Rethinking What Coaching Actually Is
When lawyers hear the word coaching, it often comes with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. There’s a natural tendency to question what it actually involves, whether it offers anything new, or whether it’s simply another form of advice repackaged in a different way. In a profession built on expertise, independence, and problem-solving, it makes sense that many lawyers wonder what a coach could possibly offer that they don’t already know.
Episode 17 of The Speed Coach takes a different approach to answering that question. Rather than showcasing a coaching session, it brings listeners behind the scenes through a conversation with a real client, Karen, who openly shares her experience of coaching and the impact it has had on both her professional and personal life. What unfolds is not a theoretical explanation of coaching, but a lived account of what actually changes when someone engages with the process.
Success on the Outside, Doubt on the Inside
Karen’s story is one that will feel familiar to many in the legal profession. On the surface, her career was progressing well. Her firm was growing, clients were consistently coming through the door, and the business was expanding year on year. By most objective measures, she was successful.
Internally, however, the experience told a very different story. Karen describes a persistent belief that her success was simply the result of luck rather than her own capability. Beneath everything she achieved was an underlying fear that at some point she might be exposed as not being as competent as others believed her to be.
This is the quiet reality of imposter syndrome in law. It doesn’t necessarily stop performance, which is why it often goes unnoticed, but it shapes how that performance is experienced. Decisions become heavier, leadership feels less certain, and success is harder to own. Over time, this disconnect between external success and internal experience can limit not only confidence, but the ability to fully step into one’s potential.
When “Working” Isn’t Working
One of the most powerful reflections Karen shares is that while everything appeared to be working externally, it wasn’t working for her internally. That distinction is subtle, but significant. It highlights that success is not just about outcomes, but about the way those outcomes are experienced.
In many cases, lawyers continue pushing forward because nothing has “gone wrong” in a tangible sense. There is no obvious failure or crisis. But underneath, there is a sense that something could be better, that the experience of work does not feel aligned with the effort being put in. This is often the point where coaching begins, not at breakdown, but at the recognition that there is another way to operate.
From Scepticism to Self-Awareness
Karen is open about the fact that she approached coaching with scepticism. She initially assumed it might involve being given advice, frameworks, or instructions on what to do differently. What she discovered instead was a process that required her to look inward and engage with aspects of herself that she had not previously examined in depth.
This included being vulnerable, which is not something that is typically encouraged in the legal profession. Yet it is precisely this willingness to explore what sits beneath the surface that creates the opportunity for change. Coaching, in this sense, is not about being told what to do, but about gaining clarity on what is already there and understanding how it is influencing behaviour, decisions, and outcomes.
As Karen moved through this process, she began to recognise that the patterns shaping her experience were not fixed. She could see how she had been attributing her success to external factors, while overlooking the role her own actions, decisions, and capabilities had played. This shift in perspective was not dramatic, but it was transformative.
The Shift That Changes Everything
The turning point for Karen was the realisation that her success was not luck. It was the result of her behaviour, her thinking, and the way she approached her work. That shift created a foundation for confidence that was far more stable than external validation.
From there, changes began to flow more naturally. Her decision-making became clearer, her leadership more grounded, and her response to external pressure less reactive. She was no longer operating from a place of self-doubt, but from a place of awareness and ownership.
Importantly, these changes were not confined to her internal experience. They translated into tangible outcomes in her business. She saw growth in her client base, increases in revenue and profitability, and improvements in team retention. The business continued to expand, but it did so in a way that felt more controlled and less driven by underlying anxiety.
Coaching Doesn’t Remove Challenges
One of the most honest aspects of Karen’s experience is her acknowledgement that coaching does not eliminate challenges. Difficult situations, uncertainty, and moments of doubt still arise. The difference lies in how those moments are navigated.
With greater awareness and access to practical tools, Karen is able to respond more intentionally rather than being caught in automatic patterns of thinking or behaviour. What once felt overwhelming becomes manageable, not because the situation has changed, but because her relationship to it has changed.
This is a key distinction. Coaching is not about creating a life without difficulty, but about developing the capacity to move through that difficulty in a more effective and sustainable way.
Beyond Work: The Ripple Effect
Another important insight from this episode is the extent to which coaching impacts the whole person. As Karen developed greater confidence and clarity in her professional life, this began to influence how she showed up in her personal life as well.
She became more assertive, more comfortable setting boundaries, and more willing to ask for what she needed. This reflects a broader truth about coaching, which is that it does not operate in isolation. The way we think, behave, and respond in one area of life inevitably carries into others.
By working on the internal patterns that were shaping her experience at work, Karen was also creating change in how she experienced her relationships and her life outside of the firm.
So… Is Coaching Worth It?
For those who are questioning whether coaching is worthwhile, this episode offers a grounded and authentic perspective. It moves beyond abstract concepts and into lived experience, showing what can shift when someone is willing to engage with the process.
Karen’s journey from sceptic to advocate was not driven by being convinced of an idea, but by experiencing the impact firsthand. It is a reminder that coaching is not about adding more information, but about creating greater awareness and using that awareness to make more intentional choices.
Final Thought
Coaching is not about becoming someone different. It is about seeing more clearly, understanding what is driving your current experience, and making changes from that place of clarity. In a profession where so much focus is placed on external performance, this kind of internal work can be the difference between simply achieving success and actually experiencing it in a meaningful and sustainable way.
To learn more about Lara Wentworth, or better still, book a complimentary call with her, please visit: https://coachingadvocates.com/bios/lara-wentworth/.