Your coaching approach is falling flat with a team member. How can you turn things around?

I beleive its an outcome of no/low pre-ework, there is a pre-requisite before start the important aspect of coaching. The first amd the foremost thing between coach and coachee is building trust, initial session(s) should be focus on creating a trust where a coachee is ready to receive even a tough feed back and he will start absorbing it because of the trust between the two. Beside this coach has to do a research about the coachee, about his strengths, weak areas, past behaviours and main events in life etc etc to make a plan before start the coaching process, and few more home work will.never fails this process.

It is important to humanize the process and outcomes of coaching. When we connect based on our shared humanity instead of titles, then we can genuinely listen to each other’s perspectives and engage in empathic communication. This would lead to authentic dialogues on what is working well and what needs to be revised while also encouraging both: self-reflection and constructive feedback.

Coaching is not one-size-fits-all, and sometimes your approach can miss the mark. But what if resistance could become the turning point for deeper growth? Shift Your Perspective: Instead of pushing harder, pause and ask open-ended questions to understand their viewpoint, which can reveal hidden barriers and create space for collaboration. Tailor Your Techniques: Adapt your methods to their learning style, hands-on practice, detailed guidance, or autonomy showing your responsiveness to their needs. Resistance can transform into receptivity with empathy and flexibility, turning obstacles into stepping stones for progress.

More often than not, "What we have here is, failure to communicate". Consider shifting to a more collaborative mindset. Ask them for feedback on your coaching style; what’s working and what isn’t. This opens the door to understanding their learning preferences and tailoring your approach to fit their needs. Focus on active listening and encourage them to take ownership of their development by setting their own goals. By making the process more personalized and less prescriptive, you can re-establish a stronger, more effective coaching relationship.

I've discovered that one effective way to transform resistance into openness is by establishing a connection with the person being coached. People tend to resist support or guidance from those they feel can’t relate to them or don’t understand their situation. Building that connection requires understanding and empathy.