Establishing Trust with a Resistant Employee

When the client (read the blog from Monday for details) is angry and resentful about coaching it calls for a skilled approach.  After listening to a client vent and asking them what they want only to learn the client is convinced there is no choice, a coach does have options.  One possibility is is to simply ask them, “If you did have a choice, what would it be?”  Alternatively, the coach can start at the beginning and explain that the reason they are there is to create opportunity for choices and to share the Code of Ethics because it explains confidentiality.

In the scenario described in the previous blog, the coach did just that – stated that they were there because the company wanted to keep the employee.  The employee was surprised, then disbelieving, and then cried.  The coach again gave them space to process.

When the employee was ready, the coach explained the coaching agreement and the Code of Ethics.  The coach took the time to ensure the employee understood that while the company was paying for the coaching, their confidentiality was protected.  The employee asked why the company was paying for a coach, and the coach shared that the company knew the employee’s performance had been excellent and believed it would be again.

The employee agreed to the coaching process.  In the next blog, read about the process moving forward.

Cathy Liska

For content specific to coach training and coaching, guest blog posts are welcome.

Most blog posts here are written or curated by Cathy Liska, Guide from the Side®, CDP, MCC.

Cathy is CEO/Founder of the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC. As Guide from the Side®, she is a sought-after trainer and coach with over 30 years of experience in business management and ownership. Cathy built her diverse team at CCC that includes trainers, customer service, and coaches. She was Co-Leader for ICF’s Ethics Community of Practice, on the Leadership Team for the review and updating of the Code of Ethics in 2024, and active in the Ethics Water Cooler. To ensure she stays current in related areas of expertise, Cathy has earned the following: ICF’s Master Certified Coach (MCC), Certified Coach Trainer, Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Grief Support Group Facilitator, Certified in the Drucker Self-Assessment Tool, Certified Apartment Manager, Certified Civil and Family Mediator, and Certified in DISC.

Cathy’s clients range from attorneys to corporate executives, government to nonprofit, entrepreneurs to children, under or unemployed to newly retired. She specializes in communication, management, conflict, and leadership. Her personal mission statement is “People.” Cathy is known for her passion to serve others so they achieve the results they want.

Podcast: https://www.coachcert.com/podcast.html

Publications: Coaching Perspectives (a series of books with chapters by coach training graduates) https://www.coachcert.com/resources/recommended-reading/coaching-perspectives-series-by-the-center-for-coaching-certification-and-more.html

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