The art of coaching

Coaching is not about having the right questions. It is about giving your client 1 hour of your life. Listening unconditionally without judgment. The coach's main concern should be the clients performance, not her own. Don't start to act as a consultant, don't come up with solutions. Give the client an hour of silence that they can fill themselves; as a coach you are totally there for your client.

The client in control

Clients are in control of their own coaching and learning process. As a coach I don't set the agenda, I ask 'what would you like to be coached on today?'. How much the coach has the desire to 'help' the client, it is the client's life and he or she doesn't want to live my life. It is totally unimportant what I myself should do, should I be in the same situation as my client. I don't come up with solutions, I listen very carefully to what is being said (and what not) instead.
Very important is the ability to be non-judgemental. Our judgements and opinions are about ourselves and our own life-journey, not about the person being coached.