Trust Flows Naturally like River

 

A river doesn’t force its way through a mountain—it carves its path over time, with patience and persistence. That’s exactly how trust builds in coaching conversations.

I remember a colleague at one of my previous workplaces who rarely spoke about personal matters. Every conversation was surface-level, guarded. I never pushed. Instead, I simply showed up—listening, sharing, and being present. One day, unexpectedly, he started opening up. What changed? She knew she wouldn’t be judged.

People open up at their own pace. Just as a river flows steadily, trust grows when there’s space to be heard. You don’t need to force it. Just be there, and when they’re ready, they’ll flow into the conversation naturally.

I usually tend to practice this by telling my coaching client to just let the conversation take shape on its own and allow the space.