You've probably been told that being a "blank slate" as a coach is the professional way to go, but this couldn't be further from the truth. In this episode I challenge the notion that coaches should be clinical and robotic in their approach. You'll discover why building genuine relationships with your clients through selective self-disclosure is crucial for creating a safe, trusting coaching environment. Whether you're a new coach struggling with how much of yourself to bring to sessions or an experienced practitioner looking to deepen client connections, this episode reveals practical insights about showing up authentically while maintaining professional boundaries. You'll learn how sharing relevant personal experiences, especially when working with neurodivergent clients, can build powerful bridges of understanding without turning the session into a one-sided story.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

05:44 Bring your whole self to coaching but be mindful of the impact on clients; have regular supervision.

07:17 Distinguish between sharing for empathy and self-focus; use it to build bridges.

09:47 Build those relationships with trust and safety,

About Ruth Kudzi:

Ruth is the founder of Optimus Coaching Academy and a well respected and successful coach, speaker and author who has worked across sectors including leadership, career and more recently business and mindset. She has over 10,000 coaching hours and has completed hundreds of hours of training and coaching supervision. Ruth is a MCC level coach with the ICF and is our course director and CEO. Prior to becoming a coach Ruth was a senior leader in education.

Find out more here: https://ruthkudzi.com/

Book:How to Feel Better: 4 Steps to Self-Coach Your Way to a Happier More Authentic You eBook : Kudzi, Ruth: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Connect with Ruth:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ruthkudzi2/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthkudzi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ruthkudzicoach

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkudzi/

About Optimus Coach Academy:

Optimus offers best in class coaching training for individuals and corporates.

If you want to know more about what we offer: https://optimuscoachacademy.com/coach-training

We also offer business support as standard at Optimus, find out more here: https://www.optimuscoachacademy.com/

Connect with Optimus Coach Academy on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Optimuscoachacademy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimuscoachacademy/

Linkedin:

Ep 192: Why Being You as a Coach Matters

The Coaching Hub Podcast