Best 5 Coaching Styles Uncovered - Find What Works for You

Are you unsure which coaching style fits you best or how to make a real impact on your clients?

In this article, I'll guide you through different coaching styles, showing you how to enhance your practice and connect more effectively with those you help.

What are Coaching Styles

Coaching styles are more than just methods—they're the unique expressions of how you connect with and guide your clients toward their goals.

Every coach has an approach for the client that is unique; it is this approach that is the foundation of their coaching style.

As you develop your own style, you'll find it's the key to genuinely impacting someone's life.

5 Types of Coaching Styles

I have been coaching for more than 15 years and these are the 5 main styles that most coaches work with.

Democratic Coaching

Think of democratic coaching as a collaborative approach. Here, you and your client work together to set goals and decide the path forward. It’s all about mutual participation.

You'll find this style works best in environments where client engagement and input are valued, and where fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility in the client is essential.

Holistic Coaching

As a holistic coach, you look at the whole picture of your client's life, not just specific goals.

This style is beneficial for clients seeking balance and wellness across various aspects of their lives. It's particularly effective when working with clients who value personal growth and well-being.

Autocratic Coaching

This style involves a more directive approach, where you, as the coach, make decisions and set the course.

It’s useful in situations where clear guidance and structure are needed, such as with clients who prefer not to make decisions or in high-stakes environments where outcomes are critical.

A study by Leadership IQ surveyed 14,033 people to understand preferences for leadership styles. 21% people appreciate autocratic leaders who retain final decision-making authority.

Vision Coaching

Vision coaching is all about big-picture thinking. You help your clients set far-reaching goals and align their actions with their larger life vision.

This style is great for visionary individuals or those looking to make significant changes or strides in their personal or professional lives.

Laissez-faire Coaching

Laissez-faire coaching is characterized by a hands-off approach, giving clients the freedom to explore and act on their own while you provide support as needed.

This style can be particularly effective with highly motivated and independent clients who benefit from minimal interference.

Choosing the Right Coaching Style

Each of these factors I have explained below is something you, as a coach, need to consider carefully. This ensures that your coaching sessions are tailored to the specific needs of your clients.

By doing so, you enhance the relevance and impact of your coaching, making each session more productive and meaningful.

Advantages of Integrating Multiple Coaching Styles

You've likely heard the saying, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." This concept rings true in coaching, as relying solely on one approach can be limiting. 

Combining different coaching styles can greatly enhance the adaptability and effectiveness of your coaching. By using a hybrid approach, you can tailor your coaching to fit the dynamic needs of each client. 

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ here. I never stick to just one coaching style; instead, I blend multiple approaches to meet the dynamic needs of each client

I once worked with a business coach, Samuel, who struggled to attract high-ticket clients. Upon evaluating his approach, it became evident that his coaching modules were overly complex, and his use of jargon created barriers in communication.

To tackle this, I combined holistic coaching to simplify his content, ensuring it was accessible and engaging. We also incorporated democratic coaching to involve Samuel in the redesign of his modules, fostering a sense of ownership and alignment with his client's needs. 

Lastly, through vision coaching, we refined his communication skills, emphasizing clarity and simplicity to better convey his expertise. This multi-faceted approach addressed the initial barriers and helped with fixing his client communication issues.

Conclusion

Now that you're familiar with these diverse coaching styles, the key is to experiment and find the right balance.

Don't rely exclusively on one method, and be cautious not to mix too many at once, as this can dilute the effectiveness of your approach. 

If you have any questions or need further clarification on implementing these strategies, feel free to leave them in the comments below.