Here's how you can establish trust and rapport with clients in a coaching interview.

By actively listening and being fully present, coaches foster a sense of trust, empathy, and understanding with their clients. This creates a supportive environment where clients feel safe to explore their inner thoughts and emotions. Coaches can then tailor their coaching approach to meet the unique needs of each client, guiding them towards meaningful change and growth.

Prepare Thoroughly: Understand your client’s background, industry, and specific challenges before the interview to show your commitment and professionalism. Create a Comfortable Environment: Ensure the interview setting is comfortable and free from distractions, whether it’s in person or virtual. Be Punctual: Start and end the interview on time to demonstrate respect for the client’s time. Be Authentic: Be genuine and transparent in your interactions to build credibility and trust.

Listen with the intent to understand (first), and then respond. This is challenging, especially if you are serving as the coach in the conversation. To ensure that you understand (first), play it back to them: "If I understand what you are saying, it is ____. Am I understanding you correctly?" If so, you can ask a follow-up question or two, and THEN respond.

Demonstrate Curiosity and Ask Questions: Show genuine interest in your client’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Curiosity helps you understand their perspective and build a connection.

If for example a client shares their frustration about struggling with work-life balance. Acknowledge Experience: You say, “It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle your job and personal life.” Express Genuine Concern: You add, “I can see how challenging this must be for you, and I genuinely care about helping you find a solution that works.” By doing this, you validate the client’s feelings.

Empathy is understanding, and don't confuse it with sympathy which is feeling sorry for the situation. You must be able to detach from the emotions it might create within you, and focus on what the person is experiencing. Ask questions about how the situation makes them feel, think and react so you can recognize what they are dealing with. Empathy then can be expressed with something like, "I can see how that would be very tough to deal with, I'm sorry you're going through this, and I'm grateful that you shared it with me." Depending on the relationship, I often then ask, "It is so cathartic to share challenges like this. Are you in a good place to talk about resolutions, or do you just want to share?"

Confidentiality and Integrity: Explain the confidential nature of the coaching relationship. Assure clients that their information will remain private and that you operate with integrity.

Leaders go first. If you are able and confident enough to go first by being vulnerable, it gives your colleague "permission" to also be vulnerable. Share how you got started as a coach, why you love it and what is challenging for you in the coaching relationship. Tell them how you work, how you communicate, what makes the sessions most effective, and how the process will help them. Ask them how that sounds and if they think that matches what they are looking for, and what they need from a guide.

Be Fully Present & Actively Listen: During coaching sessions, be fully present. Active listening involves giving your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact, and responding empathetically to what the client shares.

The balance of being confident but not cocky, assured but not arrogant, are two challenges when serving as a guide. Also, you must be able to maintain calmness without coming across as robotic. All of this requires a tremendous amount of self awareness, so if you haven't studied yourself thoroughly, go slow and careful until you see how your colleagues are responding to you.

Use Mirroring: Mirroring involves subtly matching your client’s body language, tone, and pace. It creates a sense of familiarity and comfort, enhancing rapport.

Avoid Being Judgmental: Create a non-judgmental space where clients feel safe expressing themselves. Judgment can hinder openness and trust.

I'm amazed at how few people can clearly articulate what they want and what they need. This is often a great place to start so they can see you guide them, and you can help bring them clarity on what winning means for them. When people say something like, I just want to be happier, I have no idea what that means, and the old saying is very true. If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there. Help them describe what "happier" means for them, and then start looking for things that support that path, and the things that are off of the path.

Accountability: Set clear expectations and hold clients accountable for their goals and commitments. This shows that you take their progress seriously.