situation?
What do I need in order to feel more grounded?
Is this choice aligned with who I am and the person or leader I want to be?
How can I honour what matters to me, while also appreciating what matters to someone else?
That awareness can be incredibly powerful.
When we are living in alignment with our values, we often feel more grounded and confident. And when we perceive that our values are being challenged, dismissed, or not appreciated, we are more likely to react.
Understanding what is happening beneath that reaction gives us another option: we can stop, pause and reflect, and then intentionally choose how we want to respond.
This becomes even more powerful when we are open to seeing, understanding and appreciating the values of others. In that space, we have the opportunity to have different conversations which can build stronger relationships.
“Changing the conversation can change the relationship.”
WHAT DOES LIVING YOUR VALUES LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE?
Readers who know me likely recognize that I’m an extrovert, which means I get energy from being around other people. So you probably won’t be surprised to learn that one of my core values is Partnership/Connection.
When I left the corporate world, I experienced a bit of a culture shock.
I was used to being surrounded by colleagues, clients, sales teams, and other industry leaders. Connection was so embedded in my workday that I took it for granted… until it was gone.
When I started my coaching practice, I drew tremendous energy from working with clients and interacting with other coaches. When it was time to shift my attention to business development, planning and administrative work, I could feel my energy decline.
Eventually, I realized what I was missing: I wasn’t getting enough Partnership/Connection.
Something that had previously been a natural part of my workday became something I needed to create with greater intention.
That awareness allowed me to get curious:
How could I create more partnership and connection while working as a sole proprietor and entrepreneur?
I began building a stronger coaching community around me. I partnered with coaching organizations including Pursuit, Parachute Executive Coaching, Resilient Leaders Network, Third Factor and Scala Network. I also became much more intentional about collaborating with other coaches. I intentionally blocked time for collaborative projects, as well as less structured opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and learn from one another.
The impact has gone both ways. Other coaches have told me that they feel supported and energized by these collaborations. And I’ve noticed a significant difference in my own energy.
My circumstances hadn’t fundamentally changed. My awareness had. And that awareness gave me the information I needed to make different choices.
That, to me, is a great example of Values-Based Coaching in action.
OUR VALUES GIVE US INFORMATION, AND WHAT WE DO WITH IT MATTERS
Identifying your values is only the beginning. The real power comes from learning to recognize how your values are showing up in your everyday life.
How come one situation energizes you while another drains you?
Why does a particular interaction trigger such a strong reaction?
What makes some decisions harder than others?
Understanding our values helps us make sense of those experiences.
For me, living in alignment with my values brings a calmer, grounded confidence. It allows me to comfortably be myself, and make choices that feel authentic to who I am. And time and again, I see clients experience their own version of that clarity.
Values work can help cut through the noise and get underneath the surface-level question. Instead of simply asking “What should I do?”, we explore “What matters to me here, and how do I want to move forward in alignment with my values?” That’s where some of the most meaningful coaching conversations happen.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM VALUES-BASED COACHING?
Values-Based Coaching can benefit anyone who wants to better understand themselves, make more intentional choices, and move towards meaningful goals.
I work with people across different industries, organizations, career stages and leadership levels. Coaching is not limited to a specific title or level.
You might be looking to become a stronger leader, navigate a career transition, build confidence, improve relationships, make a difficult decision, establish healthier boundaries or simply figure out what you want next.
At its heart, Values-Based Coaching is about increasing awareness so you can make more intentional choices and take action that is aligned with who you are and what matters most to you.
My motto is: Awareness + Action = Achievement.
I believe you need both awareness and action to achieve your goals. Action without awareness is misplaced effort, and awareness means nothing if you don’t take action!
HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT COACH?
Coaching is a very personal relationship, so finding the right fit matters.
I encourage people to speak with a few potential coaches and ask themselves:
Do I feel comfortable being myself with this person?
Do I feel seen, heard and understood?
Does their approach and communication style resonate with me?
Many coaches, including myself, offer a complimentary Meet & Greet session for exactly this reason. It gives us a chance to get to know one another, talk about what you’re looking for and determine if we’re a good fit.
I encourage people to find the best coach for them right now, based on their needs and goals.
You may also want to ask about a coach’s training, experience and professional credentials. For example, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) provides globally recognized credentialing for professional coaches.
Ultimately, look for someone who makes you feel comfortable, respectfully challenges you, and leaves you excited about the possibility of working together.
Ready to explore whether Values-Based Coaching is right for you? Book your complimentary Meet & Greet session today, or reach out with any questions. I’d love to hear your story.
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