Behind every transformative conversation is a coach who knows how to listen — to words, and to the spaces between them. Coaching is not about fixing. It is about witnessing potential and holding the mirror steady while the client begins to see.
The Human Foundation
As we work through our development as coaches, our skillset inevitably grows — and so does our awareness of what truly matters: presence, curiosity, and humanity.
This usually comes about when some time is taken to reflect on the qualities that have stood out to us as essential in becoming a great coach.
What Makes a Great Coach?
- High interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence
- Self-awareness and awareness of others
- Self-management
- Emotional resilience and personal power
- Flexibility and goal-directedness
- An invitation to trust
- Self-regard and regard for others
- Ability to foster interdependence
- Conflict handling
- Emotional expression and control
- A balanced outlook with realism
- Ability to build trust and manage relationships
The Listening Experience
Think back to a moment when someone gave you uninterrupted time to talk.
No advice, no interruption — just attention.
“I felt valued. The silence given to me allowed me to fill it with whatever I chose, without fear of judgment. I felt accepted. My voice counted for something.”
– Martha Ewas
That is how I felt at my most recent session this Wednesday.
This is the heart of coaching. It’s the permission to speak freely, to think aloud, to be seen without correction. Great coaches do not hold the answers — they hold space.
The Practice Behind Presence
Every great coach learns that the more they grow in self-understanding, the more effective they become in guiding others. Techniques matter — but temperament matters more.
As our sessions evolve, we tend to notice how trust, emotional regulation, and honest communication create real transformation. Coaching becomes less about doing, and more about being.
Key Learning Points
- Great coaches possess high interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence, blending self-awareness with emotional resilience.
- Flexibility, goal-directedness, and rapport-building are essential to maintaining effective relationships.
- True coaching presence is rooted in listening, empathy, and balance — not in advice-giving.
- Self-management and awareness of others shape every successful coaching session.
- Coaching mastery begins with the coach’s own growth journey.
Action Points
- Practice self-reflection after every session to refine your awareness of self and others.
- Strengthen your listening skills by allowing more silence and less steering.
- Build emotional resilience by recognising your own triggers and developing steady presence.
In Essence
What makes a great coach is not found in technique alone. It’s found in how we hold ourselves — steady, open, human.
The best coaches know how to be curious without intruding, confident without dominating, compassionate without rescuing. They create the conditions for growth — and then, they step back.
At Enasni, we believe great coaching begins with great being.