Even the most competent and ambitious professionals stumble when trying to navigate their own personal growth, career transitions and leadership challenges. Often, progress stalls not because of a lack of effort or talent, but because they’ve yet to identify problematic recurring patterns.

Coaches see similar problematic patterns across industries and roles and know what it takes to interrupt them. Below, 20 members of Forbes Coaching Council share proven strategies for moving past common pitfalls coaching clients face with greater clarity, confidence and impact.

Clarify Your Career Narrative Before Making A Transition

One of the biggest mistakes I see leaders make during a career transition is jumping straight into tactics (résumés, LinkedIn updates) without clarifying the throughline of their career. I help clients by guiding them through narrative clarity and strategic positioning, so they can articulate an authentic, compelling narrative that reflects their value and confidently drives their next move. – Susan Chu, Mindful Lifestyle

Know Strengths And Values To Beat Self-Limiting Beliefs

A common challenge for coaching clients is developing self-limiting beliefs based on missed opportunities or denied promotions. Coaching clients to pause, reflect and identify and articulate their strengths, principles and values helps them create their own story and vision to move forward. – Theresa Hamilton Casalegno, Hamilton & Associates

Differentiate Coaching From Mental Health Support

I’ve seen coaching clients make the mistake of trying to replace mental health care with coaching. The best way to determine which is needed depends on your goals and outcomes, knowing whether you need to address symptom relief or want to obtain a performance-based outcome unrelated to your mental health. Understanding the difference between the two service categories can mean the best outcome. – Novena Riojas, Envrio Coaching

Address Root Causes Instead Of Symptoms

Leaders trying to fix symptoms instead of the root or system—they hustle harder, add more tasks and burn themselves out, while the real issue sits untouched. I continue to help clients slow down and ask specific, intentional questions to obtain clarity, as well as build the right structure around their people and processes so the business stops draining them and starts working for them. – Chris Aird, With Purpose

Check In With Others Rather Than Going It Alone

Who have clients checked in with? Having self-confidence and belief in instincts and evaluating data and intuition are important leadership behaviors, but without checking in with others, leaders may miss out on reinforcements for success. A coach can be a powerful source of objective reflection, but so can mentors. Not going it alone is critical when seeking buy-in, so it applies here as well. – David Yudis, DavidYudis.com

Take Bold Action Instead Of Settling For Easy Targets

A pleasant surprise for many of my coaching clients is the mistake most make in underestimating the pace, quality and quantity of change they are capable of designing, achieving and sustaining. How can we help clients avoid pivoting to easy, close-in targets? Engage them collectively in appreciative inquiry, focusing on potentials, not problems—and through challenge and support, let them be bold. – Thomas Posey, POSEY ASSOCIATES LLC

Align Your Goals With Personal Motivation

The frequent mistake is misalignment with their true motivation for setting the coaching goal. The leader will focus on what others want from them or what they think they need to do, a negative emotional attractor, versus an internal drive to make a personal change, a positive emotional attractor. I now ensure their goal is in alignment with their vision and motivated by the positive emotional attractor. – Susan Curtin, Insights4results, LLC

Lean Into Cultural And Operational Intelligence

Some clients arrive believing they have to fit a certain mold. The breakthrough is in discovering the freedom to innovate and craft solutions that fit who you are, resonate with your team and leverage their strengths. When we lean into cultural and operational intelligence, leadership becomes effective and energizing. Teams built this way produce results with a story that tells and sells itself. – Kysha Brown, KyshaBrown.com

Shift Your Mindset Instead Of Doing More Of The Same

A mistake many leaders make is believing exhaustion will ease “once things calm down,” so they keep pushing the same way. But breakthroughs don’t come from doing more of the same; they come from shifting the mindset and identity you bring to your work. When habits and identity align, clarity, energy and influence rise, and leaders show up with a steadier, more grounded presence. – Dianna Moore, Moore Joy Group, LLC.

Connect Past Experiences To Your Leadership Story

Underestimating the power of their own leadership story is a common mistake. Clients focus on skills and strategies but neglect to acknowledge the impact of authentic narratives and the way they can help transform themselves and others. I help clients connect the dots of their past ups and downs and then develop origin, aspirational, value-in-action and failure stories. – Kelly Huang, Coach Kelly Huang

Proactively Seek Feedback From Others

One of the biggest mistakes coaching clients make is assuming that not receiving feedback means they’re meeting all their boss’s expectations. This simply isn’t true. As you climb the ladder, it’s increasingly your responsibility to seek feedback. Engaging in a 360-degree process, whether formally or informally, can help you understand what you’re doing well and where you need to improve. – Dr. Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, CaffeinatedKyle.com

Strengthen The Fundamentals Before Scaling

A pattern I’ve seen is entrepreneurs trying to scale before they’ve built the habits and systems that support real growth. Now, I guide them to strengthen their fundamentals and create structure, so scaling becomes sustainable instead of chaotic. – Dr. Aman Alzubier, Elite Minds Beyond Limits

Uncover Deeper Issues Beneath Surface Problems

A common coaching mistake is rushing to fix what the client sees as the problem. Most people focus on the outer layer, the physical or technical, but the real issues often lie deeper, in emotions, mindset or approach. I now ask questions to uncover these layers and help the client figure out the inner layers that require a shift. – Ran Biderman, RB International AKA Coach Ran Biderman

Maintain Relationships Continuously, Not Just When Needed

Too often, clients activate their network only when they need something. I emphasize the importance of ongoing relationship maintenance, sharing examples that show how regular touchpoints build trust and create long-term value for both parties. – Penny Marion, Resilience Career Coaching LLC

Engage Fully Rather Than Expecting Magic

A mistake is to assume hiring coaches will solve their problem magically; they don’t put in effort or follow recommended practices in discipline. Making them aware of the need for co-creation and collaboration up front as a constraint helps to avoid such mistakes before they start feeling this engagement as an expense. – Nav Thethi, The Nav Thethi

Test Ideas In The Real World

One big mistake many clients make is avoiding real-world testing. They stay in their heads, planning and overthinking instead of trying small actions that reveal what actually works. I now help clients avoid this by pushing for quick, low-risk experiments—simple reality checks that provide clarity faster than any amount of thinking. – Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH

Be Authentic Versus Trying To Win People Over

A common mistake I see is not being genuine and trying too hard to win people over, which often backfires and hurts credibility. I help clients avoid this by focusing on authenticity and confidence in their own value, clarifying strengths, aligning actions with principles and practicing honest communication. When they lead with authenticity, trust and strong relationships follow naturally. – Emad Rahim, Inclusive 360 LLC

Embrace Mistakes As Opportunities To Grow

The only mistake people can make is not learning from their mistakes. Often when we feel that we’ve done something “wrong,” we label it with shame and embarrassment rather than looking at it for the gift that it is. Each moment is a chance to grow and become the best version of ourselves—1% better every day. Embrace mistakes, failures and accidents; they are the greatest path to growth and betterment. – Tami Chapek, WeInspireWe

Focus On Your Own Actions Instead Of Others’

One big mistake I’ve seen clients make is focusing on other people’s actions instead of their own. To help clients avoid this, I redirect the conversation back to their thoughts and ask which part of the situation they own. From there, we separate what they can’t control—such as what others do or say—from what is within their control or influence. This shift helps them take intentional action. – Kathleen Shanley, Statice

Let Your Team Shine

Many clients initially struggle with what it means to be a leader. Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about building a room that doesn’t need you to be the smartest one there. – Peter Accettura, Accettura Consulting LLC

This article was originally posted on Forbes.com