Coaching is only as strong as the relationship behind it, so here are a few thoughts to help set us up for success. What follows is a look at how I approach coaching, what you can expect from me, and how we’ll work together to get the most out of our time.

What to Expect in Coaching

You set the agenda.
This is your time. You’ll decide what we focus on both across the arc of our work and in each session. I’ll help you track what’s showing up over time, surface patterns, and prioritize what’s most pressing. I may bring something to the table, but where we go is always up to you.

I won’t have your answers but I will earn the right to ask the real questions.
My job isn’t to tell you what to do. It’s to ask the questions that unlock something deeper—clarity, insight, movement. Sometimes I’ll offer ideas, frameworks, or feedback, and I’ll let you know when I’m shifting into that mode.

We’re partners.
I’m not here as a boss or a subordinate. We’re equals in this process. And if something ever feels off in our dynamic, we’ll name it and work through it together.

What Makes This Relationship Work

Confidentiality
Everything you share with me stays with me. I won’t share that you’re a client or discuss our work without your permission. That said, I encourage you to bring others into your growth. Clients who share their insights with trusted colleagues or mentors often create more momentum.

Accountability
You're accountable to yourself, not to me. I’m here to help you keep the commitments you make to yourself and to honor the ones we make to each other. That starts with being on time and ready for our sessions—on both sides.

Honesty
There is no learning without honesty. I want your honesty about what feels uncomfortable, when you feel skeptical, and why you didn’t do the thing you said you were going to do. There’s data in there that’s important to work with. I’ll be as honest with you as I’m asking of you. I will name it when I hear an assumption. I will name it when I hear a contradiction. I will name it when I see you’re fired up. I will name it when I see you’re flat. I hold all these observations lightly so you tell me what’s right and what’s not. I name it in the spirit of your discovery. 

Play
Sometimes, what helps us get unstuck is stepping out of our default mode. I may invite you to play a little and name something like your inner critic or your Inner Radio, so we can relate to it with more clarity (and maybe even humor). Play helps us give our creativity some oxygen, shift perspectives, and make room for more resourceful choices.

During Our Sessions

I draw on my sales background, because selling isn’t just for salespeople.
Before coaching, I spent years in enterprise sales. I’ve found that many foundational sales skills—like listening for what’s unsaid, understanding decision-making dynamics, and making a clear ask—are surprisingly useful in leadership and life. Whether you're influencing others or trying to get yourself to do the hard thing, we’ll use those strategies to support your growth.

I may interrupt you.
I want to spend our coaching time on helping you discover something new, not rehash what you already know. Some context is necessary, but if I think we’re veering into less helpful territory I will jump in and ask “What’s the bottom line?” or “What’s important to you here?” because I want coaching to be an effective use of your time. Sitting back and letting you talk for 15 minutes recounting a story is timid and lazy coaching. Most clients appreciate the nudge, and yet I don’t want jumping in to be perceived as rude or cutting you off. 

Everything is a suggestion.
Any feedback or advice I share is a suggestion. You can say yes, say no, tweak it, or ask for time to think. There’s no pressure to agree, only an invitation to explore.

It’s okay to pause.
We don’t have to fill every moment. Some of the most powerful coaching happens in the stillness. You might pause to reflect, gather your thoughts, or take notes. I’ll do the same.

After a session

At the end of each session once we’ve spent time exploring different perspectives and facets of a topic, I’ll ask you what you want to experiment with between now and the next session. You get to decide. My promise is that I’ll check in on that commitment next time to see what you learned.  Sometimes I’ll send along an article or resource that connects to something we talked about. These resources are optional—no homework. Take what’s helpful, skip what’s not. And if you ever want to talk more about something I send your way, I’m always up for that conversation.

Let me know if anything here feels off or sparks a question. Think about what you need in order for this coaching relationship to be successful. Coaching is a collaborative process and we’ll shape it together as we go.