Episode 134: What to Do When Clients Don’t Know What to Talk About

In this episode, we’re exploring what to do when your coaching client doesn’t know what they want to discuss in a session. I’ll share the most common reasons this happens and the processes I use with my clients in each of these situations.

134: What to Do When Clients Don't Know What to Talk About

"I don't really have anything to talk about." As coaches, we need to be prepared to hear this response. It happens more often than you might anticipate, and it's not always bad. Before rushing in to try to fill the space or problem solve, remember it's our job to step back, get curious, and ask questions.

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Show Notes

“I don’t really have anything to talk about.”

As coaches, we need to be prepared to hear this response. It happens more often than you might anticipate, and it’s not always bad.

Before rushing in to try to fill the space or problem solve, remember it’s our job to step back, get curious, and ask questions. Once we understand their why, we can meet our clients where they are and help them make the most of their sessions.

In this episode, we’re diving into the craft of coaching, specifically what to do about the three most common reasons clients say they don’t know what to talk about in session. I’ll also share two less typical reasons you might get this response and the processes I use in each of these situations with my clients.

Topics covered

  • Recognizing when it’s time to slow down and meet your client where they are
  • My process for helping a client work through feelings of overwhelm
  • Taking the time to celebrate our clients when they’re in a good place
  • How you can help your clients connect their successes with their actions and overall goals
  • Offering your clients the opportunity to discuss topics outside of the usual framework
  • How to approach a coaching relationship with a client who doesn’t want to be there
  • Helping your client make the most of the coaching experience

Resources mentioned

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TRANSCRIPT

 

Well, hello, my friend. Welcome to the Coach with Clarity Podcast. I am so glad you are here today with me. My name is Lee Chaix McDonough, I'm your host. And here on the Coach with Clarity Podcast, we dive into all things related to your coaching practice. Some episodes, we look more at the business side of running a coaching practice. Other episodes, we really dive into the craft of coaching, and that is where we are going to start today. One question I get asked quite a bit by the members of the Coach with Clarity Collective, or from my private coaching clients is “What to do when you have a client who doesn't have anything to talk about?” They come to session, and you start things off by asking them what they want to explore today. And they say, “Yeah, I'm not really sure I don't really have anything to talk about.” This happens more than you might anticipate. And it's not always a bad thing. But as the coach, you do need to be prepared for this response to your opening question of what would you like to talk about today. And before we rush to try to fill the space, or problem solve, we first need to understand where this unknowing or not knowing is coming from. Because there are a few different reasons why your client may not have anything to talk about during today's session, we need to get to the bottom of that. Because once we understand why, then we can better meet our client's needs, and meet them where they are, so that we can make the most of our session together. So that's what we are going to explore today we're going to look at what to do when your client comes to session, and says that they don't really have anything to talk about. When I think about my own coaching experiences with my clients, when this has happened, it's usually because of one of three reasons. 

 
 

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