“Before we speak, before we act, before we even agree—there is energy.”
— Marianne Williamson
Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the energy of coaching. This quote speaks directly to that experience—and more broadly, to the energy present in any relationship.
In the coaching profession, we’re trained to listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and co-create meaningful agreements with our clients. But long before any words are spoken or goals are clarified, a more subtle layer is already at play: energy.
Even before a client walks into the room—or joins the Zoom—I’m tuning into my own energy, cultivating presence, and preparing to meet the client where they are. I want to be attuned to their pace, to walk alongside them. I listen for the pause between breaths before something vulnerable is shared. I notice the hesitation or tonal shift that hints there’s more beneath the surface.
Energy—and my awareness of it—is an essential partner in coaching. It’s often the felt sense of truth, resistance, possibility, or alignment—long before anything is named.
Sometimes, when the “helping reflex” kicks in, we may be tempted to use our energetic awareness to peer deeply into the client, to sense what they need, and to lead them toward a solution. But that’s a misuse of energy in coaching—and a violation of the mindset with which we approach our profession.
When we attune to energy, we’re not trying to decode or fix it. We’re simply present with it. And in that presence, a transformational space opens. From there, everything else—trust, awareness, growth—can unfold more naturally.
Energetic awareness enhances our ability to embody each of the ICF and NBHWC coaching competencies. And beneath them all, I believe, runs a quiet undercurrent—an invitation to sense what’s present before we reach for what’s next. Our ability to read these currents carries us beyond transactional coaching and into the river of mastery.
Masterful coaches are like river guides—reading the flow of energetic currents, sensing subtle shifts, and trusting that the client will know when to steer, when to drift, and when to pull to shore. Our attunement opens the space for clients to dive into their own inner wisdom — if they choose — and later surface with pearls of transformation. This is sacred work.
When we coach from this deeper place, agreements don’t just define what we’re working toward—they honor who the client is becoming. And from that place, transformation isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.
If you’re curious about the energy of coaching, I’d love to hear from you. This reflection is one of the reasons I created the Tuning into Transformation course. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments
