If you’re a new coach, you probably recognise the quiet anxiety that creeps in after a session – “Did I really help them?” You replay conversations, question your techniques, and wonder if your client walked away any better than they arrived. It’s a feeling most coaches know all too well.

I remember exploring this topic in supervision many years ago, yet I still have to remind myself: it’s not my job to give value – my role is to create the conditions for value to emerge.

Coaching isn’t about delivering wisdom like a parcel. It’s about building a space where your client can think, see themselves clearly, and make choices that feel true to them. That space – the safety, curiosity, and challenge you bring – is the value. You’re not the hero of their story, you’re the guide who helps them uncover their own answers.

That said, it’s natural to want proof that you’ve made a difference. The good news is that you don’t have to guess. Ask.

And you don’t need to leave it until the end of the session, keep checking in with your client:

· Is this conversation useful?

· What have been your insights so far?

At the end of a session, ask simple questions like:

· What was most useful about today’s conversation?

· What are you taking away from this session?

You’ll hear directly how the client is processing your work together – and sometimes their answers will surprise you. The question you asked that felt clumsy, might have been the exact question they needed to hear.

Also, remember that value doesn’t always show up immediately. Coaching often plants seeds that take time to grow. A client might reach out months later saying, “That session changed everything for me.” You may never even know the impact you’ve had – and that’s ok.

If you find yourself obsessing over whether you’re adding enough value, pause and check your intention. Are you trying to prove yourself, or are you being fully present with your client? The first comes from fear; the second from trust.

So, the next time doubt whispers, remind yourself, coaching is a partnership. Value is co-created – your curiosity, empathy, and skill meet your client’s openness, honesty, and courage. That’s where transformation happens.

And if you’re showing up wholeheartedly, listening deeply, and holding space for your clients’ growth – you are already adding more value than you think.

Helen Isacke, founder of Trusted Coach Directory is also an EMCC Accredited Coach Supervisor. As a reflective partner, Helen works with coaches who are keen to learn and grow on a professional and personal level through exploring their client work and coaching practice. With 20+ years’ experience of professional coaching, Helen brings a wealth of experience having trained in various coaching models including NLP, Clean Language, FIRO Theory, TA101 and a range of profiling tools.

If you would like to find out more about how Helen, her rates and how she works as a Coach Supervisor, please get in touch to arrange a call [email protected]