Enjoy Yourself!

As I move towards the end of my coaching certification with Coach to Transform and after going through a host of peer coaching and client coaching sessions – if there is one thing I have realised as a coach, one has to learn to enjoy oneself when in conversation with their client. When I say this, I don’t mean that you should be laughing hysterically or jumping off the walls during your conversation with your client! Allow me to explain.

When I first started my peer coaching sessions, I realised I was putting too much pressure on myself. There was always a stress bubble in my mind – what question do I ask next? And because I was constantly thinking about what to ask next, I was hindered from doing probably one of the most important things a coach should be doing – being present in that moment with your client.

That’s when I decided to change things around a bit. I started putting less pressure on myself and concentrated more on being present in that moment with my client. When I did this, what I noticed was that the interaction just seemed to flow, it seemed easy and smooth. I did not have to think of a question to ask as I was being in the moment and that’s when I started enjoying myself 😊.

Today, with more sessions under my belt, the space I endeavour to create and hold for my client is a space that does not put pressure on me or on my client. It feels like two individuals having a conversation, rather than an interrogation. One of course has to be cognizant of the goal for the session and keep the conversation moving in that direction, but that does not mean that you cannot create a space where you enjoy yourself.

This is also where building rapport comes into the fray. The first couple of sessions for both the coach and client can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. As you move through the space with your client, not only do you get to know him/her better, but your client also gets to know you better. This rapport building contributes immensely to creating a space where you enjoy yourself in the process of change and discovery along with your client.

The world as we know has flipped its head over the last two years. Individuals have a huge amount of stress, pressure, issues, and strains to deal with. When they come to you as a client, don’t make your space another source of stress for them or for you. If you can facilitate a journey for your client bringing about developmental behaviour change and have you and your client enjoys the process, you end up making a few people just that tad bit happier.