Can you coach anyone on anything?

It’s a question that sounds simple but exposes some of the deepest tensions in the coaching profession.

In this episode of The Coaching Clinic, John and Angie unpack what really sits behind this debate. Not just imposter syndrome, but credibility, boundaries, ethics, and the uncomfortable moments coaches don’t talk about openly.

They explore:

1. The difference between pure coaching and consulting or mentoring
2. Why having tools matters more than having the “right” background
3. What happens when sessions drift into territory coaches are not trained for
4. How credibility crises show up when clients are more senior, successful, or powerful
5. Why relatability, rapport and interest matter more than matching life experience
6. When it is right to say yes, and when it is essential to say no

Through real client examples, including NASA executives, world-famous speakers, and moments where sessions crossed into unsafe territory, this conversation brings clarity to a question many coaches silently wrestle with.

If you are a coach questioning your authority, your boundaries, or whether you are “qualified enough”, this episode offers a grounded, grown-up perspective on what coaching really requires and where its limits are.

00:00 – The question that stops coaches cold

An innocent client conversation triggers a deeper credibility dilemma.

02:00 – Can you coach anyone on anything?

Why the answer is both yes and no.

04:30 – Coaching vs consulting vs mentoring

Where many coaching relationships quietly shift.

06:45 – Imposter syndrome and credibility crises

Why senior or high-status clients trigger self-doubt.

08:00 – Tools over titles

Why coaching effectiveness is not about shared life experience.

10:30 – Hard boundaries and knowing your lane

Why saying no is sometimes the most ethical move.

13:00 – When sessions go somewhere unsafe

Abuse, trauma, and moments that change the coaching relationship.

17:30 – Relatability, rapport and interest

Why wanting to coach the topic actually matters.

20:30 – Generalist vs specialist coaching

How coaches naturally steer conversations.

23:00 – Training, certification and real standards

What credentials do and don’t guarantee.

26:00 – So… can anyone coach anyone on anything?

The nuanced conclusion most coaches need to hear.

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