People from all walks of life gravitate to the profession of coaching.

Many are service oriented and find joy in helping others achieve their dreams. Some enjoy the entrepreneurial aspect of owning their own business and having the freedom to work with as many or as few clients as they desire. Still others work in corporate organizations and have been tasked with coaching others.

Regardless of why one comes to coaching, the mindset of the coach is the foundation on which great coaching occurs. Here are three fundamental coaching beliefs to ensure your best possible mindset.

Trust that the person being coached is resourceful, capable, and brilliant. A coach’s job is to bring forth those qualities so that the client can move toward achieving their goal.

Believe that people can change. Even those most resistant to change can grow and learn. It is the job of the coach to believe for the client until they can believe on their own.

Show up fully present and ready to engage. The people you are coaching are overwhelmed, tired, scared, excited, nervous, joyful, distracted—sometimes all at once! As a coach, how you show up can make a huge difference.

Even when these beliefs are present, how do you create the proper mindset? A little bit of self coaching can go a long way. Here are five techniques that can help.

1. Take a deep breath. Now take another.
2. Ask yourself: “How do I want to show up for my client today?”
3. Read your notes, remind yourself of what your client is focused on, and be ready to discuss it.
4. Greet your client with joy. Look FORWARD to coaching!
5. Say to yourself: “My client is fabulous. We are going to have a great coaching session today!”

Think of a coaching mindset this way: it is a perpetuating reality that you create for yourself. You get to choose what to think and how to feel. That mindset then becomes part of what makes you a great coach!

About the Author

Patricia Overland is a Coaching Solutions Partner with The Ken Blanchard Companies’ Coaching Services team.  Since 2000, Blanchard’s 150 coaches have worked with over 14,500 individuals in more than 250 companies throughout the world. Learn more at Blanchard Coaching Services. And check out Coaching Tuesday every week at Blanchard LeaderChat for ideas, research, and inspirations from the world of executive coaching.