The power of compassion: Building stronger coaching relationships with empathy and recognition
As coaches, consultants, or client-facing professionals, we often find ourselves laser-focused on overcoming challenges, solving problems, and driving results for our clients.
But in the pursuit of value and transformation, there’s one crucial element that many of us overlook—compassion.
The problem is that we can get so caught up in tackling the obstacles that we forget to recognise the progress our clients are making.
Without this recognition, we risk creating a pressure-filled, transactional dynamic where clients feel frustrated and unsupported.
It’s easy to miss the fact that acknowledging effort and success, even in small doses, can be a game-changer.
So, what’s the payoff of injecting compassion into your coaching?
When you make a conscious effort to show compassion, you strengthen the trust and bond with your clients.
You create a more positive, productive environment where your clients feel seen, valued, and more motivated to achieve their goals.
In fact, it can make your coaching more impactful and fulfilling for both you and your clients.
In this article, I’ll share four key strategies for incorporating more compassion into your client relationships—approaches that will help you foster better communication, deeper connections, and greater success.
These aren’t just theories; they’re practical methods I’ve used with hundreds of professionals.
Let’s dive into them.
1. Express specific recognition
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to show compassion is through specific recognition.
As a coach, you’re in a unique position to understand how hard your clients work to achieve even small wins.
However, it's easy to forget how significant those wins are for them. Instead of vague praise like “good job,” offer more detailed feedback.
For example, you might say:
"It's been awesome to see you consistently turning up to your calls and meeting deadlines. This is exactly what’s helping us make real progress."
This approach shows your client that you’re paying attention and that you value their effort, which builds their confidence and reinforces positive behaviours.
2. Encourage self-compassion in your clients
Coaches often focus on what needs to be fixed, but it’s equally important to encourage your clients to reflect on their own progress.
Ask them questions like:
"What are you most proud of since we last spoke?"
This invites them to take stock of their achievements, but watch out—many clients will slip into the “yeah, but” mode, immediately moving on to what didn’t go well.
Gently guide them back to the positive by saying something like:
"We’ll get to the challenges, but first, I’d love to hear about the progress you've made."
This helps clients see that their journey isn’t just about fixing problems but also about acknowledging growth and success.
3. Random acts of compassion
Not all recognition has to happen during coaching sessions.
In fact, some of the most impactful moments can come from an unexpected message.
You might find yourself thinking about a client outside of work hours—why not drop them a quick note of encouragement?
Something as simple as:
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"I just wanted to let you know that the work you’re doing is inspiring. It’s tough, but you’re sticking with it, and I love seeing that."
These small, random acts of compassion show your clients that you’re invested in them beyond the formal coaching sessions.
It’s a way of showing that you genuinely care about their progress.
4. Foster team recognition
If you’re working with teams, you have an opportunity to foster peer recognition, which can be incredibly powerful.
Encouraging team members to acknowledge each other’s contributions creates a culture of support and positive reinforcement.
Before a team session, you could say:
"Before we dive into today’s work, I’d like each of you to recognise someone else on the team for something specific they’ve done well."
This not only builds morale but strengthens the team’s sense of unity.
Plus, it can set a positive tone for the session, making it easier to tackle the harder conversations that follow.
Over to you
Compassion isn’t just a “nice-to-have” in coaching—it’s an essential part of building trust and achieving better results with your clients.
Whether it’s offering specific recognition, encouraging self-reflection, sending a random message of support, or fostering a culture of team acknowledgment, these strategies will help you create more meaningful, effective relationships.
So, your challenge this week: take one of these four ideas and put it into practice.
Start with something small.
Write down one specific achievement for each client you’re meeting this week, and make a point of acknowledging it at the start of your session.
Or, send a random message of encouragement to a client who’s been working hard.
Let me know how it goes—what worked, what didn’t, and how it impacted your relationships with your clients.
Share your thoughts in the comments; I’d love to hear your experiences.
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Chris.
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