Here are the resonses to the Linked In Group question with thanks to all of the contributors for their insights

What are the important personality characteristics of an effective coach ?

Jodi Wilson wrote:

Hi Peter;

I agree with the others who have said that respect, genuiness, listening, unconditional positive regard...However, I think all of these aspects become integrated and the biggest characteristic a coach has to have is the ability to build relationships with others that embraces the humanity (human aspects) of each person in the coaching relationship.

Jean Davenport wrote:

Peter,
What comes to mind for me...
Patience. Powerful listening, both intention and attention. Problem solving by the client not the coach.

Positioning: holding a huge space for the client to explore fully while genuinely believing that nothing is impossible. Passion for the work and the uniqueness of the client.

A smile and joy for the process!

Sara Easley wrote:

Fantastic question, Peter! Here are my thoughts:

(1) Ability to resist problem-solving, which is possible when you remind yourself of the golden rule of coaching… That the client already has the answer within. The coach's role is to introduce questions (and encourage exploration) to help the client tap into the potential answers.

(2) Ability to establish safety for the client to explore possibilities… starting to address untapped answers can be uncomfortable for some and downright scary for others. The coach’s role is to create a safe space for the client to explore, without judgment or ridicule.

(3) Patience and ability to allow the client their own time and space… sometimes the coach has to step back and provide the client some time to become comfortable with new options that have been uncovered. The coach must remember that this needs to be on the client’s timetable and at the client’s pace.

The above three are some of my greatest lessons as a coach but certainly not an all-inclusive list. Many of the previous comments connect with me as well.

To your best!
Sara Easley

Andreia Azevedo wrote:

I believe that the ‘respect’ for the other is crucial to the success of the coaching relationship. Only feeling that ‘respect’, the client can have a total delivery to the process. In an environment of trust and integrity, the client feels safe, unblocking many barriers, conscious and unconscious.
On the other hand, I consider very important the ‘self-confidence’ of the coach, which allows also his delivery to the process, as well as his farsightedness and effectiveness. Moreover, the own confidence of the coach develops and increases the self confidence of the coachee, in a strong and synergic process.

Shalini Verma wrote:

An effective coach is one who understands listening is more important than talking , believes everyone is capable of achieving more , is able to create the safe space for his client, is coachable himself, knows how to get out of his own way, does not have agendas when coaching, and has the capability to understand when the person's needs cannot be met by coaching and point it out to the client

Maxine Marshall wrote:

Great question! I have to agree with Carl Rogers when he says; genuine regard, empathy and congruence encourages a coach 'being in the room. It also takes away that feeling of having to rescue someone or having to have the answer. Trust oneself and the client, stop thinking about how I am doing and be present. Have the confidence to check in with the client and beleive that your client has the ability to create their future. And enjoy the process!

Kevin Horst wrote:

I agree with Andreia in that mutual respect would be the foundation for a lot of great progress. I think a basic level of charisma, warmth, and sympathy are going to be helpful at the beginning to start the process. A successful coach will be generous with time and advice, helpful but not baby-ing, and a bit of a task master at times. Open, creative, and somewhat detached might be other helpful personality characteristics in order to keep approaches and solutions in line with what will work for the particular client and the particulars of the coaching effort.

Frederic Schwaller wrote:

Hello, I think that listening and understanding it's paticipants in order to propose tools and methods to overcome difficulties allows to open mindsets to increase skills and creativity.

Gargee Banerjee wrote:

Hi, The key characteristic of a good coach is to gauge and understand the silent strengths of his pupil, also mould him in the right manner to help him to materialize the best in his career or business and doing all this in a very simple but effective manner.

Fabian Di Felice wrote:

Peter, Agree, great question. For me, on of the main characterisations of a good coach, is to be an outstanding "Listener". To be able to be there for the client integrally, not just "hearing", but involving all the senses.
Another particular skills a coach should have is to master "the use of silence": to learn to give the coachee space to build "aha" moments through respecting the power of those silences. This also means that the coach will need to be mature enought to control his/her own anxiety to "intervene or give advice".

Melissa Spiotta wrote ( via the CPN Coaching Practice Network):

Great question. I think first off I think being non-judgemental is important. There is a lot of diversity in the world and having an ability to be objective to differences is key. Of course, listening is critical...but not just for what is being said but for what is not being said. This is key because you need to read between the lines. I also think the ability to deliver messages is key. If you are coaching a client and they are not keeping up their end of the bargain, you need to be able to call them out professionally and help them to get back on track. Your purpose is not to scold them but to hold the accountable to the goals that they set for themselves. I think, among the many other characteristics I could say, that the last one I will mention is ability to build trust. Getting a client to feel confident enough to share the real deal with you isn't always easy. But if you have this skill it will happen pretty naturally.

Margaret Burnside wrote:

Its mainly about showing a real interest in the person and their coaching objectives, empathy, the ability to really listen, spot patterns for them, reflect back what you are hearing (not just what they've said but how they've said it) - most of all I find that its about creating time and space to think!

Liz Kentish wrote:

Great question! I believe the key thing is genuinely to care - about people and what's important to them. Keeping focused is obviously key during a coaching session, and as important is the ability to 'let it go' at the end of a session.

Eko Jatmiko Utomo wrote:

Flexibility and Humble.
As an effective coach you need a FLEXIBILITY to build rapport with your clients/coachees and to ease you making adjustment on the client's problem context, process and structure. HUMBLE, to keep you stay aware, coaching is about empowering your clients not about the coach him/her self.

Jeanne Schad wrote:

Courage and confidence are two personality characteristics which make a great coach. Courage is vital to asking the questions which need to be asked and not holding back out of fear of offending. Confidence goes hand-in-hand to stand behind the thought-provoking inquiries and live through the silence that often follows. While I agree with Mr. Utomo's comments about humility being an essential element. confidence can coexist with humility. The most powerful coaches I know are confident enough to get out of the way and allow the coachee to see things for him/herself.

Sharon Eden MA wrote:

Hi Peter... Thank you for a delicious  question! In answer...  Most of the above PLUS the ability to think
outside the box, come from the left field, throw a googly AND be skilled enough, courageous enough and loving enough
to respond creatively to their client's reaction or response in the service of their client's potential/greater good.