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Talent Trade Tidbit - Counseling Vs. Coaching

Published on: 13th August, 2026

No matter what your workplace throws your way, a good recruiter can be either a shoulder to cry on, or a hand to high-five...

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Transcript
Speaker:

Hi, this is Stephanie Maas.

Speaker:

Today, I want to share with you some thoughts around counseling versus coaching.

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Anyone that knows me in my space knows that I take a slightly different approach to the recruiting side of my business.

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It's not better, it's just a little bit different, and oftentimes it's a great privilege for me.

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Sometimes I get to wear the counselor hat, and sometimes I get to wear the coaching hat, and here's a little bit of the difference.

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Let's face it, sometimes we all get kicked in the shins at work.

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Most of us have families and loved ones at home that need us to be game on when we get home.

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Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

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That's what your loved ones are there for, for your support, but sometimes we just need a safe place to vent and let it go.

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That's a great opportunity, if we have the right relationship, to give me a call.

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In fact, a couple months ago, I got a call from someone I've known for a long time, and that was the whole point of the call, that he'd just gotten a kick in the shin.

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They were a little bit frustrated.

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Well, they were a lot frustrated, and they just needed to vent.

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So you know what?

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I put my counselor hat on.

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I listened, offered a few words of, "Hey, here's maybe how you can get through that," or, "I understand.

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That is frustrating." They weren't interested in making a move.

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They weren't interested in leaving.

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They just needed a safe place to put their frustration.

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I was happy to be there.

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At the same time, sometimes folks call me and say, "Hey, again, I'm not looking to leave, but I need some good professional counseling.

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I've had an issue come up with my current employer.

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I need to know how to handle it.

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I need some good, objective advice on how to handle this.

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Am I handling it appropriately?" Because let's face it, there are very few folks out there that really know our world as well as we do and have the objectivity that a good recruiter sometimes can have.

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Either way, I'm happy to play either role.

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Again, absolutely happy to put on the counselor hat when necessary.

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I love… If anyone knows me, I love the coaching side of what I do, but what you may not know is I also like being the cheerleader for you.

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Again, you get kicked in the shins, feel free to give me a call, but also too, you have a big win, something goes your way, I don't need to be the first person you tell.

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Absolutely not.

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I don't even need to be the third person, but if you get a big yes at work, and you just need to call one more person and tell them, I love those calls, too.

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About the Podcast

The Talent Trade
Presented by ThinkingAhead Executive Search
The Talent Trade is all about finding the right person, for the right opportunity, at the right time. But how exactly do you do that the "right" way? Executive Search Partner and Top Biller Stephanie Maas shares more than 25 years of experience about what it takes to be a top recruiter in today's "talent trade" market, using ThinkingAhead’s four-prong system focused on recruiting, business development, planning, and managing your mindset. It’s real, honest information about how to build your desk, perfect your niche, and stand out among the crowd in your search career.



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