Why Can Coaching Actually Work? A Little Bit of Neuroscience

Sometimes people ask me:

“But how can simply talking to someone actually change anything?”

I think it's a really good question.

And the answer is more interesting than you might think.

Our brains are not fixed. They are constantly adapting to our experiences, what we pay attention to, what we practise and the behaviours we repeat. This ability of the brain to change is called neuroplasticity.

And this is one reason I find coaching so fascinating.

What happens when we start looking at things differently?

Imagine you've been telling yourself:

“I'm not confident enough.”

You may have repeated this thought so many times that it feels like a fact.

In coaching, we might slow down and explore it.

• What makes you think that?
• When do you feel confident?
• What evidence do you have for this belief?
• What would you do differently if you trusted yourself a little more?

I'm not trying to convince you that you're confident.

I'm helping you examine the way you are thinking.

And sometimes, that creates a completely different perspective.

Neuroscience tells us that attention, learning and repeated experience are important ingredients in changing how our brains function. A recent review specifically examining coaching and neuroplasticity suggests that elements commonly found in coaching, such as focused attention, reflection, emotional engagement and repetition, may support processes involved in neuroplastic change.^[1]

But coaching isn't magic

And I think this part is important.

I don't believe that one coaching conversation will magically rewire your brain.

The science doesn't support making such a simple claim. In fact, researchers have warned against using neuroscience as a marketing tool or making claims about the brain that go beyond the evidence.^[2][3] Direct research measuring changes in the brain as a result of coaching is still limited.

What we do have is encouraging evidence that coaching can lead to meaningful changes.

A meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trial samples involving more than 2,500 participants found a significant positive effect of workplace coaching across leadership and personal outcomes.^[4] Other research has found particularly positive effects on areas such as self-efficacy and resilience.^[5]

And maybe this makes intuitive sense.

1. 1You notice something.
2. 2You look at it differently.
3. 3You make a decision.
4. 4You try something new.
5. 5You reflect on what happened.
6. 6And then you try again.

That is where change starts to happen.

For me, coaching is not about someone fixing you.

It is about creating enough space to slow down, become more aware of your thoughts and patterns, and consciously decide what you want to do differently.

Your brain is built to learn.

And sometimes, a good question can be the beginning of that learning.