When I first heard about the coaching competency Evokes Awareness, it did not feel like a technical skill or something you learn from a manual. To me, it felt like a reminder of something that has always come naturally- helping people notice things about themselves they may not have thought about before.
Awareness is that quiet but powerful pause when someone suddenly says, “I never thought about it that way before.” That moment always feels special. It is not about giving an answer or telling someone what to do. It is about asking the kind of question that shifts their perspective, or reflecting something to them that they had not seen clearly. Sometimes it is simply about creating enough space for them to hear their own thoughts in a new way. That is when change begins.
I have seen this many times with students. Many of them come to me, saying they are choosing a subject or career because everyone around them is doing it, or because their parents believe it is the safest option. If I were to tell them what I think, it would not create lasting clarity. However, when I ask questions like, “What excites you about this subject? What would a day in this career look like? Can you imagine yourself doing this happily for many years?” it prompts them to stop and reflect. Sometimes they look surprised by their own answers. The Awareness that follows belongs to them, and that is what makes it meaningful.
I have also experienced these moments in my own life. One of the biggest was when I realised a project I had started on the side was more than just a small experiment. It was something that gave me energy, meaning, and a sense of purpose. Nobody handed me that answer. It came from asking myself what I keep returning to, what feels important, and what makes me lose track of time when I am doing it. That realization changed the way I saw my own future. This is why, as I step into coaching, I see evoking awareness as the real heart of the work. Coaching is not about handing someone a ready-made plan or checklist. It is about holding up a mirror so they can see themselves more clearly, and then helping them explore what that clarity means for their choices. Even the smallest realisation can stay with a person and open up new possibilities.
For me, that is what coaching is really about: not answers, but Awareness.
