Hello and welcome back to the podcast! Today, I’m sharing something I recently did on Instagram that stirred up a lot of thought—and I think it’s going to resonate with many life coaches.

The Decision to Remove Friends & Family from My Coaching Instagram

I went through my coaching business Instagram and removed my friends and family. I wanted to talk about why I did this, what led me to this decision, and how it might help you as a life coach building your business.

This isn’t a balanced, pros-and-cons discussion. It’s my personal experience and the stance I’m taking to protect my confidence, energy, and business—and I’m inviting you to consider what might work best for you.

When Friends & Family Following Your Coaching Page Feels Uncomfortable

For context, I started my coaching Instagram in January 2020 when I first launched my business. Right from the start, I had a personal account for life stuff and a business account for coaching. That separation felt obvious to me.

But over time, I noticed something. I started to feel self-conscious about what I was posting. I wasn’t worried about my ideal clients seeing it—I was worried about the people from my personal life watching, silently observing, and (probably) having thoughts about it.

This happens at all stages of business—even when you’re experienced. It recently resurfaced for me, and I knew it was time to do something about it.

Friends & Family Aren’t My Ideal Clients—And That’s Okay

My business is for life coaches. My friends and family are not coaches, nor are they interested in becoming one. So why are they following my business page?

That’s the question I want you to ask yourself: Are your friends and family potential clients?

If they’re not, do they need access to your professional space?

Should You Coach Friends & Family?

This question comes up a lot with my clients. The truth? There’s no rule against coaching people you know. But whether it’s ethical or effective depends on your personal integrity and confidence.

Can you stay neutral? Can you hold clear boundaries? Can you serve them as you would any client, without making assumptions or jumping to conclusions because you know their backstory? If yes, great. If no, maybe not.

There’s no right or wrong—just what works for you.

Self-Consciousness & Visibility Fears as a Life Coach

For so many life coaches, especially newer ones, visibility is already hard enough. Throw in the layer of knowing your old workmates, your aunt, or your neighbour are silently watching, and it can become almost impossible to show up authentically.

If seeing familiar names pop up in your story views makes you shrink, you get to do something about that.

Boundaries Are Professional, Not Personal

Here’s the truth: You are the CEO of your business. You get to decide who has access to your professional space. This isn’t about cutting anyone out of your life—it’s about protecting your mindset, your creativity, and your confidence so you can show up fully for your clients.

And if that means removing friends and family from your business page? So be it.

Visibility Work May Go Deeper—And That’s Okay Too

If this is hitting deeper fears of visibility, judgment, or rejection, that’s totally normal. That’s the kind of deeper mindset work I do with my 1:1 clients. But also, sometimes it really is as simple as setting a boundary and giving yourself permission to protect your energy.