Last week, our Client Seat episode featured me coaching Michelle through feeling out of control with her money after moving to Guatemala. The cash system felt chaotic. Multiple accounts, inconsistent tracking, and no clear rhythm for how money moved. She wanted stability back.

This week, I'm showing you what was happening on my side of that conversation. The coaching decisions I was making while listening and what I chose to prioritize and intentionally left alone. When you don't know the client's context, when the situation is completely unfamiliar, you can still lead a session that creates real progress.

This isn't about having all the answers, because we never will. It’s about helping the client find clarity. Four specific observations from that session show how to guide someone toward that clarity when the path isn't obvious to either of you yet.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Financial Coaching Essentials
• Episode 133: Coaching session with Mary Ann
• Client Seat application

Key Takeaways:

• Targeted focus narrows the conversation and reduces overwhelm. When a client's situation feels chaotic, ask: Where does it feel most out of control right now?
• Not knowing something doesn't remove your authority as a coach, but pretending does. Name what you don't know and stay present as the guide.
• Progress happens in layers. Stabilization comes before optimization. Solving one thing well creates momentum for what comes next.
• Your clients can be the expert on context while you remain the expert on process. True collaboration happens when you share the stage.
• When clients feel scattered, optimization adds pressure. Stabilization gives them room to breathe, refine, and improve from a solid foundation.
• Limited scope isn't a weakness. Framing realistic progress as a win builds trust and creates buy-in during the session.
• Predictability before perfection. Give clients something concrete they can work with right now, not everything they could eventually do.