Every career coach has gone through this. A new client onboards. The first session is spent just understanding where they are. The second explores what has been happening in their career. By the third, a pattern starts to show up. It usually takes a few more sessions before the coach can even name what is really holding this person back.
Most Clients Don't Know What's Really Holding Them Back.
Clients usually open by saying they are unhappy at work, or they lack confidence. Someone else may think they are not suited for leadership roles. These are all genuine concerns, but they aren’t always the real reason someone feels stuck.
Sometimes it’s not about confidence. It also could be that the job does not match what really drives them. And other times it’s not about ability. It’s that the way they work doesn’t fit the environment they are in.
Until the real reason becomes clear, both the coach and the client are working with guesses.
You Can't Guide Someone Until You Know What Drives Them.
Career coaching is not only about helping someone choose their next job, but it’s also about understanding what someone wants from their career in the first place.
- Some people are motivated by solving complex technical problems.
- Some want to increase responsibility and leadership.
- Some are happiest creating something of their own.
- Others value stability, independence, service, or balancing work with the rest of their life.
All of those motivations are neither right nor wrong. But if a person’s career keeps going against what is more important to them, they end up being unhappy, even if it seems okay on the outside.
And this is where the Career Anchor Inventory is used. It’s not based on skills or experience. It explores what someone is least willing to sacrifice in his or her career, giving coaches a better basis for career conversations.
Career Anchor is designed to help individuals understand their dominant career motivations and make more appropriate career choices.
What Works For One Individual Can Completely Fail For Another.
Two people might want to start their own business. One of them takes risks easily and makes quick decisions, and the other prefers to plan carefully and takes time before making any decision.
Both want the same thing. But how they naturally get there depends on the individual .
This is where TTPI can be even more helpful. It helps a coach understand how a person naturally works, makes decisions, and deals with change through a detailed analysis. It helps the coach to ask better questions and give advice that fits the person, instead of giving general advice.
Better understanding leads to better coaching
Good career coaches don’t just tell clients what to do. They help clients understand themselves better to decide for themselves.
Assessments give a clearer starting point. Instead of spending multiple sessions trying to figure out what drives a client or how they naturally work, a coach can begin those conversations with structured insights and spend more time actually helping the client move forward and get better results.
Conclusion
The best coaching conversations don’t start with advice. They start with understanding.
When coaching is combined with clear insights from tools like the Career Anchor Inventory and TTPI, coaches get a clear and deeper understanding of every client and can give guidance that actually fits the person in front of them.
Want to help clients make career decisions with more clarity? See how Career Anchor and TTPI on Elemetrik support deeper career coaching conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should career coaches use assessments? They give a coach clear insight into what motivates a client and how they naturally work, so coaching can be more focused from the beginning.
Do assessments replace career coaching? No. They don’t replace the coaching conversation. They give additional insights that help coaches ask better questions, identify patterns, and support more meaningful coaching conversations.
What’s the difference between Career Anchor and TTPI? Career Anchor shows what motivates someone’s career choices. TTPI shows how they naturally approach work and decisions. Together, they give a fuller picture of the client.