Why We Shouldn't Go to Our Parents for Career Coaching

Respectfully, lovingly, your parents are probably great, super caring humans. They want the best for you. But that doesn’t mean they make the best coaches for you.

Often when we seek support from a parent, their version of support is biased, dominated by their own fears and personal experience. They often give advice or tell you what you “should” do based on what *they* think is right for you. They can’t stand to see their child suffering and they want to do what they can to eliminate that suffering as quickly as possible. Because they care. A lot. But unfortunately, most of the time, their worries and impulses to give loving advice are often not helpful.

Why? Because they aren’t you. You are the one with the context and the most important decision-making tool: your own wisdom.

I’m not telling you not to talk to your parents about your worries and dreams. Absolutely, do that if that’s a source of support that’s comforting to you. However, when they give advice or their opinions, you can thank them for their support…and then go with your own inner wisdom.

Or if you are having a hard time figuring out what to do next to reach those dreams or get out of a sticky situation: find yourself a coach you trust. who will ask you thoughtful questions. And cares about you but doesn’t have their own fears and worries getting in the way of letting you see what action to take next that feels best for *you.*

As your coach, I’m not your parent. I’m your disco ball. I’m always going to shine your light back at you. Reflect your reactions, your words, your values, and your magic back at you so you can see it and find the clarity you need from it.

Thank you, loving family, for your support (even if I reject your advice and listen to my own inner wisdom 😁).

Image Description: Text message to Lauren reads "thank goodness for you and for coaching- I was trying to get advice from parents and stuff and they’re just so concerned about career path and 401k and finances that I couldn’t get past it to get the type of support I was really looking for" Lauren replies "My pleasure. Really! I love coaching and it is absolutely necessary in the world! Can I share that^ I think that’s a very common sentiment and I’d like to write about it in a post."

If you are want to learn how to self-coach, I’m launching a training program to teach life skills they don’t teach you growing up. You’ll walk away with a stress-busting toolkit, decision-making toolkit, and new way to talk to yourself through tough moments (that work for you). Join the waitlist to learn more about it when registration is open.