As a Coach, How Do I Perceive My Client?

In our coach training program, we are currently conducting a survey of our students and former students to both evaluate their takeaways from training and how we can continue to support them in using their coaching skills.

One of the questions is, “What is the single most impactful concept, tool, or ‘aha moment’ you carry with you from your training?” Here are some of the responses:

"The client owns their own choices/decisions."
“Realizing the wisdom comes from the client.”
“I’m not responsible for fixing.”
“Avoid being a problem solver.”

These responses show that these coaches have a keen awareness that the client is a responsible, knowledgeable, and has the potential for growth. I often remind myself that when I engage with a new client in the coaching conversation, the individual brings these things to the table:

First, they have agency—the capacity the make their own choices. Even in difficult situations, the client is responsible to themselves and others for the decisions they make.

Second, clients bring their own life experiences to the conversation. No client is a blank slate. They bring both positive and negative experiences to the table, and all of these can be the basis for growth and personal development in their current context.

Third, the client is the expert on their own situation but may need to be reminded of that! I often perceive that a client knows a lot more about dealing with their concerns than they have been willing to put into action!

Fourth, the client is a gifted person with unique abilities, talents, and competencies. I usually come at this from a biblical orientation (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 28;

Ephesians 4:11-13) but this is true also for those who do not perceive their giftedness from a faith orientation.

Fifth, even if the client does not come into coaching with the expectation, they welcome the opportunity to enter a safe space to reflect, think, and plan.

What if I find that the client does not exhibit these characteristics? That is a subject for an additional post.

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