What do you do if you encounter resistance from a coachee during a session?

If you encounter resistance from a coachee, it typically comes down to 1 thing. You didn't set positive expectations. When intentions aren't CLEAR people default to FEAR. Here's how to enroll people in coaching so they now get your positive intent & what's in it for them. Now, they'll want to be coached.??What I want for you is to experience the success you want. I’ve been working on my skills to become the best manager I can to help you reach your goals. This learning curve is something we’re going through together, which is why I’ll be looking for feedback & coaching from you. Let’s schedule a time to talk about coaching so that we can positively align around it & make this a valuable experience. Are you open to discussing this?

Be curious about the resistance. Redesign your alliance / contracting, clarify what the coachee needs to be fully open Ensure you build a safe space Make sure you are a good match, get some supervision.

Resistance is almost always deep rooted in two things - either the coaching has been "forced" onto the individual by higher ups. Or there are limiting beliefs at play. In the first instance, the coach needs to have a discussion with the sponsor on the way forward. In the second instance the coach needs empathy, patience, active listening to help the coachee reach to the root cause. Once the "a-ha" moment is reached, things would be straightforward

Resistance might be due to fear: 1. How I can share with an unknown person 2. How can I trust the coach, he / she will maintain confidentiality. 3. Not aware about the coaching process. 4. Not ready to take action. As a coach when encountered resistance, be empathetic to understand their perspective and underlying cues for resistance. Building rapport and trust with the coachee to address their concerns and move forward effectively.

Active listening and being present to the energy and non verbal communication in the session helps co-create the space. How is resistance showing up? Is it by not attending the sessions, being defensive, not opening up, being impatient when reflecting... Contracting - details about session, confidentiality, need to reflect, balance between support & challenge adds to building rapport so the client feels safe. Understanding resistance, partnering and being with the client where they are e.g. the session being led by the client and not the coach, helps. Clients often are not used to self thinking and it may show up as resistance. As a partner, it helps to share what you are experiencing from the client and what client feels in session

Without trust, you won't make progress. Focus on establishing trust by getting to know them. Ask questions about their goals, dreams, aspirations. Listen and show genuine curiosity. Typically a coach should remain professional by not sharing about their personal lives or taking up meeting time to talk about themselves, but I've found that with certain resistant and mistrusting coachees, I've needed to be willing to open up and be the first to model vulnerability by sharing a few personal things about myself -- not in any crossing boundaries sort of way, but in a way that invites them in and makes it more comfortable for them to share, too.

It might be time to change your approach when you notice a coachee pulling away or showing resistance. Building trust isn't just about sharing knowledge or guiding someone through their challenges; it's also about listening to them, understanding their feelings and perspectives, and acknowledging them. Trust develops when people feel safe to express their concerns and are met with understanding rather than judgment. If your coachee seems resistant, ask them what they need to feel supported. Is there something holding them back? By creating a safe space for them to express their worries, you can lay the groundwork for a relationship based on trust, which is essential for growth.

If encountering resistance from a coachee during a session, prioritize building trust to foster openness and receptivity. Begin by acknowledging their perspective and validating their feelings to establish empathy. Encourage a non-judgmental dialogue, emphasizing confidentiality and respect for their autonomy. Demonstrate genuine interest in their growth and well-being, aligning coaching objectives with their personal and professional aspirations. Offer support and reassurance, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the coaching relationship. Through consistent empathy, understanding, and genuine care, gradually cultivate an environment where resistance dissipates, paving the way for meaningful progress and transformation.

“ Return on Relationships “ is the key on Building Trust . Create the Farmer mentality in building Trust , Nurture it , Provide an Environment of High Energy Emotions like Love, Freedom, Abundance. This will create a safe passage to be open and create a successful communication and get the desired results

When the coachee resists, it indicates that the trust needs to be strengthened. Creating a safe space where the coachee will feel comfortable, safe and ready to share without judgement. When the coach reiterates the confidentiality and consistently demonstrates, it creates an environment of trust, paving a way for open communication.

Showing empathy, listening, providing a safe space to open up etc...can help of course. AND sometimes it can help the coachee even more when we bring our whole self as a coach (that is part of the coach's development journey too). By sharing, in a respectful, honest and caring way what we notice, how this whole situation impacts us or make us feel around them. Then we can also invite the coachee to explore in which ways showing resistance appears in other situations in life or at work. This can trigger an important realisation and a perspective shift for them. Executives also need our very honest feedbacks to boost their development.

Identifying the root cause of resistance by asking open ended questions to learn about their concerns, fears, feelings, emotions and needs. Showing empathy, curiosity, using non-judgemental language and active listening will help to address resistance. If necessary making adjustment in our approach in structuring our sessions, using different tools and techniques will help the coach to reduce the resistance.

When facing resistance from a coachee during a session, adjust the approach by fostering trust and empathy. Acknowledge their concerns and validate their perspective to build rapport. Pivot the discussion to explore the root causes of resistance and address any underlying fears or uncertainties. Offer alternative perspectives and examples to encourage openness to new ideas. Tailor the coaching process to their preferences and needs, allowing them to take ownership of their development journey. Flexibility and patience are essential in navigating resistance and fostering meaningful progress.

Resistance from a coachee can be a challenging hurdle to practical coaching sessions, but with the right approach, it can be overcome to foster meaningful growth and development. Start by acknowledging the resistance and then go deeper to understand its root cause. Is it due to a lack of trust, fear of change, or misunderstanding? I know the source, which can help tailor your approach. Once you understand better, adapt your coaching style to address the resistance. This might involve building trust, clarifying misunderstandings, or providing additional support and encouragement. Encountering resistance from a coachee is a common challenge in coaching, so you must still explore the resistance and adjust your approach accordingly.

Customisation is the key for any coaching. But for the high resistance clients, customisation has to be done during every phase. They should feel that the coaching is tailor made for them. The coach should be competent enough to bring in new models & get them into surprise. Self-reflection should be focused more

By linking ownership to personal growth through a values clarification exercise, coaches can uncover their fundamental value of "growth." This serves as a potent method to inspire coachees to seize the chance to enhance their skills and knowledge. Through exercises that enhance self-awareness, coaches can transform their perspective on failure into an opportunity for learning. This transformation empowers them to establish precise objectives and take charge of their career trajectory, thereby ensuring accountability for their advancement.

The coachee is empowered to identify the roadblocks, make choices, choose the best alternative through the coaching process and that creates a sense of ownership for taking actions as well as to combat resistance. The sense of ownership can foster intrinsic motivation, accountability, overcoming obstacles and achieving lasting change.

Ownership & accountability should go together for the client. WIITFM (what is in it for me?) should be catered. If the client believes that the coaching is helping them, automatically they will start taking ownership & they will move forward. This will motivate them to achieve better & get better confidence.

In the accountability of implementation, certainly the clients would be asking or expecting support from the coach. At times withdrawal symptoms will be shown. During that phase appreciating them & motivating them can be done by the coach. Even if they go slow, the coach will help them & make them move towards their desired goals.

Offering genuine verbal praise and appreciation to my coachees emphasizes the significance of their progress, boosting their morale and reinforcing their commitment to achieving their goals. Tailoring tangible rewards, like handwritten notes, small gifts, or personalized milestone trackers, enhances the meaningfulness of my coachees achievements and ensures they are remembered. If possible acknowledging the successes of my coachees, whether within the organization or team, fosters a culture of appreciation and support, strengthening their dedication to continual growth and success.

As a coach it is important to provide consistent support to chachee when they show resistance. Reflecting, praising and celebrating milestones will help to boost their confidence. The support by coach helps to develop rapport, trust and diminish resistance and enhance their commitment for the desired outcome.

I allow them to take their time meanwhile I work to build a better rapport with them, I start find out what is something about which they are comfortable talking now and for sometime we can shift the topic by asking right question in empathetic gesture. That's how slowly when you will able to build good rapport and trust , client will overcome resistance.

The resistance is an opportunity for the coach to go deeper to explore what are the causes for the resistance, might be fear, negative beliefs, negative feelings/emotions. When observed resistance, asking open ended questions, showing empathy, reflection, rephrasing will help the coach to understand what is there below the surface. Helping the coachee to have insight about the roadblocks and how he can overcome them by the help of his values and strengths. This continuous learning and reflective process helps to address current as well as future resistance.

Resistance is a natural part of the coaching journey, signaling areas for deeper exploration and growth. Validate the coachee's feelings and perspective. Acknowledging their resistance can help build trust and open up the conversation. Delve deeper into the reasons behind the resistance. It could stem from fear, past experiences, or conflicting beliefs. Understanding the root cause can lead to meaningful breakthroughs. Embracing resistance as an opportunity for learning and growth can lead to transformative outcomes in the coaching relationship.

When encountering resistance from a coachee during a session, it's crucial to approach the situation with empathy and curiosity. Pause to reflect on possible reasons for their resistance, such as fear of change or feeling misunderstood. Listen actively and validate their perspective to build trust. Encourage open dialogue by asking open-ended questions and exploring underlying concerns. Use reflective techniques to help them gain insight into their resistance and its implications. Collaboratively identify potential solutions and adjustments to the coaching process to ensure their needs and goals are addressed effectively.

If there is resistance, then it's also a great opportunity for the coach to think differently & do different things. The way of questioning can be changed or different models can be brought. If a coach can be comfortable on the table, certainly the resistance will be limited

The resistance is the internal response of many factors Lack of trust, comfort & connect Having fear or insecurity Personal ego not allowing Thinking we know everything Lack of awareness towards coaching If these can be reflected, a coach can drill deeper & get better output from the client.

Um ponto importante a ser considerado em casos de resistência durante o processo de coaching é o momento atual do coachee. Realizar perguntas abertas e objetivas sobre o momento atual, exemplificar os fatos observados que est?o dificultando o processo, como por exemplo a resistência em realizar a a??o proposta pelo mesmo na sess?o anterior, podem contribuir para a obten??o de uma vis?o mais clara e objetiva sobre o tema. Nesse aspecto, o nível de escuta do coach precisa estar bem ativado para conseguir realizar perguntas que auxiliem o coachee a passar pela fase de resistência e a seguir com o progresso em seu desenvolvimento pessoal.

Resistance can be the key to unlocking the coachee's progress. Use open questions and understand the reason for resistance. Reassure the coachee about the privacy and the safety of the session. Check if the objectives are still the same. Change the exercise and involve the coachee in setting up together the next steps of the meeting.?