Ep 101: How To Know When You're People-Pleasing In Coaching

Are you being a supportive coach—or are you just people-pleasing? In this episode of The Craft of Coaching , we take an honest look at what happens when coaches confuse kindness with avoidance, and how to recognize when you're prioritizing being liked over being effective. If you’ve ever hesitated to challenge a client, held back from naming a pattern, or found yourself drained after sessions, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how people-pleasing shows up in subtle coaching behaviors—and how to shift back into authentic support that fosters trust, not performance. We’ll explore how the ICF Core Competencies call us to higher standards of presence and truth-telling, and how your desire to “be nice” might actually be undermining your client’s growth. Whether you’re a new coach still developing your voice or a seasoned coach noticing these patterns in your work, this episode will help you discern the difference between showing up as a coach—and showing up as a caretaker. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Credentialed Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

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Ep 101: How To Know When You're People-Pleasing In Coaching is an episode from Craft of Coaching Podcast by Kate Swoboda.

This episode is 16:07 long.

This episode was published on Jan 20, 2026.

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