My First Coaching Session: Lessons from Awkward Silence
My first real coaching session?
Awkward. Uncomfortable. Mostly silent.
I had all these questions
prepared, ready to shine. But when we began, the client went silent. I
panicked. My mind raced: Should I talk more? Fill the gap? Ask another
question?
But something told me to wait. To
breathe. I sat with the silence.
After what felt like a century,
she finally spoke. Slowly. Thoughtfully. Her words revealed years of buried
emotion. By the end of that session, she thanked me. Not for my brilliant
questions. But for the space I held.
That day, I learned one of the
most powerful coaching lessons: silence isn’t awkward. It’s sacred.
What’s one skill you learned only by doing? Write your answers in comments.
Curious about how to listen deeply? These reads changed the way I hold space. Check them out here.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Go to Books for Coaching
🌟 1. "Co-Active
Coaching" by Henry Kimsey-House et al.
A gold standard in coaching, this
book teaches how to empower clients by balancing listening, intuition, and bold
action. It shifts coaching from solving problems to unleashing human potential.
Link to Buy the Book - https://amzn.to/4lQdcWh
🌟 2. "The
Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier
This book turns everyday
conversations into powerful coaching moments using just seven simple questions.
It's practical, witty, and perfect for busy leaders who want to coach more by
talking less.
Link to Buy the Book - https://amzn.to/4jx5NcT
🌟 3. "Coaching
for Performance" by Sir John Whitmore
A classic that introduced the
GROW model, it’s essential for anyone serious about performance and
transformational leadership. Whitmore shows how great coaching sparks clarity,
responsibility, and results.
Link to Buy the Book - https://amzn.to/3Ys1maR
Comments