Oct. 13, 2025

The Secret Power of Silence in Coaching

Send us a text Ever feel uncomfortable with silence during a coaching session? You’re not alone, but here’s the secret: silence is where the breakthroughs happen. In this video, we’ll explore “The Secret Power of Silence in Coaching” and how embracing those pauses can transform your coaching conversations. You’ll discover why silence is such a powerful tool for your clients to think deeply, process their thoughts, and uncover their own answers. I’ll share practical strategies to help y...

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Send us a text

Ever feel uncomfortable with silence during a coaching session? You’re not alone, but here’s the secret: silence is where the breakthroughs happen. In this video, we’ll explore “The Secret Power of Silence in Coaching” and how embracing those pauses can transform your coaching conversations. 

You’ll discover why silence is such a powerful tool for your clients to think deeply, process their thoughts, and uncover their own answers. I’ll share practical strategies to help you stay present when silence feels awkward, along with the key mindset shift every coach needs to make. Plus, learn how to avoid the common mistake of jumping in too soon and interrupting your client’s most profound moments of clarity.

Whether you’re a new coach learning the ropes or a seasoned professional refining your craft, this lesson will help you master the art of creating space for your clients to explore and grow. Remember, silence isn’t empty—it’s where breakthroughs are born. 

What’s your experience with using silence in coaching or even in everyday conversations? Share your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights and stay tuned for lesson six, where we’ll teach you how to ask deeper, braver questions to help your clients achieve real transformation. Your next coaching breakthrough starts here!

Interested in an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the lessons we’ve learned by watching real coaches grow? Visit us at:

https://www.modernleadership.us/mastery



Chapters

00:00 - Why Silence Feels Uncomfortable

00:21 - The Value of Pauses in Coaching

00:51 - When Coaches Jump In Too Fast

01:16 - Staying Present Through the Pause

01:43 - Aha Moments and Next Lessons

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.600
Silence can feel so uncomfortable when you're first starting out.

00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:06.719
Why do you think new coaches start to fill in the pauses?

00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:10.400
Because they think that silence means there actually something's wrong.

00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.960
But in reality, it's actually where your client does the most important thinking.

00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120
So when you first start teaching coaches how to coach, they like to fill in that silence.

00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:20.960
But here's what I like to remind them.

00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:25.519
Silence actually allows your client to process and to think deeper.

00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:31.280
And if you talk too soon, you actually interrupt what your client could have discovered in the process.

00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:36.240
That's why getting comfortable with silence is a skill that every coach needs to learn.

00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:37.280
Think about this.

00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:42.960
If they already had the answer on the top of their mind, they would have already been doing what they need to do.

00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:51.200
Asking them a question and letting them explore and process it will not only help them find their answers, but get them to buy into those answers as well.

00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:54.479
That's why today's quote is silence isn't empty.

00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:56.719
It's where the breakthrough is born.

00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.000
So what does it look like when a coach jumps in too fast?

00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:08.719
They ask a question, and once a second goes by, then they start kind of like sharing their play by play, their behind the scenes, their answer to the question.

00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:13.519
It's kind of like they feel so uncomfortable with the silence that they have to fill it with something.

00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.400
And most often not, that is not helpful for your client.

00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:20.799
So how do you personally stay present when it might feel uncomfortable?

00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:28.239
Whenever I ask a question and they take a pause, it reminds me that I must have asked them a powerful question because they actually have to think about it.

00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.400
Then I just give them time to explore it.

00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.359
If I see them even starting to rush, I'll let them know.

00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:34.319
Take your time.

00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.239
Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to find that true answer inside of you.

00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:40.159
And I give them that time in that space.

00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.519
What happens for the client when they get past that space?

00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.799
They have the most powerful aha moments ever.

00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.560
Remember, aha moments aren't typically when you tell someone something.

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.959
It's when you ask them a powerful question and they connect the dots in their brain.

00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:06.239
So the next time you ask a question and there's a pause, not only in your coaching, but maybe with your family, maybe with a friend, allow the silence to be there and allow the person to explore it.

00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.199
You're going to be amazed at what comes out as a result.

00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:14.560
Now, if you missed episode number four, we talk about taking you out of your client's story.

00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:16.159
And that's a critical piece.

00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:23.039
Today we talked about the power of allowing for silence and allowing your client to explore and find their answers.

00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:28.879
Now, this leads us to lesson number six, which is how to ask braver questions.

00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:34.400
Because if you actually want your client to achieve something new, you have to be willing to ask them something deeper.

00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:38.000
Stay tuned because we're going to teach you that in lesson number six.