Does a coach need to be perfect?
What truly makes a good coach —
my honest conviction

"A coach doesn't need to have all the answers. They need to know where to look — and have the courage to go there honestly."

Does a coach need to live a perfect life?

This question has stayed with me for a long time. And my honest answer is: No. But it's more complicated than just that no.

Of course a coach needs experience and knowledge. That's non-negotiable. But it doesn't mean their life must be free of difficulty — or that they need to be a role model in every area of life. That would not only be unrealistic, it would be dishonest.

What truly matters is not the state — but the strategy. How does someone respond to challenges? That is the real art of life, and exactly the art of coaching.

What does it mean to "look in the right direction"?

I believe a coach needs one thing above all: the ability to look in the right direction — and to be in the process. Not to have arrived. To be in the process.

That sounds simple, but it isn't. Because it requires something many underestimate: honesty with oneself. A coach who pretends to have everything under control loses exactly what makes them valuable — their authenticity.

Over many years as a certified mental coach and in my work with TimeWaver, I've learned: people sense very precisely whether someone is genuinely present — or playing a role. Empathy cannot be faked. It is either there, or it isn't.

Why is empathy more important than technique?

Coaching is not a purely technical process. There are methods, tools, frameworks — and they all have their place. But what truly works is something else: energy and the transfer of energy.

When a coach is truly present with someone — not in their head, not running through a checklist, but genuinely there — something happens that cannot be measured in techniques. The client feels: this person is really here for me. This person genuinely wants me to grow.

That is what I mean by empathy. Not compassion as a posture, but real participation. The willingness to truly be moved — and to remain clear nonetheless.

What are the two levels of real coaching?

In my work, I've learned that effective coaching always operates on two levels simultaneously:

The first level is situational: How do I get out of this specific situation? What can I do now? This is the practical, action-oriented side of coaching.

The second level is fundamental: How do I develop the right patterns so I don't keep ending up in the same situations? This is deeper — and ultimately more decisive for the long term.

And this second level cannot be separated from a holistic worldview. What is the meaning of all this? Why do certain things keep happening in my life? What does life want from me — in terms of how I'm meant to grow?

What does spiritual understanding have to do with coaching?

I believe that deep coaching remains incomplete without a spiritual dimension. Not in a religious sense — but in the sense that the fundamental question "Who am I, really?" is allowed to be in the room.

That's not an esoteric statement. It's a practical one. Because someone who doesn't know who they are — who they want to be, what truly matters to them — cannot develop a sustainable direction. Coaching without this depth remains symptom management.

This understanding — holistic, spiritual, free from dogma — flows into every analysis I create. Whether as a detailed personal written report with follow-up questions via WhatsApp, or as a personal Zoom conversation: both formats carry not just the technology of TimeWaver, but my way of seeing the world. The recommendations I give don't come from a checklist — they come from an understanding of the person as a whole.

Which coach is right for which person?

There are different types of coaches — and different types of people seeking coaching. A coach who accompanies spiritual growth is not the same as one who structures career decisions. And that's exactly as it should be.

What I mean is: there is the right counterpart for everyone. The question isn't whether a coach is perfect — but whether they are right for you. Whether their way of thinking, feeling and accompanying fits what you need right now.

That is ultimately my invitation to you: don't look for a perfect coach — look for the real one.