Holding the Focus in Coaching: Becoming the Client’s Compass

Coaching is a steady, unwavering compass that helps the client find their own true north.

“Holding the focus” is one of the most vital and transformative roles a coach plays. It’s the compass we bring to every session—the consistent commitment to our client’s chosen direction, values, and agenda, even when they (inevitably) get pulled off course.

Clients bring courage, energy, and intention to coaching—but also fear, confusion, and old patterns. They may drift, doubt, stall, or spin. When that happens, the coach gently points them back toward their own true north.

This is more than managing time or conversation. It’s about helping clients live in alignment with what they say they want. And when done well, it can shift a session from surface-level chatter to transformational insight.

Holding the focus in Co-Active Coaching means staying loyal to the client’s agenda, even when they forget it. Especially when they forget it.

This requires artistry: the presence to track their emotional and energetic shifts, the intuition to know when to redirect, and the courage to challenge lovingly when they drift. Whether a client is verbose, scattered, or sidestepping the real work, our role is not to control the journey but to honor the direction they’ve chosen.

Let’s explore how coaching skills like bottom-lining and intruding help "hold the focus" in client scenarios representing different thinking styles or self-distraction habits. 🧭

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