|
In my last newsletter, I wrote about trust — and the paradoxical fact that it isn't earned simply by being trustworthy. A person is trusted by another only when that other is willing to take the risk to trust — and that risk is taken before they can be confident it's reasonable. The challenge, then, is creating a space where that risk feels safe enough to take. More than anything else, genuine curiosity creates that space.
The curiosity coaching develops communicates a desire to understand not just what someone has said but who they are and what deeper insight lies behind what's been said. My go-to analogy: the curiosity a coach works to develop is like that of an adult talking with a child who has just shared a drawing. The adult asks about the drawing — not to critique its quality but to better understand the young artist. "Ah, a dragon. What sort of dragon?" The goal is to see the world through the eyes of the artist. Coaching curiosity works the same way. Questions aren't waiting for answers that can be assessed. They open doors.
This kind of curiosity isn't simply a skill but a way of engaging the world — open, genuinely interested, ready to be surprised by what the other person actually has to say. With enough of it, people slowly stop wondering about subtext, strategy, and hidden agendas. They become more thoughtful, more willing to acknowledge tensions, uncertainties, and hopes. That openness is what makes genuine progress possible.
Becoming a coach is less about learning scripts and strategies than about developing a different way of being with others. One small practice that opens a surprising amount of space: when someone finishes sharing a concern, ask simply, "Is there more?" That question signals that what they have to say is valued, that more time and attention are genuinely on offer. It begins to lay the groundwork for the trust necessary for fruitful working relationships, because the person taking the risk to trust feels safe to do so.
And thus, the way to demonstrate trustworthiness is through curiosity.
____________________________________________
At LifeBound, we offer coaching training that develops exactly this kind of presence — and we'd love to have you join us in our next cohort.
To learn more or explore which option is right for you, visit www.lifebound.com.
| 
