Active listening includes observing non-verbal cues. A skilled coach observes their coachee’s body language.
Body language cues include facial expressions, eye contact (or lack of it), the position the person is facing, and how they place their arms (for example, crossed defensively). If a person’s words say one thing, but their body seems to be saying something else, the body is more likely to be closer to what they really think.
Cultural factors affect body language. For instance, while eye contact is very important for establishing connection in Western cultures, other cultures avoid direct eye contact and may see it as disrespectful. The more you work with your coachee, the better you’ll get at reading their body language.