The True Gift of Presence in Coaching

As the festive season approaches, many of us are busy wrapping presents, planning celebrations, and checking off endless to-do lists. 

It’s a time of giving, connection, and joy—but it’s also a time when distractions are at their peak. 

In the midst of the holiday rush, it’s easy for our attention to waver, even in our coaching practice. And while presents are delightful, in coaching, it’s presence that is truly priceless.

Presence—the quality of being fully engaged, attentive, and focused—is one of the greatest gifts we can bring to our coaching sessions. 

Yet, maintaining presence, especially during busy or stressful times, can be challenging. Whether it’s the pull of holiday plans, the buzz of a full calendar, or just the usual pressures of work and life, staying present in the coaching room takes conscious effort.

Supervision offers a space to reflect on presence—how we show up as coaches, what might be pulling our attention away, and how we can reconnect with our clients on a deeper level. 

This holiday season, let’s unwrap the importance of presence in coaching and explore how to keep our attention firmly on what matters most.

The Power of Presence in Coaching

Presence is more than just being physically there; it’s about being fully engaged, attentive, and responsive to the client’s needs in the moment. 

When we are truly present, we create a safe and supportive space where clients feel heard, valued, and able to explore their thoughts and emotions freely. It’s in this state of presence that the most transformative coaching conversations occur.

However, presence can easily be disrupted by internal and external factors. Distractions, stress, and personal preoccupations can pull our focus away from the client, even if just momentarily. 

During the holiday season, with its additional demands and festive distractions, these disruptions can be even more pronounced.

Signs that presence might be slipping in coaching include:

• Mind wandering: Your thoughts drift to your own to-do list, upcoming holiday plans, or unresolved issues, even while the client is speaking.
• Superficial listening: You hear the client’s words but miss the deeper emotions or unspoken concerns beneath the surface.
• Reduced responsiveness: You find yourself struggling to connect, pausing longer to respond, or defaulting to standard coaching questions rather than truly engaging with the client’s unique situation.

These moments of lost presence, however fleeting, can impact the quality of the coaching session, leaving clients feeling less understood or supported.

Eye 4: The Coach’s Internal Experience of Presence

Eye 4 of the 7-Eyed Model focuses on the coach’s internal world—the thoughts, emotions, and experiences that influence how we show up in the coaching session. 

Presence, or lack thereof, often originates from within. In supervision, coaches can explore what’s pulling their attention away and how they can bring themselves back into the moment.

Some reflective questions that might be explored in supervision include:

• What thoughts or worries are you bringing into the coaching space that might be distracting you?
• Are there particular times of year or personal circumstances that make staying present more challenging?
• How can you create a mental “reset” before each session to ensure you are fully engaged with your client?

By addressing these internal influences, coaches can become more aware of when their presence is drifting and take proactive steps to refocus.

Eye 1: The Client’s Need for Presence

Presence isn’t just about the coach—it’s also about meeting the client’s need for connection, safety, and deep engagement. 

Eye 1 focuses on the client’s experience, and in the context of presence, it’s important to consider how your level of engagement affects them.

Clients are often more attuned to the coach’s presence than we might realise. They can sense when our attention is wavering or when our responses feel less authentic. 

This can impact their willingness to open up, explore difficult topics, or fully engage with the coaching process.

Reflecting on the client’s needs for presence, supervision might explore:

• How does your level of presence impact the client’s comfort and trust in the session?
• Are there moments when the client seemed to disengage, and could this be linked to your own presence?
• What signals can you use to bring yourself back when you notice your attention slipping?

By attuning to the client’s experience, coaches can ensure that presence remains a priority, creating a more impactful and meaningful coaching relationship.

Eye 2: Tools and Interventions for Cultivating Presence

Eye 2 addresses the tools and interventions used in coaching, and maintaining presence requires both mindset and technique. In supervision, coaches can explore practical ways to cultivate presence and manage distractions, particularly during busier or more stressful periods.

Some strategies include:

• Mindful transitions: Before each session, take a few moments to clear your mind, breathe deeply, and set the intention to be fully present with your client.
• Active listening techniques: Practice reflecting back what the client has said, not just their words but also the emotions and themes you hear beneath the surface.
• Use grounding techniques: Simple practices like feeling your feet on the floor or focusing on your breath can help bring your attention back when it starts to wander.

Supervision offers a space to experiment with these techniques, reflect on what works, and develop new strategies for maintaining presence in every session.

Eye 3: Presence in the Coach-Client Relationship

The dynamic between coach and client is central to the concept of presence. Eye 3 focuses on the relationship, examining how the level of presence on both sides shapes the coaching experience.

Presence isn’t just about avoiding distractions—it’s about creating a genuine connection where the client feels truly seen and heard. In supervision, coaches can reflect on the relational aspects of presence, such as:

• How does your presence (or lack of it) affect the connection with your client?
• Are there moments when the relationship feels less engaged, and how might you re-establish presence?
• What relational cues can help you deepen your engagement with the client, even during busy times?

By exploring the relational aspects of presence, coaches can strengthen their ability to connect authentically, ensuring that each session feels meaningful and impactful.

Eye 5: The Supervision Relationship as a Mirror for Presence

Eye 5 looks at the relationship between the coach and supervisor, and it can serve as a valuable mirror for exploring presence. 

How the coach shows up in supervision may reflect how they show up with clients. If the coach struggles to stay present in supervision, this may be a sign that the same challenge is occurring in their coaching sessions.

Supervisors can help coaches explore these parallel processes, asking:

• Are you fully engaged in our supervision sessions, or do you notice your attention wandering here too?
• How does your presence with me reflect your presence with your clients?
• What insights can we gain from our own dynamic that might help you refocus your presence in coaching?

By addressing presence within the supervision space, coaches can gain greater awareness of their tendencies and develop strategies to enhance their engagement in all professional settings.

Conclusion: Unwrapping the Gift of Presence in Coaching

As we celebrate the season of giving, let’s remember that the most valuable gift we can bring to our coaching isn’t wrapped in a bow—it’s the gift of our presence. 

In a world filled with distractions, being fully present with our clients is a powerful way to foster connection, understanding, and meaningful change.

Supervision provides an invaluable space to reflect on presence, helping coaches stay attuned to both their own experience and the needs of their clients. By committing to presence—not just presents—we can offer our clients the greatest gift of all: our full attention, empathy, and engagement.

So this holiday season, let’s unwrap the power of presence in our coaching and supervision. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, not just during the holidays, but all year round.