The word spiritual keeps cropping up in relational to coaching, but typically with very vague explanation. It is sometimes associated with religious or mystical experience; at other times focuses on connecting with one’s “higher self” and discovering deeper purpose and meaning in life. Or as a throw-away alternative to pursuing clear goals. Or… well, almost anything.
It’s worth pausing and reflecting on where the word spirit comes from. The Latin roots are in “the connection between breath, wind, and the immaterial essence of a person or being”. An associated concept, also from Latin, is “genie”, which originates as a guiding spirit (a bit like a Fairy Godmother). Genie is also associated with genius, the creative spark of innovation.
So how should we interpret spiritual in the context of coaching? To me, spiritual relates to the genius that is just beyond our comprehension. It’s about observing and accepting what we don’t understand, without the need to dissect and analyse. It’s the essence of being a coach as opposed to doing coaching. It is about what is, or might be, rather than what should be. It’s about our philosophy (from the Ancient Greek, meaning love of wisdom) and knowing how to be comfortable with not knowing.
So, what is spirituality in coaching? Perhaps we can best describe as an absence of judgement, goals, explanations and anything else that gets in the way of “curious connection” – seeing what we only become aware of when we don’t look to hard. Paradoxically, the essence of spirituality is its intangibility.
©️David Clutterbuck, 2026