Deepening Your Coaching Impact: Exploring the Power of Working in the Here and Now
What Does it Mean to Work in the Here and Now?
As coaches, we aim to be fully present with our clients, but what does this really entail? Working in the Here and Now goes beyond active listening or surface-level awareness; it’s about deeply engaging with what is happening between you and your client at this exact moment. It requires a certain level of responsiveness and attunement that invites clients to explore the underlying beliefs, emotions, and reactions that shape their interactions.
When we work in the Here and Now, we’re tapping into a layer of insight that can have a transformative impact. This approach allows us to not only see what our clients are saying but also to pick up on unspoken dynamics, revealing new pathways for growth that may otherwise go unnoticed. In our upcoming 90-minute session, we’ll unpack how you can harness the Here and Now to create richer, more impactful coaching sessions that foster genuine change.
What You’ll Discover in This Session
This interactive workshop is designed for coaches eager to elevate their practice by embracing presence as a coaching tool. Through real-life examples and practical techniques, we’ll explore how “Working in the Here and Now” can bring a fresh perspective to your client interactions. Here’s what you can look forward to
1. Understanding What “Working in the Here and Now” Means
“Here and Now” presence is about responding to what’s happening in the present moment, for your client, in yourself and between you. Often, this real-time responsiveness brings insights that wouldn’t emerge through a typical coaching agenda. Imagine a client expressing frustration with a challenging team member. Instead of focusing solely on the narrative, what if you were to notice and explore the way they express that frustration with you, right here in the session? Their tone, body language, and emotional intensity might reveal patterns in how they communicate under stress, providing rich material for exploration.
This approach can transform a seemingly routine session into one that uncovers deeper emotional truths and behaviour patterns. By training ourselves to engage with clients in this way, we become attuned to subtle shifts, bringing clarity to unexamined beliefs and actions. It enables us to coach the person, not just the issue they bring.
2. Benefits of Using the Here and Now
One of the greatest advantages of this approach is its capacity to bring immediate observation, feedback, clarity and perspective. Clients often come to sessions with a complex mix of thoughts and feelings, and focusing on the present moment helps them cut through that mental clutter.
Some key benefits include:
Enhanced Awareness: Working in the present encourages clients to notice and articulate emotions or thoughts they might otherwise ignore.
Real-Time Learning: Rather than discussing hypothetical scenarios, clients gain direct experience with their patterns and how they affect their interactions, together with the coach’s feedback.
Immediate Application: By practicing awareness in the session, clients begin to understand how they can apply these skills in their own lives, leading to more confidence and effectiveness.
In other words, this approach allows clients to address issues as they arise rather than dwelling on past situations or projecting future outcomes. This can be especially helpful when working with clients who struggle with procrastination or fear-based thinking, as it brings a grounded focus to their current challenges.
3. Practical Tips, Techniques, and Watchouts
Working in the Here and Now requires a unique skill set that goes beyond traditional coaching methods. In our session, we’ll share techniques for staying grounded and attuned so you can use your presence effectively in real time.
Here are some examples of the techniques we’ll cover:
Mindful Observation
Holding Silence
Reflective Inquiry
We’ll also discuss potential watchouts, like becoming too focused on your own thoughts or unintentionally projecting your feelings onto the client. Working in the Here and Now demands a level of self-awareness that allows you to discern between your own emotions and the client’s. In this way, you ensure that the session remains client-centered, with your presence serving as a supportive tool rather than a distraction.
4. Working with Strong Emotions in Real Time
When a client experiences strong emotions, such as frustration, sadness, or even resistance, it can be tempting to steer the conversation toward something lighter. But heightened emotions are often where the deepest insights lie. In this session, you’ll discover ways to create a safe space where clients feel empowered to sit with these feelings and explore them constructively.
We’ll discuss techniques for working with intense emotions while keeping the session grounded, such as mirroring and gentle inquiry. By developing your ability to hold space for strong emotions, you help clients build their resilience and emotional intelligence, enabling them to face challenges with greater confidence.
5. Linking Presence to Core Coaching Competencies
Presence in the Here and Now isn’t just a tool; it’s a foundational element that enhances our core coaching competencies. From building trust and listening actively to fostering client awareness, staying fully present enriches each aspect of the coaching relationship.
This alignment with core competencies makes working in the Here and Now an invaluable skill for ethical, powerful coaching.
In our session, we’ll connect the dots between the Here and Now approach and competencies like:
Trust and Safety: Clients feel seen and valued when you’re fully present, fostering trust and encouraging openness.
Active Listening: Presence enhances your listening skills, allowing you to notice subtleties that add depth to the conversation.
Fostering Client Awareness: Working in the moment helps clients see their thoughts, feelings, and reactions more clearly, making it easier to recognise patterns and make meaningful changes.
Taking the Next Steps: Integrating Here and Now Presence into Your Practice
To make this approach a natural part of your coaching, it’s essential to practice integrating it into your sessions. In this session we’ll provide guidance on how you can begin incorporating Here and Now practices immediately.
Ready to Elevate Your Coaching Practice?
If you’re eager to develop a deeper understanding of presence and learn how to leverage it to create more impactful client experiences, this session offers a practical, hands-on introduction to the Here and Now approach. Through live examples and discussion, you’ll develop your skills to bring greater awareness, resilience, and clarity to your client interactions.
Join us for this 90-minute interactive workshop and discover how working in the Here and Now can unlock new levels of insight and transformation for your clients—and for you as a coach.
Kate Jennings