Inside Coaching #3 – Everyone wants a great coach, but what makes a great coaching relationship?

Hey there ツ

I’m back today to answer more of your questions on coaching - to shine some light on the practice and share my insight on how to develop a coaching posture!

So far, we’ve gone over what professional coaching is (cf Inside Coaching 1 ) and seen how three main factors restrict equal access to coaching for more than 99% of you (cf Inside Coaching 2 ).

That brings us to today’s question: everyone wants a great coach, but what makes a coaching relationship great?

It’s another key question. Over the years I’ve spent coaching hundreds of professionals from all walks of life, I’ve come to the conclusion that successful coaching relationships are based on these 6 essential qualities:

• Trust

Trust is at the core of every coaching relationship. It’s what allows us to share openly and achieve a certain level of intimacy between coach and client. Trust begins with the guarantee of privacy and confidentiality, and can only be established with crystal-clear ethics and a contractualization of the ways of working between a client and coach.

• Care

Care and compassion are the backbones of a coaching relationship, in which coaches are present for their clients, allowing them to be their authentic selves without fear of judgment. A coach should have a deep understanding of the client as a person, in order to provide the right level of companionship and accompaniment, keeping sight of everything that’s been shared and connecting the dots between past, present and future stakes.

• Impact

Impact is what drives the coaching relationship, and allows both client and coach to assess the progress made toward a specific goal defined together. Clients need to experience tangible change and growth resulting from the work, and this comes from providing relevant and acute insight to support and challenge the client on their journey and ultimately helping them undergo a positive change.

• Expertise

Expertise is crucial within a progress-driven coaching relationship, meaning a coach must bring a certain level of understanding, experience and proficiency to the client’s specific and ever-changing challenges. This expertise can be expressed through appropriate questions, feedback, mental frameworks, a set of various and rich techniques, content, and exercises, shared with the client at pivotal moments along their ride.

• Pleasure

A coaching relationship should give the client a sense of gratification and ease because it feels adjusted to their specific context and needs. In order to get the most out of their coaching experience, and to stand the test of time, the client should perceive the relationship as beneficial and ultimately enjoyable. Not just another box to check off on the list.

• Accessibility

Accessibility within a coaching relationship means clients can count on their coach to be present when they need them and guarantee a frame for the work that's done together. It comes from aligning the ability to define the right frequency and intensity of your interactions, and the possibility of adjusting them anytime, in a simple and natural but structured way.

In my view, these 6 characteristics are the pillars of a healthy and high-impact coaching relationship. And I also believe they can be achieved outside traditional 1:1 coaching.

By harnessing the power of multiple coaching brains empowered by tech, Wave ensures that these principles are not only upheld but enhanced, providing a new standard of coaching of excellence.

At Wave, you are known only as your alias in order to guarantee your anonymity, providing a safe space that protects your confidentiality so there’s no need to hold back. And thanks to tangible and measured progress with records of your takeaways and insight, we’re not just taking you on a journey, we’re leaving you with a map so you can replicate success again and again.

Each of your interactions with Wave is built on what has come before, meaning that details are never forgotten, connections are always explored and empathy is the basis of all your communication with an A-team of field experts who ensure an unparalleled level of knowledge and know-how.

Your interactions with Wave are tailored-made and your experience is fully personalized given your coaching goals and preferences. Your coach is always at the tip of your hand. No matter your schedule, Wave is there for you.

So if you’d like to try?Wave ?and get a better sense of what this coaching relationship like no other can bring to you, please?like and comment?and I’ll be happy to offer you a gift via DM to benefit from 3 months of coaching at a discounted price ツ

Next week’s?Coaching Insight?#4 - "Everyone believes that coaching sessions should be live, so why is Wave changing the paradigm?" - Stay tuned ツ