UNPACKING ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 1: COACHING RELATIONSHIPS

Building Trust

“Without trust there can be no coaching.”

Echeverria & Olalla, 1993

Trust is a obvious component of any coaching relationship. Read the article How Can a Coach Gain a Teacher’s Trust? by Elena Aguilar (Aguilar, 2013) and consider how the preparatory steps of empathy and setting intentions factor into building a trusting relationship.

List some ideas you have for building trust in a coaching relationship before clicking the button below.

  1. Cautiously gather background information
  2. Establish confidentiality
  3. Listen
  4. Ask questions
  5. Connect
  6. Validate
  7. Be open about who you are and what you do
  8. Ask permission to coach
  9. Keep commitments

Examples of Coaching that Builds and Maintains Relationships

  • Coaches use language that infers the person being coached is knowledgeable and will be an active participant in the process.
    • “We are meeting today to…. What do you think we should focus on during our work today?”
    • “Here is what I see as our purpose for today’s conversation, what are your thoughts?”
    • “When we talked during last week’s meeting, you said you wanted me to look at a common formative assessment that you developed.”
  • Coaches build and maintain rapport, collegiality, and confidentiality with the person being coached.
    • Language used is non-confrontational and friendly
    • Coach uses warm and open body language
    • Coach talks about both work related and non-work related topics

Reflection

What role does understanding differences make when building a coaching relationship?

How can empathy and setting intentions set the stage for a strong coaching relationship?

Why is gaining trust essential in building a coaching relationship?