What does it mean to be?

Abstract

This paper explores the value of career coaches asking philosophical questions, specifically relating to existentialism, in order to enhance clients’ self-awareness, goal-setting, and decision-making. It argues that existential concepts, such as authenticity and essence, could potentially serve as valuable additions to a coach’s toolkit to help stimulate, challenge and shift forwards a client’s thinking when faced with difficult career-related questions. Existentialism’s potential value is explored in relation to three established career coaching models – the GROW model, the OSKAR model, and the Skilled Helper model.