Our presence with clients has a powerful impact on them, both in modeling a way of being, and in creating a deeply meaningful relationship that can lead to transformation for the client. What exactly is coaching presence? In addition to the ICF definition above, coaching presence requires us to ‘dance in the moment’ with our clients, trust our intuition and take risks without always knowing what the outcome will be.

Coaching presence also involves the use of humor to create lightness and energy. In their book The Art of Possibility, Benjamin and Rosamund Stone Zander explain Rule Number Six: Don’t take yourself so seriously. According to the Zanders, practicing this rule allows the pure expression of our creative nature to be revealed. Practicing Rule Number Six is not only liberating for us as coaches, it gives our clients permission to take themselves less seriously. It also encourages them to take risks in their own lives without necessarily knowing the outcome.

Coaching Mastery Illustration
Diane, a seasoned coach and professional speaker, was hired by a Fortune 500 company to coach one of its top executives on his presentation style. John, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, was preparing to speak before the company’s 3,000 employees from a particular region at their annual convention. The purpose of the speech was to inspire the group to strive for excellence in the coming year. The problem was that John’s style of presenting lacked the power to inspire others. Diane knew that John was a brilliant man who was deeply committed to his work and to the organization. However he fell flat when presenting to large groups. Diane’s coaching approach is to assist each of her clients to connect to their speaking voice in a way that feels authentic to them and simultaneously engages the audience. This was a tall order in working with John!

During the initial preparatory coaching conversation, Diane helped John recognize the connection between the speech’s significance, his delivery, and the impact on the audience. One of John’s core values is ‘making a difference’. As a result of their conversation, John had an ‘aha’ moment---he realized that his delivery of the speech would honor that value by inspiring the employees to be their best selves at work. Diane observed John’s response to this insight and asked him where he felt it in his body. He immediately placed his hand over his heart. He told her that he sensed an opening in his heart and was aware of something much greater than himself. Diane felt very moved by John’s response. The challenge was to help him connect his mind, heart, and spirit with his voice in delivering the speech.

Dancing in the moment, Diane asked John about his favorite orator. John thought a moment and said, “Martin Luther King because he so eloquently expressed his passion through his voice.” Practicing Rule Number Six, Diane stood up and did her best Martin Luther King imitation. She and John laughed together as Diane revealed another side of herself to John. She then made a request of John to do his best imitation of Martin Luther King. He stood up and recited a portion of “I Have a Dream”, another demonstration of Rule Number Six! Diane’s presence enabled John to be vulnerable and open, allowing him to tap into his true voice. They were now ready to focus on John’s speech.

The outcome: After delivering his speech, John received a standing ovation from the audience!

Key points to remember: