I find myself increasingly intimidated by people in the executive coaching world. They give me a sense of unease about my own abilities. Many in the profession claim to be able “to unlock clients’ dormant potential and to provide them with a sense of self-fulfillment.” As these coaches seem to have so much to offer, how can I reach the Olympian heights in which they profess to dwell?

With their amazing skills, they say they can “deepen their clients’ learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life, both personally and professionally.” It must be true because they present glowing testimonials of clients who, thanks to these coaches’ life-changing interventions, have become phenomenal leaders.

Amidst the boom of executive coaches, there appears to be an even more elevated type of coach: the master coach. These remarkable professionals differentiate themselves from the pack by being “always on the lookout for the things their clients don’t want to see or don’t want to hear.” They are their clients’ early warning system, the very key to their self-actualization. These coaches bring their clients to places they never thought they would be able to reach.

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