Psychological Safety in Coaching

One of the great privileges of coaching is being trusted by the client. Where an individual might share amongst many things, their inner most thoughts, concerns, hopes and goals. Having worked with lots of clients over the years, I have frequently heard a common statement along the lines of ‘I haven’t shared this with anyone else’. Other professionals have shared that this is typical of their coaching relationships.

I believe that creating a space of psychological safety is the most important part of the coach: client connection. I’ve found the most successful conversations are where the client enters a world that they may have previously closed off or been afraid to explore. It is an opportunity to meet themselves in a different space and time and this can only happen where trust exists.

I have a few techniques that help create such a space.

1)?????Using the Coaching Contract to indicate coach and client expectations.

2)?????Reminding the client that I work within the EMCC guidelines.

3)?????Clarity on accountability of where the client and the coach can share what does/ not feel comfortable in the conversation.

4)?????Creating healthy boundaries.

An example for point 3, is the invitation to the client to take part in breathing exercises or an NLP activity as part of the coaching sessions. These are presented as offers and if there is an acceptance, the client still holds accountability on how they want the conversation to develop. If the offer is declined, I need to rely on other resources to enhance the conversation. Either way, the client must continue to feel secure.

Psychological safety is hugely reliant on having healthy boundaries. I have been in a situation where I had to close a contract because the client moved the conversation into ‘trauma-dumping’ and did not take ownership or accountability for their actions. This boundary was pushed, and I had to seek support from a Coaching Supervisor to help me navigate what I found to be a difficult situation. I was aware that I wasn’t qualified to help this individual in the way they wanted me to help them. It was also personally triggering, and this made the situation feel unsafe for both them and me.

Psychological safety for both the coach and the client must be at the center of the relationship. And if it isn’t right for either one of the parties, then the contract must come to an end. ?

As a Cross Cultural Psychologist, I also take into consideration culture; I am mindful on the delicate understanding of trust and how it has varying cultural nuances. Building a relationship with the client so I understand their world better requires me to step out of myself and challenge any ethnocentric biases I might have - taking time to learn about the client’s perception of trust. ?

To make sure I am on the right track, I’ve been lucky enough to check in with a Coaching Supervisor/ Peers. These associations keep me honest as a coach as I am encouraged to challenge myself and am reminded of my professional/personal boundaries as well as responsibilities. It is in this psychologically safe space that I am prompted to become better skilled at coaching.?

#coaching #leadershipcoaching #psychologicalsafety #coachingsupervision