We are excited to share with you the next interview in our “Beyond the Page” series featuring Marlee Carlos.
Trust isn’t a nice-to-have in coaching; it’s the engine that powers real change. Gary sits down with coach and author Marlee Carlos to unpack why trust in the client, the process, and ourselves transforms conversations from advice-giving to insight-building. Marlee names the three crutches that quietly derail sessions—expertise, experience, and control—and explains how even well-intended guidance can shift focus away from the client’s agenda.
Together we explore what it looks like to coach from trust: asking useful questions instead of perfect ones, noticing the urge to advise, and creating small experiments that build new habits. Marlee shares her five-step path—pay attention, name one opportunity, set the vision, test it out, refine and build—and shows how human-centered design principles like prototyping make behavior change practical. You’ll hear simple tools you can use today, from WAIT (Why Am I Talking) to sticky-note prompts that create a crucial pause before speaking.
We also dig into power dynamics and the consultant-to-coach shift, using the “client drives, coach rides shotgun” metaphor to keep agency where it belongs. If you’ve ever wondered how to prove value without providing answers, this conversation offers a clear road map: let your client’s wisdom lead, and let your presence do the heavy lifting. For coaches and leaders alike, the takeaway is bold and freeing—trust grows when we act before we feel ready and let evidence reshape belief.
In this episode, I talk with Marlee about her article published in our September 2025 issue.
Know of an author we should interview? Send me an email to podcast@choice-online.com
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