How do you position yourself as a coach during a coaching conversation? Where does your attention go? Do you have a specific result in mind, and are you working towards achieving it, or are you guiding your coachee in discovering what is possible?

One of the key themes in Transformational Presence Coaching is the awareness of how you, as a coach, are present during a coaching conversation. This might apply to coaching and all conversations in which you respect the other person and help them reach deeper awareness.

·        Do you feel something ‘must’ happen, or are you free to let something happen?

·        Are you working towards a specific outcome or detached from any intended result?

·        Do you think you need to know or be able to do something (because you expect it of yourself or because you think or sense that your coachee expects it of you), or are you 100% curious and exploring to gather any new information?

 During one of the online sessions of the training, a very interesting exchange emerged in response to a question from one of the participants about how you are present as a coach and what the core elements are. It turns out to be quite a challenge to see everything your coachee brings up as information (and thus avoid any judgment of good or bad or something else). Being deeply involved with the other person without becoming emotionally entangled is another challenging aspect.

 The less you expect as a coach, or are looking for a specific result or outcome, and the less you judge, the more you create an open space for your coachee to feel safe. And that safety is a necessary condition for intuitive discovery. This open, non-judgmental, accepting attitude supports your coachee in realizing that they do not need to perform and that there is nothing they need to meet. Your coachee notices that they can be entirely at ease and start discovering from there. Being open, fully in receiving mode…

 And then magic can happen… sudden deep insights, a deeply felt inner shift…

 This open, nonjudgmental, accepting, exploratory attitude is relevant in coaching and, in my experience, is welcome in every conversation and interaction. It invites your conversation partner to be who they are and to simply be with what is. It may be one of the greatest gifts you can give to another person.

 Notice how you are present in conversations this week. And if there is a judgment at play or a specific intended result, simply notice it with compassion, let it go, and turn your curiosity fully on. Then notice what changes in the conversation…

 I wish you much joy in your discoveries!