Life Coaching - Some Common Qualities of a Coaching Relationship Clients Need and Want

We all have needs. That seems to be a given. Someinquiry, curiosity; all important elements in open and
are simple, some are not. A few of the frequentlyeffective communication. The coach's skill is in eliciting
expressed needs clients have asked for in a life coachthoughts, ideas and insights from the client. The client
relationship are that the relationship be: collaborative,becomes aware of places they may be censoring
non judgmental, effective, empowering, and spaciousthemselves, discounting desires, negating their
with clear communication. In my experience as a lifeexperience and wisdom. The coach listens beyond the
coach the needs can be even more straight forward.words the client says and is sensitive to other qualities
At the end of the day many of us want the sameof communications such as tone of voice, energy
things. We want to:expressed, emotions infused into what the client says.
*be important,The client is free to flow with their process with the
*to be lovedsupport of a skillful coach.
*to be seenWe all want to belong and feel connected to
* to be heard and understoodsomething or someone. Clients want time and space:
*to belong and feel connectedEnough time and enough space to process and
*to be personally powerful.practice their new found tools and skills. Clients want to
Sound simple? Let's explore further.know that their coach is patient and yet will keep them
We all want to be important. Clients want collaboration:on target. The coach and client become a team.
The Life Coach/client relationship is one in which bothAccountability to appointments, agreements and action
work together toward the intention clarified by thesteps become the game plan and the win is the
client. Each has responsibilities, accountability and valuerealization that the goal is achieved.
the desired outcome. Ideally the coach is guided by theWe all want to feel personally powerful. Clients want
client as the client trusts the coach to be skillful into be effective: Too often a plan is put in place without
drawing their authentic voice forward. Coachesthe support needed to "make the dream come true".
support their client to awaken to the gifts they have toThe client is personally, financially, emotionally and
give to their world.intellectually invested in life coaching. Purposeful action
We all want to be loved. Clients want non judgment:that is aligned with heartfelt goals dreams and desires
The life coach believes in the client's inherent wisdom.is naturally powerful because it is honest expression.
In this space of non judgment the client is free toWhen we risk making changes in how we live our lives
explore possibility without holding back. In the absencewe experience our personal power. When we
of judgment the client feels inspired, and validated. Thesurrender our resistance to our personal power we
coach supports a client's strengths and helps the clientare free to give and receive to and from others. We
to expand their thought beyond previously limitingare important, we are loved, we are heard and
beliefs.understood, we are seen and we are connected to
We all want to be heard and understood. Clients wantwhat and whom we care about.
clear communication: Deep listening, silence, reflection,