Maintains Presence
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded, and confident
Description
Maintaining presence means being fully engaged, attentive, and responsive to the client in the present moment. A present coach is not distracted by their own thoughts, judgments, or agenda. Instead, they remain grounded, flexible, and confident while tracking what's happening with the client. Presence allows the coach to notice subtle shifts in energy, emotion, or understanding. It creates space for intuition and enables the coach to respond authentically rather than from a script or formula.
Level-Specific Markers
Observable Behaviors
- 1
Is present and flexible during the coaching process
- 2
Accesses own intuition and trusts one's inner knowing
- 3
Is open to not knowing and takes risks
- 4
Demonstrates confidence in working with strong emotions
- 5
Shows comfort with silence and pauses to allow the client to think
Development Tips
Practice mindfulness meditation to develop presence awareness
Notice when your attention drifts during sessions and gently bring it back
Learn to distinguish your own emotional reactions from the client's experience
Develop comfort with silence by counting slowly to 7 before filling space
Pay attention to your body sensations and what they tell you about the session
Practice grounding techniques before sessions to center yourself
Reflect on sessions where you were most and least present to identify patterns
Study and practice emotional regulation to manage your own reactions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Planning your next question instead of listening fully
Getting caught in your own thoughts or judgments
Filling every silence instead of allowing space for client processing
Becoming reactive or defensive when challenged
Following a coaching script rather than responding to what's emerging
Allowing distractions (notifications, environment) to pull you away
Trying to fix client emotions instead of being present with them
Related Competencies
Sources
Related Learning Resources
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