Few coaches or coach trainers would disagree with the claim that relationship is a crucial component of coaching. All too often, we talk about relationships without thinking more deeply about what they actually are or what actually is meant by a “good” relationship, other than an ill-defined feeling. In one-on-one coaching, there are (at least) two relationships that must be nurtured: our relationship with our client, of course (“Establishing trust and intimacy”), but also our relationship with ourselves (“Coaching presence”}. Systems theory, brain research, and positivity help us engage with clients more productively by clarifying what it takes to relate to one another:

• We often think of our relationships as webs—but webs of what?
• Our brains (yes, plural) are distributed throughout our bodies. What does that have to do with presence?
• Positive emotional interactions encourage openness and intimacy. Why and how?
• How can we resolve the paradox that mutual respect requires respect for both parties, but we have no control over whether the other respects us?

Linda J. Page is a coach, coaching educator, educational innovator, counsellor, author, and international lecturer.

She is Founder and President Emerita of Adler Graduate Professional School (AGPS) in Toronto, Canada, serving as President from 2004 to 2017. AGPS offers an accredited Master of Psychology degree and professional coaching, psychotherapy, and counselling education. Adler’s Professional Coaching Program was the first in Canada to be accredited by the International Coach Federation. From 2007 to 2011, Adler and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto co-sponsored the development of Certificates in Leadership Coaching, a series of programs to promote leadership development among organizations, their leaders, coaches, and coaching students. Dr. Page became an Adler Certified Professional Coach in 2002. From 2014 to 2017, she was President of the Graduate School Alliance for Education in Coaching, a standard-setting body for graduate-level coaching programs, of which ADLER was a Founding member.

In presentations and publications, Dr. Page promotes the integration of theory, research, and practice in helping professions. With David Rock, Dr. Page co-authored Coaching with the Brain in Mind: Foundations for Practice (Wiley, 2009).