EPISODE #9

WHEN CLIENTS WANT YOU TO BE SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT | AILA & BARB

with Aila Coats & Barbara Patterson
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About This Episode

When clients want you to be more structured, more forceful, more directive, or simply someone you’re not, what do you do?

In this candid conversation, Aila and Barb explore the moments when clients want accountability, pressure, or to go where you don’t believe will be valuable. Times when you see another direction is actually needed. Through real client stories, from high-performing leaders to Olympic-level athletes, they unpack why lasting change doesn’t come from force, fixing, or discipline. Even when the client thinks it does.

This episode is an invitation to trust your way of working, hold steady in your grounding, and remember that transformation happens most naturally when people feel safe enough to soften.

Thank you for listening!

Show NOTES

  • [00:00] – Navigating Client Expectations
  • [05:00] – The Journey to Deeper Understanding
  • [10:27] – Finding Joy in the Process
  • [15:45] – The Power of Appreciation
  • [21:18] – Creating a Supportive Environment
  • [26:42] – The Role of Compassion in Change

Show LINKS

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Meet Your Hosts

Aila Coats

A transformative coach, author of Coaching Teens Well, and creator of Coaching Well Mastermind, Aila has helped hundreds of coaches, parents, and leaders find their voice, serve deeply, and build thriving practices rooted in genuine connection. She’s known for her heart, wisdom, attunement, and ability to translate insight into tangible creation – helping practitioners embody what they teach in their own lives and work.

Barbara Patterson

Founder of Innerverse Global, Barb works at the intersection of human potential, transformation, and creation. Her work integrates spiritual intelligence with real-world impact — helping entrepreneurs, leaders, and practitioners bring awakening into their work and everyday lives. Known for her clarity, humor, and deep presence, she invites people into a direct relationship with their own knowing — and to live what they see.