An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Artificial intelligence is an incredible tool for job seekers to get on-demand support. This is also going to make communication coaching even more critical. Communication is like any other skill. You have to practice it to keep it fresh and strong. As artificial intelligence becomes more commonplace, we will need to see more specific coaching for effective communication.
The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set to redefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health and the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount. I had the pleasure of interviewing Courtney Motyczka.
Courtney is currently the Career Success Manager at Yellow Tail Tech with over a decade of experience helping tech talent navigate the job search process. At Yellow Tail Tech, she coaches students and career changers, simplifying resume writing, interview prep, and personal branding so they can confidently land roles in tech. Courtney’s background includes hiring for engineering and technical roles, giving her deep insight into what today’s tech employers are looking for.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your coaching journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?
I began career coaching at a trade school over 5 years ago. I had started my career with only an associate’s degree and worked my way up to management in customer service. With my experience in recruiting from staffing my customer service team, I was able to use my transferable skills to move to career coaching in education. The biggest challenge I faced was finding resources. This was one of many things that fueled my passion for coaching in my career journey.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Humility — When I went back to school to complete my bachelor’s degree, I was unapologetic about telling others what direction I wanted my career to go in. I asked everyone I met about their career, how they got started, and where they saw it going. I guess you could say that was the start of me mastering networking. This gave me insight to what worked for others, what didn’t, and what traits I saw in the people around me that were both successful and happy.
- Tenacity — When I was younger, I was the kind of kid to challenged the rules. I was always asking “Why?”. Adults weren’t always keen on my questioning of the process, but it carried me through my career. Being able to see the bigger picture has allowed me to be a strategic thinker. When I hit a roadblock, I’m able to look at all the different pieces in a way others may not. Tenacity and creativity in your work are a winning combination.
- Honesty — Every interview I have been in, I have been honest about myself. I always had the perspective that I didn’t want to work with anyone who didn’t value self-awareness. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Accepting them so we can develop them is what makes humans great. Early in my career, I started with a new job. It wasn’t my dream job, but I knew I had to make it work. Within a week of starting, I walked into my boss’ office and said, “I want your job.”. She was taken aback, but ended up training me. Within a year, I was promoted to her role in a different branch and she went from being my boss to my colleague. Honesty will get you what you need every time.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
“Closed mouths don’t get fed.” It’s a straight forward quote, but resonates with how I have approached my career. If you want something, you have to go after it. Sometimes that means asking for help. Asking questions, building rapport with others, and being willing to openly talk with people about their aspirations has been a game changer for me and those around me. One question could change the whole trajectory of your path.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Right now, I am working on a LinkedIn series to empower students to redesign their LinkedIn profiles and find new approaches to networking. Networking can feel like a scary topic, especially after Covid. This series helps others separate their professional identities and personal identities so they can become comfortable with their personal branding.
Without saying any names could you share a particularly memorable success story from your coaching career?
I have been fortunate to see many successful stories and be a part of so many different journeys. Here at Yellow Tail Tech, I recently had a student that struggled with their career transition. We spent a lot of time talking about overcoming fears and not giving up. Recently, they accepted a job offer to officially transition into tech. It was a tougher road for them, but it was a big win! Their wins are my wins and I have a personal investment with each of my students.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about coaching. How has your approach to coaching evolved over the years, and what personal learnings have you applied to your own development?
My coaching is always evolving. When you’re responsible for guiding others through a journey of personal growth, you have to constantly be aware of your own growth. Over time, I have incorporated a style of coaching that holds my clients accountable. It can be tough to do that because they want you to have the answers. But, when you coach them through finding the answers, you are giving them more tools to be successful over time instead of just in the moment.
How do you incorporate feedback into your coaching practice to continuously improve?
I set the standard with my colleagues, students, and clients from the very beginning that we have to work together to get results and that includes being honest with me about what they need. I really focus on tailoring my coaching and that requires an ongoing openness to feedback and improvements.
Can you discuss an innovation in coaching that you believe is currently underappreciated but has the potential to significantly impact the field?
Incorporating communication coaching. My bachelor’s degree is in communication and conflict and it’s a topic I have continued to specialize in. Communication is one of the most important tools in your career. It’s exciting to see this on the rise with more people taking interest in learning how to communicate with others.
In what ways can coaching address the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations in a digitally connected world?
There is a false perception that career coaching is only for C-Suite executives or all the information you could need for professional development is available online. The reality is — you can’t replace the human element. Human interaction is proven to be necessary in varying capacities for improved mental health. Coaching serves as a safe space to openly discuss struggles that aren’t always accepted in professional environments. Everyone is not always equipped with the skills to navigate the nuances of depression and corporate or any other mental health battle while in a full time role. Strong coaching empowers individuals to be able to advocate when they need to.
How do you foresee artificial intelligence and machine learning transforming the coaching industry in the next decade?
Artificial intelligence is an incredible tool for job seekers to get on-demand support. This is also going to make communication coaching even more critical. Communication is like any other skill. You have to practice it to keep it fresh and strong. As artificial intelligence becomes more commonplace, we will need to see more specific coaching for effective communication.
What role do you believe ethical considerations and privacy concerns will play in the future of coaching, especially with the increased use of digital platforms?
As coaches, we have a responsibility to confidentiality with our clients as students. While there is no governing body to regulate this as you may see with healthcare, it is going to become ever more critical to hold that trust with students and clients.
Could you list and briefly explain “Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching” based on your experiences and insights?
1 . Communication Coaching — As I mentioned earlier, communication is a critical skill in professional development. We’re going to see communication techniques and training incorporated more into overall coaching methods.
2 . Recruiter and Coaching Partnerships — Recruiters often develop relationships with colleges, but we’re seeing them partner with training programs more and more. This broadens accessibility for the “non-traditional” student or job seeker.
3 . Career transition focused coaching — There is a rise in career changers. Few people are staying in their roles for 10+ years anymore. There is a need for coaches willing to work with people in transition.
4 . Retirement Coaching — Retirement is a challenging time for many. There is a lot to manage and adjust to. I frequently hear from people phasing out of their lifetime careers wanting to pursue something new in retirement. Sometimes, that’s a new career and other times it is getting used to letting go of some responsibilities to slowly move into retirement. It’s a big time in life.
5 . Young Adult Coaching — The job market has gone through a lot of changes over the past five years. Parents see these shifts and start to wonder how they can prepare their teenage and young adult children to start their careers. They will need support in a market that has a lot of adversity.
How do you envision the integration of coaching within organizational cultures changing the landscape of leadership and employee development?
I would love to see coaching integrated in the corporate market. There is so much fear in corporate culture and it stifles the creativity of associates. Companies are missing out on big opportunities to allow their employees to work in better ways for them.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the coaching industry today, and how might we overcome it?
Coaching can be a misunderstood role. Unfortunately, you can “pose” as anything online and this can create challenges specifically between recruiters and career coaches. We see it on a lot of social media platforms and I’ve run into it in networking. I’m optimistic that recruiters can embrace career coaches as partners in their role
What is one long-term goal you have for your coaching practice, and how are you working towards it?
Accessibility has always been a goal of mine. I’d like to shift our community from the gatekeeping mindset in careers. I started small with sharing free tips on LinkedIn and have continued to grow this into group sessions for more accessibility to tailored insights.
How can our readers continue to follow your work?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmoty/ — Connect on LinkedIn! I’d love to have you in my network.
Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the future of coaching. We look forward to seeing your work continue to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Courtney Motyczka Of Yellow Tail Tech On The Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.