Sim Chen Xing

It is not instantaneous results.

There are many kinds of coaching. On one end of the spectrum lies fast-paced executive coaching—where coaches partner with mid- to high-level leaders to navigate strategic decisions, company growth, and personal leadership development. There are also career coaches—those who journey with people in transition, fresh graduates uncertain of their first step, or individuals finding their way after a detour.

But there is another kind of coaching. One that lives on the other end of the spectrum. This kind of coaching is tender, patient, and touches the delicate heartstrings of the hurting and walks with the vulnerable.

In this realm, coaches labour quietly—not for accolades or KPIs—but for something far deeper: to bring comfort in pain, a glimmer of peace in chaos, a quiet rest for the weary soul. It is in these sacred spaces that we see the true power of coaching. It is in the darkest corners of humanity where the truest beauty dares to shine.

Beyond Definitions

Coaching has been defined as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential” (International Coaching Federation, 2025). It’s a good definition. But those who’ve been through it—really been through it—know it’s far more.

The partnership between coach and client differs in depth and duration, depending on where the client is in life. Some come in for clarity; others, for survival. And while we often try to measure coaching outcomes by comparing who a person was before and after… the truth is more complicated.

Because the real power of coaching cannot be measured.

What Metrics Can’t Hold

You won’t find it in a pie chart. It doesn’t show up neatly in pre- and post-assessments.

But you’ll feel it.

You’ll feel it in the tears that finally come after months of numbness. In the moment a client says, “I’ve never said that out loud before.” In the sigh of someone who—for the first time in a long time—realizes they are safe.

The power of coaching is not just in goals achieved, but in hearts softened, courage rekindled, dignity restored.

Yes, there are ways to track coaching outcomes. But the most profound changes often happen beneath the surface, quietly reshaping the client’s sense of self. They may leave with the same job title, the same routine, the same responsibilities—but something inside is no longer the same.

And that matters.

Where Love Dwells

We sometimes forget: coaching is not a product. It’s not about fixing. It’s not a one-size-fits-all formula. At its core, coaching is a posture—a way of showing up. A way of saying, “I see you, even when you don’t see yourself.”

It’s presence over performance. Process over prescription. Curiosity over conclusion.

And at the root of it all is something so simple, it’s often overlooked.

The power of coaching is found in love.

Not the romantic kind. Not the loud kind. But the kind of love that listens without judgment. That waits without rushing. That believes in the person in front of you, even when they’ve forgotten how to believe in themselves.

So no, coaching cannot promise overnight results. But it can promise presence. And sometimes, that’s what transforms everything.

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Reference

International Coaching Federation. (2025). What is coaching? https://coachingfederation.org/about

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Hi! I am an ICF Certified Coach with a Christian-background. If you are in the midst of working through some things or you’d just need someone to talk to, do feel free to hit me up! This is a free chemistry call for us to get to know one another and to see how I can partner with you.