I once had a team member that would challenge every one of my coaching tactics. He wouldn’t listen, would speak out loud to others about his disagreements with me, and would basically “infect” my team with a small dose of his attitude. My coach at the time asked me something so simple it didn’t seem as profound to me at the time but almost like I was ignorant. He asked, “Have you asked him his preferred method of learning?” Interesting as it was, I realized I had been doing most the talking. Telling him instead of empowering him to learn and have input. The next meeting I wrote out some questions, took notes, and really listened. The coaching didn’t change over night but as I stayed consistent in this manner I began to see change.

Sometimes, I need to emphasize their current situation, then sharing my plan about new approaches and "what's in it for them" and ask their points of view. As my experiences, in any cases people feel hard to accept the changes because they're unclear about what will happen. Good preparations , being patient and well presentation in the right times are useful. Hope these are helpful for you!

When I notice a team member resisting my coaching approach, I start by acknowledging that it's completely okay to feel uncertain. I lean into active listening, asking open-ended questions like, "What part of this doesn't feel right for you?" or "How can we adjust this approach to better suit your style?" I remind them that coaching is a collaborative journey—they're the expert in their own life, and I'm here to support, not dictate. I share relatable examples and invite them to co-create small, actionable steps so we can gradually overcome the resistance together. Meeting them where they are, validating their feelings, and working together to unlock new possibilities is the ideal.

IMHO, coaching is 2-way and won’t be effective if one party is not in full alignment with the other. Understanding the best approach that is acceptable by all parties is a must. This could be achieved by having an open minded communication with full transparency and understanding. Once cleared, a win-win situation will be achieved