Your coaching client doubts your feedback. How can you regain their trust and credibility?

It's always best to have an honest and open conversation with your clients. When they raise a concern, or have any doubt, then simply ask what makes them feel that way. Listen well, show Resoect and understanding, and respond accordingly. Perhaps it is only based on a misunderstanding, or you as a Coach have not communicated clear enough to give that trust. Come to a mutual agreement and understanding what can be done about it, so the client understands you want to work in their best interest, and help them getting the results they want and expect. Clear communication is always key.

One thing I've found helpful is getting curious. Sincerely curious. I agree that by asking questions to deepen an understanding of a different perspective is crucial.

The basics of coaching are 'raising awareness' and 'generating responsibility'. These aspects can be ensured if we help the client to choose the best thought process for him/her. In some cases the client will decide that our feedback may be important, in others not. And this different choice should not be seen as a "diminutio" of our value as a coach.

In my experience, regaining a coaching client's trust and credibility involves more than enhancing communication. Demonstrating transparency and openness can be crucial. Share the rationale behind your feedback, citing specific examples and evidence to support your points. Inviting the client to discuss their perspectives and concerns can also foster mutual understanding. Additionally, setting up measurable goals and tracking progress together helps to build trust through tangible results. This collaborative and evidence-based approach ensures that feedback is seen as constructive and reliable, strengthening the coaching relationship.

The most important skills in a coaching session is showing respect. And respect is not just a matter of communication but it's an attitude: if I respect my client during a coaching session, I can offer a feedback and leave him/her the free choice to listen it, reject it or decide to value it.

Tangible evidence can significantly bolster the impact of feedback. Presenting data or case studies offers clients a clearer understanding of how your advice applies to their specific situation, making your guidance more credible and actionable. This approach not only helps in convincing clients but also strengthens their trust in your expertise. By aligning your feedback with concrete examples or metrics, you demonstrate a practical and results-oriented mindset, which can be very reassuring for clients seeking effective solutions.

If my client is doubting my feedback, probably I haven't create yet a safe space for him/her where he/she can feels not judged. If I think that offering a feedback can be useful for my client, first of all I have to check with him/her if he/she thinks my point of view can be valuable for him/her, then I have to ensure that he/she feels safe to push back the feedback. The sense of autonomy of the client has to be reinforced "before" sharing the feedback, not after. And the first autonomy of the client is on accepting or not the feedback. The feedback has to be offered, not imposed.