Author Karin Freeland Of Karin Freeland Coaching & Consulting On The Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching

An Interview With Chad Silverstein

Online Courses — It’s great to see so many coaches creating online courses for two reasons. One, digital learning is often more affordable and just as effective when the individual is motivated. The use of online courses, either alone or as a supplement to coaching, are making support more accessible to the masses. Employees are now empowered to get the support they need with or without the help from their organization.

The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set to redefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health and the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount. I had the pleasure of interviewing Karin Freeland.

Karin Freeland is an Award-Winning Author and Certified Life Reinvention Coach focused on helping women plan and execute their corporate exit strategy so they can achieve their dreams and experience more fulfillment. Her signature programs leverage the lessons she learned from her 15 years in the corporate sector combined with her thousands of hours of coaching women. Outside of work, Karin enjoys being a lacrosse mom, hiking, and taking ballroom dance classes.

Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your coaching journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?

Like most coaches, I fell in love with coaching after experiencing the benefits of being coached. My first truly transformational experience was when I was Chief of Staff to the President of a Fortune 500 business unit. In the beginning of that role, I struggled. Being a female in a male dominated industry, surrounded by men twice my age, kicked my imposter syndrome into overdrive. After suffering silently for weeks, I finally approached a trusted colleague in the HR department and asked for a life line. She advocated for me and secured an executive coach to help me through the role. Within six short months everything had turned around. I was more confident, increasingly respected, and even praised for my work. Had it not been for that experience, I’m not sure I would have lasted the next four years in corporate. When I decided to transition out of my career to entrepreneurship, I knew I needed another coach to work through the fear and help me stay focused on my goals. In the process, I realized there needed to be a coaching aspect to my company, because of how much it had helped me throughout varies stages of my life. The rest, as they say, is history!

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Patience — I’ve more recently come to realize just how important this is as business owner. Everyone wants to reach their goals, but some of us wanted to hit them yesterday. What happens when we have unrealistic expectations or aren’t patient is we get frustrated, which leads to unnecessary action. For example, if we implement a strategy and it doesn’t immediately take off we pivot. And while having the ability to adapt is important, if it’s coming from a place of impatience we’re never really giving the strategy time to take root. I made that mistake early on in my business and kept expecting to sell out my course overnight. When it didn’t happen, I changed the title. Then I changed the content. Then I pulled it off the market. In hindsight, I wish I’d had the patience to let it grow organically without constantly changing directions and confusing the market. If you’ve been feeling impatient in your business, this is your opportunity to step back, take a deep breath, and have faith in your strategy.

Tenacity — There have been so many times I could have given up along the way, but I didn’t quit. I jumped back up even more determined than before and took another step forward toward my goals, which I’m thrilled to share recently landed me an award from The BookFest for my self-help book, Grab Life by the Dreams. If I had given up on my goal of publishing this book, not only would the award never have happened, all the lives that will be changed as a result of the book wouldn’t have been changed. If you’re determined to succeed it’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when it will happen!

Audacity — Sometimes you just have to take the risk or believe the seemingly impossible is possible. Having the audacity to step out of my comfort zone or ask for what I want has always served me really well. After all, the worst that can happen is you go back to your old comfort zone or you’re told, “No.” You’re literally no worse off than before. But the flip side of this is you grow your comfort zone or get a “Yes,” in which case you progress. A very simple example of this in my life is having the audacity to ask Dr. Rebecca Heiss to author the Foreward for my book. I didn’t know her and reached out cold on Instagram. Not only did she say “Yes,” but she’s now become a friend. Talk about win-win.

Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?

I’m currently obsessed with Henry Ford’s quote, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t–you’re right.” It’s such a simple quote but speaks to how powerful our thoughts really are. For those of us in the coaching space or anyone familiar with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), we know how important thoughts are on your feelings and how much your feelings impact your actions. If we can correct our thoughts and ensure they’re positive and empowering, the rest will fall into place. Whatever you’re faced with at the moment, consider this your invitation to “think you can.”

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

I actually just wrapped up a huge project recording and releasing my audiobook for Grab Life by the Dreams: The Essential Guide to Getting Unstuck and Living Your Purpose. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I really wanted to narrate my own story. It just didn’t feel right to have someone else do it, since I share so many personal details with readers. The feedback has been amazing so far and I know it’s going to impact a lot more lives. I think the biggest way it will help is that hearing my passion will motivate listeners in a way that reading a self-help book can’t do. Ultimately that’s what I want, people to be motivated to make the necessary changes in their life so they can truly and confidently live their purpose.

Without saying any names could you share a particularly memorable success story from your coaching career?

Ha! That’s like asking me to choose a favorite child. Each client has such a unique and inspiring story, but since I have to choose one I’ll share about a woman who I recently helped leave her corporate job. When we started together she was miserable in her job and riddled with mom guilt. She broke down on the consultation call and shared how being forced back into the office had strained her relationship with her husband and children. She’d also put on a lot of weight because time for workouts felt scarce.

Over the course of six months we explored her passions, charted a path for her to leave her six-figure job and work in her husband’s growing business, and be more present with the kids. What was so fun was that the answer to her happiness was right in front of her the whole time, but she couldn’t see it because she was too close to the problem. I was able to help her shift her mindset, see new possibilities, set firm boundaries, and focus on her priorities, so that she could design a life she truly loved. She recently reported that she made it to every single one of her son’s sporting events and she’s loving entrepreneur life.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about coaching. How has your approach to coaching evolved over the years, and what personal learnings have you applied to your own development?

My approach to coaching has evolved significantly throughout the various stages of my business. Initially, I was quite rigid in applying my EDIT Methodology™, adhering strictly to its principles with little flexibility for client-specific nuances. While having a solid framework is beneficial, it became clear that customization is essential to address each unique situation effectively. In hindsight, I realize that my adherence to the process stemmed from a confidence in its effectiveness and a reluctance to deviate from a proven method.

As I gained more experience, I shifted to the opposite extreme, occasionally abandoning my methodology to accommodate clients beyond my primary expertise. For instance, I took on clients seeking guidance in areas such as re-entering the dating scene, where they might have benefited more from a specialist in that niche. Although these clients achieved their goals, I have since refined my approach to strike a balance between maintaining flexibility for my clients and focusing on areas where I can provide the most value.

In terms of personal learnings, I set clear goals and outcomes for myself while allowing for adjustments along the way. I also give myself grace when things don’t go as planned. I seek out solid frameworks and adapt them to my specific circumstances to maximize my personal and professional development. This adaptive mindset has been instrumental in my growth as both a coach and an individual.

How do you incorporate feedback into your coaching practice to continuously improve?

It’s a delicate balance. As my executive coach taught me, feedback is a gift. But you can choose whether or not to accept that gift. There is feedback I’ve received that I’ve chosen to implement, like checking in with my clients between sessions via email and offering support through Voxer for additional access and laser coaching. However, there have been other pieces of feedback that I have chosen to hear but not incorporate because it didn’t fit with my model or approach. For example, one client praised me for being such a good listener and then told me I should get my therapist license so I could also offer therapy in my practice. While flattered, that doesn’t actually align with the coaching services I want to offer. I think it’s important to discern feedback by comparing it to your business plan, looking at your mission and vision statement, and tapping into your intuition for guidance. If it aligns with all of those areas by all mean add it to your practice. If not, you can confidently say thank you but no thank you.

Can you discuss an innovation in coaching that you believe is currently underappreciated but has the potential to significantly impact the field?

The birth of the micro niche is one of the most important and overlooked trends in coaching. Why? Because it has the ability to meet the exact needs of a very particular audience and serve them better than any other coach could. A micro niche is simply a high specialized offering that offers extremely focused products and services. For example, in the health space, we’re seeing coaches emerge who are targeting working moms with perimenopause who are also suffering from gut issues. Or coaches who are supporting women in their fifties who have just become empty nesters and want to start a business to fill their time. Their coaching programs go beyond just improving health for moms or starting a business after fifty, they’re deeper, more intimate, and highly customized to deliver results for clients. I have personally niched down to corporate women in STEM who want to confidently leave their six-figure job to lead a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life.

In what ways can coaching address the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations in a digitally connected world?

One of the things I see most in my clients is burnout and the effects of burnout on their relationships, career, and overall happiness. Burnout knows no boundaries, no race, no religion, no socio-economic status. So, while we have a diverse population and digitally connected world, coaching addresses problems that are universal. Other universal topics coaching can address are communication skills, leadership abilities, and self-care. Very few people want to publicly admit they are struggling with mental health or burnout. Coaching makes it safe for leaders and individuals to admit to their struggles and get private support to help them move through their challenges more quickly.

How do you foresee artificial intelligence and machine learning transforming the coaching industry in the next decade?

Well, without a crystal ball it’s hard to say. Who could’ve predicted ChatGPT and how that application would already be shaping our world and industry. If I’m totally honest, I’m not too excited about what AI and ML promise. While several coaches or industry professionals will suggest these tools can make coaching more personalized, I disagree. I believe it has the likelihood of going the opposite direction and contributing to coaching losing its human touch. I don’t foresee AI or ML having the empathy that’s needed in coaching relationships. Coaching engagements could become sterile and lose their effectiveness.

The one area that I’m optimistically hopeful about though is data-driven insights. Larger coaching organizations will be able to afford the tools to analyze performance data of their clients to identify patterns and trends. These insights can help coaches, like me, make more informed decisions about our offerings, design better programs to meet evolving needs, and measure the impact of our coaching engagements. Armed with this information, coaches can effectively adjust their strategies, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the coaching process. I think using AI and ML in this way could be an exciting innovation for our industry, but ultimately time will tell.

What role do you believe ethical considerations and privacy concerns will play in the future of coaching, especially with the increased use of digital platforms?

Coaching is such an intimate experience. When the person being coached has total trust and confidence in their coach and the privacy of their relationship they will experience the best results, because they will be more forthcoming and transparent in their sessions. Therefore, privacy should be always be of the utmost concern. It’s important to use trusted digital platforms that have strong security practices. I personally don’t record my sessions with clients so that there’s no record. If my client wants to record for their own benefit, they’re welcome to do so, but I don’t have to worry about anything being hacked or accessed from my end.

Coaches also need to be sensitive when using clients in testimonials or talking about experiences with their clients to others. There is a ton of value in sharing how you’ve helped your clients but it needs to be done in an ethical way that always has the highest good of your clients at heart. Being a highly unregulated industry, it will be critical that organizations and individuals do their due diligence when seeking out a coach or coaching firm to work with. Ask about the privacy policy during the interview process. Taking the extra time up front with help you avoid a potentially big headache later.

Could you list and briefly explain “Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.

1 . Online Courses — It’s great to see so many coaches creating online courses for two reasons. One, digital learning is often more affordable and just as effective when the individual is motivated. The use of online courses, either alone or as a supplement to coaching, are making support more accessible to the masses. Employees are now empowered to get the support they need with or without the help from their organization.

Two, organizations can use this type of coaching in their organization to support entry level and lower/middle-management, while reserving more costly one-on-one coaching for upper management and executives. Shorter form, digital learning makes it easier for the employee to select the skills they need the most help with and avoid wasting time on topics they don’t need help with.

2 . Mindset Coaching — Many people with refer to this as soft skills. Call it what you want but most people aren’t leading effectively or achieving their goals because of their mindset. There’s some limiting belief or mental block holding them back. Mindset coaching is becoming more and more accepted and sought after. It’s not enough to specialize in leadership coaching, you also need to be able to coach clients through mindset shifts.

3 . Real Time Support & Accountability — With the use of apps like Voxer or private Facebook groups, coaches are able to provide more real-time support than ever. Accountability has always been one of the biggest benefits of coaching, and while having that weekly or biweekly call with your client is a great forcing function, having more access to your client to talk things through as it’s happening is a gamechanger. Some of the biggest breakthroughs have happened with my clients while messaging on Voxer. This extra layer of accountability can set coaches apart and allow you to charge more for your services because of the white-glove support you offer.

4 . Group Coaching — As inflation continues to rise, straining the economy, more and more coaches are going to adapt their practices to support clients with less disposable income. This makes group coaching a viable and effective model because of how much more affordable group coaching can be for clients. But there’s another important benefit to group coaching: community! Being in a group with others who have similar struggles and experiences is both reassuring and empowering. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when a client hears their peer get coached or realizes they had the same issue but didn’t know how to articulate it. I’ve personally seen the power of group coaching both in my own development and in the group programs I’ve offered in my coaching practice.

5 . Owning Your Personal Development — For decades employees relied on their organization to foot the bill for their personal development. In today’s economy more and more organizations are making cuts to the training and development budget, which means employees have to take ownership of their personal development and career growth. Fortunately, with coaching being more widely understood and accepted more and more employees are investing in their own coach and seeing the value in having ongoing support.

How do you envision the integration of coaching within organizational cultures changing the landscape of leadership and employee development?

Coaching fosters a culture of continuous learning and personal growth, which directly enhances employee engagement and satisfaction. Engaged employees are more productive, innovative, and committed to their organizations, leading to better overall performance and profitability.

Moreover, coaching empowers leaders to develop crucial soft skills such as empathy, active listening, and effective communication. These skills are essential for fostering strong team dynamics and creating a supportive work environment. Leaders who coach their teams not only enhance their own leadership capabilities but also help employees realize their potential, driving motivation and career development.

Coaching can also help in identifying and nurturing future leaders within the organization. By focusing on individual strengths and areas for improvement, coaching provides personalized development plans that align with both organizational goals and employee aspirations.

Incorporating coaching into the organizational culture also supports the development of a growth mindset across all levels of the company. This mindset encourages employees to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and persist in the face of setbacks, fostering resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing business landscape.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the coaching industry today, and how might we overcome it?

The coaching world has exploded over the past five years, so there’s no shortage of challenges. However, I think the biggest challenge is ensuring the integrity of the coaching world. While I love that the barrier to entry is low, because we can never have too many coaches, it does raise concerns about quality. There are a lot of coaches that haven’t had any training or label themselves coaches when they’re really offering mentorship or consulting services. When employees and executives have poor experiences with coaching it hurts the entire industry and can give coaching a bad rap.

I’m not a fan of regulation so that’s definitely not what I’m suggesting. However, I do think that sharing your credentials, having testimonials (especially on Google), and offering references is a great way to combat unqualified coaches and set yourself apart. As they say, the cream always rises to the top. I just don’t want to see anyone turned off from one of the most transformational and beneficial tools available–COACHING!

What is one long-term goal you have for your coaching practice, and how are you working towards it?

Well, my long-term goal is less about my coaching practice and more about the impact I want my organization to have in the community. My goal is to be in a financial position where I can donate $30k a year to local charities that empower women and help them break through economic barriers that hold them back. That’s a goal I set for myself last year, and while I have a ways to go to reach that level of giving, I know it’s attainable. With that goal in mind, it fuels me to show up everyday and provide value for others knowing that my efforts will pay off in the long run.

How can our readers continue to follow your work?

The best place to connect with me is via my website: www.karinfreeland.com From there you connect to all my social channels, check out my books, listen to my podcast Rock Your Reinvention, and read my blog.

Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the future of coaching. We look forward to seeing your work continue to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success.

About the interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and thought-leader. With over 25 years of business experience, Chad’s entire career has been dedicated to creating a positive social impact in all of his enterprises. His entrepreneurial journey began while in college at The Ohio State University, where he founded Choice Recovery, Inc., which earned national recognition and was twice ranked as the #1 company to work for in Central Ohio. Chad is now a strategic advisor for Authority Magazine’s thought-leader incubator and an Executive Leadership Coach with Built to Lead, where he recently launched an online community for leadership development.

To learn more and connect with Chad, visit www.chadsilverstein.io