A Look Inside My Coaching Style


Coaching can feel like this mysterious thing people talk about online but never really explain.

So I want to let you in on something today... because a lot of you follow my work but don't really know how I coach.

Sure, you know how I talk about burnout and boundaries and leadership, but not what it actually feels like to work with me.

So let me walk you through how it works when we're sitting on Zoom together and digging into your life, your goals, and what you actually want.

I use two main foundations to guide our time together: the GROW model and Appreciative Inquiry.

They're great tools that help you move from burnout and confusion to clarity and momentum.

The GROW Model

At its core, GROW is a decision-making and action-focused model that helps anyone who's overwhelmed get clear and move forward without trying to "solve" everything at once.

The structure is pretty simple:

  • Goal — What are you trying to achieve?
  • Reality — What's true right now?
  • Opportunities — What options exist?
  • Will — What will you commit to next?

Burnout makes everything feel heavy and blurry. The GROW model steadies the ground so you can sort things out without spiraling.

Most clients come in with some version of "I don't know what I want anymore," or "I'm exhausted and I can't see straight."

GROW gives us a clean structure to unpack it.

Here's how it actually works in a session:

  • Goal: We define what you want (not what you think you should want).
  • Reality: We get honest about your circumstances, your capacity, and the pressures you're under. (Yes, sometimes its gotta get ugly before it can get better.)
  • Opportunities: We identify practical options like job crafting moves, boundary shifts, decision points, or new directions.
  • Will: We choose one or two actions to move the needle without adding to the pressure. Then we build off that momentum.

Appreciative Inquiry

This model is all about building from strength.

The core idea is simple:

You already have evidence of who you are at your best. So, let's use that.

Burnout convinces you that everything is wrong.

But Appreciative Inquiry helps you look at what's right... your strengths, your values, your proud moments, and your peak experiences. Then we design from your potential, not your pain.

This shows up in questions like:

  • When have you felt most effective in your work?
  • What parts of your job energize you?
  • What do people rely on you for?
  • What strengths do you forget you have when you're stressed?

Sometimes, a client answers these with hesitation at first.

But once we pull these threads, a pattern shows up. And that pattern becomes the foundation for the next step.

It's all about pattern recognition (and oftentimes, pattern interruption).

When we combine GROW and Appreciative Inquiry, coaching becomes an intentional, human-centered process.

  1. Get clear on what matters.
  2. See the truth without judgment.
  3. Find the openings.
  4. Use your strengths to move forward.
  5. Commit to doable actions.

Most people look for coaching when they're at a breaking point.

They're questioning their job. They're losing confidence. They can't see possibilities. They feel trapped. They're tired of feeling like they're one bad week away from shutting down.

These frameworks help you get out of survival mode and back into strategic decision-making.

They help you understand your burnout, name what's not working, and design your way out of it.

This is the heart of my coaching — clarity, alignment, and sustainable action.

If you've been thinking about getting support, I have a few Career Reboot Strategy Session spots open right now. It's a focused 2-hour clarity session where we look at what's driving your burnout, what you want next, and what needs to shift so you can move toward it without blowing up your life.

And I'm now booking for 2026 for my 6-Session Coaching Package for deeper support through burnout recovery, alignment work, and leadership growth.

Prices go up in January, so if you've been on the fence, this is the right moment to lock in the current rates.

Take care,

Tara

P.S. There will not be a newsletter next week for Thanksgiving. I hope you get some rest, space, and something that tastes really good. 🫶