This is a tough one. I have been in this situation many times with my coaching clients. The better way is to have them repeat the process bit by bit and stop at where they think they made the mistake. Ask them insightful questions to dig deeper to figure out what is causing this. What they are exhibiting might be a symptom and as a coach it is your role to help get to the root cause of the problem.

When coaching a client who’s made repeated mistakes, empathy is key to fostering growth. Begin by recognizing their efforts and the courage it takes to keep trying. Instead of focusing on the errors, explore the underlying causes together, creating a judgment-free space for honest reflection. Offer constructive feedback with encouragement, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the learning process. By maintaining patience and understanding, you build their confidence, showing them that you’re invested in their success and believe in their potential to improve.

Start by acknowledging their efforts and expressing understanding about the challenges they face. This approach helps them feel valued rather than judged. For example, I had a client who struggled with recurring errors in their work. I began by recognizing their hard work and the progress they had made, even though the mistakes persisted. Together, we analyzed the root causes of their errors and developed a tailored action plan to address them. By combining empathy with constructive feedback and a focus on solutions, you can help clients overcome their challenges while maintaining their motivation and confidence.

How can we use a ‘mistake’ in a coaching process? I think we, as coaches, should help our coachee learn from what happens outside the sessions and it would be nice if we could look at what happens ‘outside’ not in terms of good/bad, wrong/right, but in more neutral terms. My personal perspective is that my coachee is always trying to do the best he can in his life, so there are no ‘mistakes’ or right things, but only experiences that can be used to learn more, about himself, about the specific situation, about how he creates his own meanings. If I take this perspective, my empathy with the client will certainly not be influenced by the experiences he has had in his life.