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As a coach you must follow the coachees agenda and give them what they want.

To be truly “Client centred” a coach should aim to ensure that the coaching conversation centres on the coaches agenda issues, opportunities and objectives. This is not always as easy as it sounds in theory but it is essential that as the coaching relationship progresses the coachee takes responsibility for their thinking, their decisions and actions. Not to do so would suggest that the coachee is relying on the input, ideas, solutions of the coach rather than working through their own agenda and options.

Issues arise here about seeking approval from the coach or looking for someone else (the coach) to provide “expert solutions” to the coachees’ problems (this is more typically what consultants provide). This can also indicate a lack of commitment or willingness to act on or implement a potential solution.

Occasionally in the early stages of a coaching relationship I have experienced coachees asking me what they should talk about at “their” coaching session. This tendency needs to be addressed early on if the coaching relationship is to be effective and of value.

Giving a coachee what they want and ask for is not necessarily the same as what they might need or benefit from. Whilst your role and position is to support them – it is not al all costs or on every subject. You must balance this support with appropriate challenge where necessary – which I often find comes best in the form of questions.

Ultimately it is the coachee’s responsibility to make their own choices and decisions and to think and act as they so choose – not just as you their coach would.