Last updated on Jul 1, 2024

You're faced with a client asserting dominance. How can you maintain control as their business coach?

As a business coach, you may occasionally encounter a client who exhibits dominant behavior, challenging the dynamics of your coaching relationship. Maintaining control in such situations is crucial to effectively guide your client towards their goals. It's about setting boundaries, establishing respect, and ensuring that the coaching process remains productive. Remember, your role is to facilitate growth and learning, not to engage in power struggles. By demonstrating confidence in your expertise and fostering a collaborative environment, you can navigate these challenges and continue to provide valuable support to your client.

1 Establish Boundaries

Establishing clear boundaries early on is essential in any coaching relationship, especially when dealing with a dominant client. It's important to communicate your role as a coach and the expectations for both parties. This includes setting limits on behavior that is considered acceptable during sessions. By being assertive and professional, you can demonstrate that while you are open to collaboration, you will not tolerate being undermined or disrespected. This sets the stage for a balanced relationship where your expertise is acknowledged and your guidance is valued.

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Khalid Hussain Mir

Digital Strategist | Business & Marketing Consultant | Sustainability & Circular Economy Advocate | Top Linkedin Voice
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Maintaining control as a business coach when faced with a client asserting dominance involves establishing clear boundaries from the outset. Clearly define the scope of your role, expectations for behavior and communication, and the coaching process itself. Assert your expertise confidently but respectfully, emphasizing that coaching is a collaborative process where mutual respect is essential. Encourage open dialogue while gently redirecting conversations back to productive topics when necessary. By maintaining professional boundaries and a structured coaching approach, you can guide the client effectively while fostering a respectful and productive coaching relationship.

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2 Assert Expertise

When faced with a dominant client, assert your expertise confidently. You have valuable insights and strategies that can help them succeed, so remind them of your qualifications and the successes of your coaching methods. By reinforcing your role as an expert, you encourage your client to view the coaching relationship as a partnership where both parties contribute to achieving the client's goals. Confidence in your abilities will naturally command respect and discourage attempts to undermine your authority.

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Alia El Khatib

The 1-Hour LinkedIn Playbook: Book Calls & Sign High-Ticket Clients with Conversation-Based Selling 🚀Sales & LinkedIn Corporate Trainer | Ask me how
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Asserting expertise as a business coach involves confidently guiding the client towards understanding that coaching is a collaborative process. By demonstrating deep knowledge and experience in their field, coaches can establish credibility and trust, fostering a balanced coaching relationship where both parties contribute effectively to achieving goals and resolving challenges. This approach helps maintain control by steering the client towards productive outcomes while respecting their input and perspectives.

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3 Communication Skills

Effective communication is key when dealing with a dominant client. Listen actively to their concerns and validate their perspectives, but also be clear and direct when expressing your own thoughts. Avoid being confrontational; instead, use "I" statements to convey your messages without triggering defensiveness. For example, "I notice that when we discuss X, there seems to be tension," instead of "You're being difficult about X." This approach maintains control of the conversation while keeping it constructive.

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4 Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is your ability to understand and manage emotions—both yours and your client's. When a client tries to assert dominance, it's essential not to take their behavior personally. Instead, use your EI to navigate the situation calmly. By staying composed, you can de-escalate potential conflicts and keep the focus on coaching objectives. Demonstrating emotional control also sets an example for your client, showing them the power of composure in challenging situations.

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5 Collaborative Approach

Adopt a collaborative approach by involving your client in the decision-making process. This gives them a sense of control without compromising your position as a coach. Encourage them to set their own goals and create action plans, while you provide guidance and accountability. This empowers your client, making them more likely to respect your input and less inclined to assert dominance, as they feel their contributions are valued and integral to their success.

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Bryan Powell, PCC, CPBA, CPMA

Executive Leadership and Team Coach I Top Voice LinkedIn - Team Leadership, Personal Coaching and Business Coaching I Forbes Coaches Council Member and Contributing Author I ICF Ignite Global Ambassador
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In my experience coaching business owners and entrepreneurs it is essential to build a foundation of trust and curiosity so that there is nothing "broken to fix" as it is about enhancing their skills. At times, there are blind spots that can appear and if you have established a solid partnership, it will enable you as a coach to challenge perceptions, current ways of thinking, and advance their abilities to choose different paths. Focus on empowering your client through open and objective discussions so that you can support their growth in reaching closer to their full potential as they live into their roadmap of success.

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6 Reflect and Adapt

Finally, take time to reflect on each coaching session and be willing to adapt your approach if necessary. Consider what is working well and what could be improved, especially in terms of handling a dominant client. Maybe a different communication style or session structure could yield better results. Continuous self-improvement shows your client that you are committed to providing the best possible coaching experience, which in turn can help reinforce your authority and control as a coach.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Bhavya K.

Helping you Grow your Personal brand = Grow Your Business | Business + Personal Branding coach | Public Speaker | EO Uganda
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In my early days as a business coach, I encountered a client who was highly assertive and often tried to dominate our sessions. I quickly realized the importance of establishing clear boundaries and asserting my expertise to maintain control. By leveraging strong communication skills and emotional intelligence, I was able to build a collaborative relationship. This experience taught me the value of reflecting and adapting my approach to ensure both the client's and my own goals were met effectively.

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You're faced with a client asserting dominance. How can you maintain control as their business coach?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Establish Boundaries

2 Assert Expertise

3 Communication Skills

4 Emotional Intelligence

5 Collaborative Approach

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Coaching

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You're faced with a client asserting dominance. How can you maintain control as their business coach?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Establish Boundaries

2 Assert Expertise

3 Communication Skills

4 Emotional Intelligence

5 Collaborative Approach

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Coaching

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