Productive Coaching Relationships: Establish Trust and Set Goals - Heidi Steiger
In my work as an executive coach, board director, and transformational change agent, one guiding principle has remained constant: trust is the foundation of any meaningful relationship. Especially in coaching, where vulnerability and growth go hand in hand, trust isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
As someone who has spent decades leading in the boardroom and advising entrepreneurs and executives, I’ve seen firsthand that meaningful transformation doesn’t come from strategy alone. It comes from having the safety and support to explore what’s holding you back, and the courage to step into what’s possible. That’s why, when I begin working with a new client, my first priority is co-creating a relationship that feels safe, open, and real.
In this video, I talk about how I approach the coaching relationship — from establishing confidentiality and trust, to ensuring that there’s real chemistry and a shared sense of purpose. Coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the process only works when both coach and client are aligned in curiosity, goals, and mutual respect.
“So when I’m coaching a client, the first thing I like to do is co-create the relationship with the client. That means really establishing a level of trust so that we can be open. It’s almost like an attorney-client privilege — there will be no discussion of what we talk about outside of the session.
The client should feel free to express whatever concern they have, in a safe environment. It’s also about deciding if the chemistry is correct — if I can really help them. I should be able to establish the goal, the objective, and the topics that matter to the client.
How do I display curiosity about the client’s relationship with the topic? How am I being supportive to the person in their journey? How do I champion the topic?
In the end, the client should feel open to achieving whatever their goal is — and they should be able to understand what change looks like for them.”
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