Coaching Across the Divide: Holding Space in a Polarized World

The coaching relationship can be strained by differences in values, beliefs, or emotional responses. The recent rise in political tension underscores the need for strategies that help us anticipate and respond to these moments when they arise.
Tension is a constant reality in team and organizational coaching, where differing viewpoints, strong personalities, and internal politics are the norm—amplified by domain-specific biases and preferences. Drawing on the speaker’s 20+ years of experience in these settings, this session surfaces insights that translate across all coaching contexts.
Key Insights
– Recognizing difference as a normal part of coaching
– Seeing tension as insight, not threat
– Setting clear boundaries and checking in to stay aligned
– Translating group dynamics to 1-on-1 coaching
– Treating compatibility as dynamic and evolving