Recently, I came across a thought-provoking post by Lyssa deHart, LICSW, MCC, BCC , where she explored the term “thinker” (see reference below) and the layers of meaning we attach to it, prompted by Claire Pedrick MCC‘s suggestion to call the people we work with in coaching “thinkers.” Claire explains her thinking in her brilliant book, Simplifying Coaching (a must-read!), where she introduces this idea.
Claire’s choice of the word struck me immediately. It feels intentional, egalitarian, and empowering—removing the traditional hierarchy between coach and client. It honours the autonomy of the person being coached, framing them as the expert in their own life.
But as Lyssa’s post pointed out, even a word as thoughtful as “thinker” has its limitations. One of her students insightfully observed that thinking isn’t just a cognitive activity—it’s embodied, emotional, and energetic. So, does “thinker” fully capture the richness of the human experience?
This reflection brought me to the fluidity and power of language. Words shape how we see the world—and each other. It reminds me of René Magritte’s famous painting Ceci n’est pas une pipe (“This is not a pipe”). The image of the pipe is not the object itself, just as the words we use to describe people don’t fully encompass who they are.
Take the term baker, for example. Preparing a German lesson recently, I learned that gingerbread wasn’t originally made in traditional bakeries but in monasteries. The monks, with access to rare and precious spices, created what we now think of as festive treats. The word baker might evoke a cozy image of someone kneading dough, but its meaning, like so many others, is steeped in history and nuance.
This brings me back to coaching. What we call the people we work with matters—it frames the relationship and shapes the space we co-create. For some, “thinker” might resonate. For others, it might feel too narrow or head-centric. Perhaps the real gift lies in inviting the people we coach to define themselves in the context of our work together.
Language is powerful, but it’s also playful, which you will totally understand when you have heard Erin McKean talk about synecdoche in her TED talk “Redefining the Dictionary” (if I have lost you, watch her talks—she is yet another powerhouse when it comes to language).
So, what do we want our words to say about coaching? About the people we work with? About the relationships we nurture?
Claire, Lyssa—thank you for prompting such deep and joyful reflection. I just want to give a nod to Doris Lessing. She wrote beautifully: “Words. Words. I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination, will say what I want.”
References:
Lyssa deHart: Client, Coachee, or Thinker? Exploring the Language of Coaching
Claire Pedrick: Simplifying coaching: How to have more transformational conversations by doing less.
Candida Javaid Coaching & Mentoring 