You're an executive coach with a new client. How do you get them to trust you?

Trust is the doorway to everything you hope to accomplish with a new Executive Coaching client. My newest client began our first session by saying “Hi, Jim” and then immediately broke down in tears. This happens sometimes, especially when they’ve been searching for answers so long that all they have left is this liquid language of the heart. It’s a holy moment for me. Nothing needs to be said - just a holding of this safe space until the tears are done and our work together can begin. The longer I do this work, the more I believe that enabling another human to feel truly seen and truly heard may actually be the greatest impact of Executive Coaching. There will always be time for strategies and insights, once heartfelt trust is built.

In my experience, I have never heard of a person hiring a coach that they did not already trust, even somewhat through reputation/referral. My first conversation is never by digital means. I have a Zoom call where I can profile them as we talk. You see, I must trust them before I worry if they will trust me.

You don't "get" them to trust you. You converse with the new client, giving the client space to open up at the client's pace. It's not your agenda: it's the client's. Once you try to "get" them to do something, however lofty or basic, it's no longer the client's agenda, but yours. That is "coaching" at its worst.

Building trust with a new client as an executive coach is crucial for establishing a successful coaching relationship. Establish rapport: Begin by getting to know your client on a personal level. Active listening: Demonstrate that you are fully present and attentive. Confidentiality: Emphasize the confidentiality of your coaching relationship. Authenticity: Be genuine and transparent in your communication. Demonstrate expertise: Showcase your credentials, experience, and success stories to establish credibility. Set clear expectations: Clearly outline the coaching process, including the frequency and format of sessions and expected outcomes. Follow through: Honor your commitments. Empowerment and support: Show empathy and encouragement.

To build trust with a new executive coaching client, begin by being fully present in your interactions. Listen deeply and empathetically to understand their perspective, demonstrating genuine interest in their challenges and goals. Create a safe, non-judgmental space where they can express themselves openly. Be transparent about your coaching process and what they can expect. Show that you respect their confidentiality and boundaries. Gradually, through consistent, empathetic, and authentic interactions, trust will naturally develop, laying the foundation for a successful coaching relationship.

Every coaching assignment can only take wings when there is a feelingbof trust and psychological safety. As a Coach, one needs to make all endeavours to build such an atmosphere in the shortest possible time. Be authentic, listen genuinely and actively, be present for the client, do not ever come across as judgemental.

Being non-judgmental is fundamental here and demonstrating that you are respectful and give space in the relationship is key. This can be done by showing you listen, give space and allow the Coachee to take their time to think and listen to their own thoughts.

Trust is the foundation for any long-lasting relationship. And when it comes to coaching, your client trusts you with confidentiality, the outcome, and the quality of the coaching process that they will experience. You build trust when you are genuine about who you are and what you offer. It reflects on your way of communicating, your commitment to your promises, the way you treat others, and the testimonials that you have received from clients with whom you have worked.

You have to demonstrate that you will do what you said you would. If you need to change the time of a meeting, do it in good time with plenty of notice and be respectful of their time. Always be there for them, and if you've said you are available outside of your meetings/calls, then make sure to respond as soon as possible.

Reliability is the cornerstone of building trust in any coaching relationship. In my experience, clients value consistency and dependability above all. Setting clear expectations and meeting them establishes a pattern of trustworthiness. I've found that when clients see you as reliable, they are more open to sharing and engaging in the coaching process, which leads to more effective outcomes. Transparency reinforces trust and respect in the coach-client relationship, especially when things don't go as planned.

I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. I love this quote from Dr Suess as it really captures the whole aspect of keeping your word. Trust is built on being reliable and doing what you say you are going to do, or complete with your mentee or client. If you are consistent then I believe this paves the way for deeper and greater engagement in the future.

clients are more likely to trust and confide in a coach who is willing to be authentic and vulnerable themselves. This authenticity paves the way for deeper insights, meaningful breakthroughs, and lasting transformation. It's through this authentic connection that true growth and empowerment can flourish.

An example of support critical coaching is affirmation and even more important-acknowledgment! Don’t bring it back to your own (coach experience) but acknowledge what the client is saying with focus on the experience.

Support is the bedrock of trust in coaching. It's about being there for your client every step of the way, offering guidance, encouragement, and resources to help them reach their goals. By recognising their strengths, values, and motivations, you empower them to thrive. Challenge them to grow, but also cheer them on as they progress.

Start by establishing a good rapport with the Client. Enable an honest and trustworthy relationship by communicating your expectations accurately and clearly to the Client. Listen actively to the Client's concerns and build a clear and smart action plan with the Client and stick to the feedback rigor.

being professional and understanding the good from bad critical for any open honest and transparent relationship. The onus is well and truly on the mentor to extol the virtues of this and demonstrate the best version of this possible. It adds gravitas to how you go about things with your client but reassures the mentee that you have their welfare and those around them in mind. I cannot stress the word professional and whilst familiarity can break down barriers and everyone becomes relaxed, and friendly, a set of guiding principles are important to ensure that the relationship and its core are maintained in the highest possible standards. Ethical has a partner called respect - they work together as a tag team to help deliver quality 1 on 1's

During the chemistry meeting, establish ground rules for confidentiality, emphasizing the importance of a safe and trustful environment. Demonstrate your presence and commitment. Collaboratively set expectations by contracting on the topics to be discussed in the session and the engagement overall. Actively listen, ask insightful questions, foster awareness, and summarize key points. Conclude by checking in with the client to see that their needs have been met and address any additional concerns.

As an executive leadership coach, I've learned through experience that establishing trust with a new coaching client begins with my unwavering attentiveness and engagement. I engage deeply by posing thought-provoking questions and showing sincere interest in their experiences and aspirations. I share insights and stories that mirror their struggles, reinforcing my dependability, ethical integrity, and commitment to privacy. Recognizing their achievements and providing candid, constructive feedback further solidifies trust. This trust flourishes when clients feel genuinely understood, valued, and supported on their developmental journey.

The foundation of coaching and related transformations that happen are based on mutual trust..the chemistry meetings opens up doors to knowing the coachee and background, setting the context, setting the coaching agreement, schedules and way ahead...in all sessions the coach expressing that information shared In the session will be kept confidential builds up trust.. The more the robustness of the trust, the more coachee opens up and shares deeper aspects of his core being. The coach showcasing emotional maturity and being non judgemental and expressing willingness to be " available" for the coachee also builds trust .if the coach is also a accountability partner , meeting the time and priority expectations of the coachee builds trust

Clear contracting covering boundaries, confidentiality and ways of working is key to creating a container where trust can be built. That is essential. However I think it is then in the quality and consistency of your presence over time that a client comes to know and trust their coach with themselves, their vulnerabilities, the sides of themselves they are less proud of, as well as their strengths and achievements. I guess in summary trust is achieved through a mix of logistics, processes and relational presence.

Show not tell: start caring about what they care about. Cover the practicalities but also be transparent about your process as a coach. Share your reflections on their request for coaching; this gives them a feel for what the co-created space might be like.