When someone is nudged into coaching by their company for whatever reason, for the coach, it can feel like trying to start a conversation with someone who has one foot out the door. Unlike clients who come to coaching on their own with a desire to grow, involuntary clients might feel skeptical or resistant.
A coach may need to take a special approach when working with someone for whom coaching sessions have been mandated to help them find their own reasons to engage. Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council share how they work with involuntary coaching clients, helping them explore and grow at their own pace even if it wasn’t their choice to start the journey.
2. Create A Safe Space For Honest Dialogue
Regardless of the reason they came to me for coaching, it’s important to create a safe space for honest dialogue. What does the coachee know, or perceive, about the goals of the engagement, and, equally important, what do they want to achieve? The difference is how the coach navigates potentially varying perspectives. The key is to focus the coachee on productive paths forward. – Kristy Busija, Next Conversation Consulting