What is the greatest risk of not developing coaching skills, and how might that decision shape your life and career?

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the risks of not training to be a coach. We reflect on the subtle but significant ways coaching skills transform lives, relationships, leadership, wellbeing, and what happens when we don’t invest in them.

As we explored this theme, we found ourselves thinking back to our own journeys. Had we not stepped into coaching, we know our confidence, resilience, relationships, and even the material aspects of our lives would look entirely different. Coaching has not only deepened our self-awareness but also enabled us to build stronger connections, communicate with impact, and navigate challenges with courage.

In this conversation, we highlight 9.5 key risks that come from not being a coach. We talk about self-awareness as the foundation, the importance of emotional intelligence, and how disconnected intuition often leaves leaders overthinking at 4am. We also discuss the impact of coaching on problem-solving, inclusion, resilience, and future leadership in a world shaped by AI and rapid change.

One of the most profound reflections for me was realising that without coaching skills, we risk staying the same, missing out on our unrealised potential, stronger relationships, and the ability to influence the world around us. The greatest risk may not be failure but never stepping into what could have been possible.

Whether you’re considering training to be a coach, or you’re curious about the wider benefits coaching can bring, this episode will give you a heartfelt and thought-provoking insight into why coaching matters more than ever.

Timestamps:

• 00:29 – Framing the question: what are the risks of not being a coach?
• 01:23 – Self-awareness as the foundation of growth
• 03:16 – Emotional intelligence and relationships
• 07:32 – Advanced communication skills and listening
• 08:30 – Reconnecting with intuition
• 12:09 – The future of work, AI, and the role of coaching
• 14:24 – Inclusion, belonging, and building cultures that matter
• 15:22 – Beyond the self: the systemic risks of not coaching
• 18:11 – Problem-solving, resilience, and wellbeing
• 22:20 – Coaching as courage, presence, and connection
• 24:46 – The greatest risk: staying the same

Key Lessons Learned:

• Without self-awareness, we risk limiting both our growth and the quality of our relationships.
• Emotional intelligence is not optional; it is essential for effective leadership and connection.
• Coaching develops advanced communication skills that prevent misunderstanding and strengthen trust.
• Intuition is an undervalued skill, coaching helps us to reconnect with it and reduce overthinking.
• In a world shaped by AI, coaching and human connection are the differentiators for future leaders.
• Coaching contributes to inclusive cultures and a genuine sense of belonging.
• A coaching mindset supports resilience, problem-solving, and wellbeing.
• Without coaching, we risk playing small, staying in old patterns, and never reaching our potential.
• The systemic risk is greater disconnection in workplaces and communities without coaching skills.

Keywords Used:

coaching skills, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, leadership development, communication skills, intuition, future of work, inclusion and belonging, resilience and wellbeing, risks of not being a coach

Links & Resources:

• Coaching Quiz: mycoachingcourse.com

Do you really listen to ignite transformation, or are you listening to respond?

When we think about our journey as a coach, one of the most powerful realisations has been that listening is not a passive act. It is an intentional, transformational choice that shapes the depth and quality of our conversations. In this episode we revisit listening as a critical coaching skill. Out of more than 200 episodes, we’ve only devoted 1 to listening before, which shows how easy it is to overlook this essential foundation of coaching.

We explore what it means to listen not just with our ears but with our eyes, intuition, body, and presence. We reflect on Nancy Kline’s idea that listening well is not about preparing your next response but about igniting something in another person. From the earliest stage of self-focused listening to Otto Scharmer’s concept of generative listening, we walk through the levels of listening and share how they show up in coaching and everyday life.

We reflect on moments when clients have asked us, “How did you know that?” They hadn’t explicitly told us something, but deep listening allowed us to hear what was unspoken. That level of listening is about creating a space where clients can feel deeply seen and heard, sometimes hearing themselves clearly for the first time in a long while.

We also challenge the myth that one level of listening is “good” and another “bad”. Context matters. For example, neurodivergent clients may experience listening as most supportive when a coach shares something of their own in return. Listening, then, is not linear. It’s about attuning to the needs of the individual in front of you.

This episode is both practical and reflective. We discuss summarising with the client’s own words, listening for emotion as well as content, and noticing the subtle shifts in tone, silence, or energy that can reveal deeper truths. Listening is not just about technique, it is about presence, compassion, and the courage to step aside so the client’s voice can emerge.

If you’ve ever wondered what sets coaching apart from everyday conversation, this episode highlights why listening is the art and science at the heart of transformational coaching.

Timestamps:

• 00:50 – Why listening is the foundation of coaching
• 01:20 – Nancy Kline’s perspective: listening to ignite, not to respond
• 03:11 – Listening with eyes, body, and intuition
• 05:02 – Helping clients hear themselves clearly
• 07:25 – Why context matters: different listening styles for different clients
• 10:40 – The difference between listening in coaching vs everyday conversation
• 13:28 – Listening beyond words: noticing silence, energy, and emotion
• 16:20 – The role of presence and unlearning in coaching conversations
• 19:36 – Giving clients time to find and hear their own voice
• 21:01 – Practising transformational listening in everyday life

Key Lessons Learned:

• Listening is not about waiting to respond, it is about creating space for transformation.
• Different levels of listening exist, from self-focused to generative, and each has a place depending on context.
• Deep listening involves presence, intuition, and attention to both what is said and what is unsaid.
• Coaching requires unlearning conversational habits such as rushing to fix, summarising for ourselves, or inserting our own agenda.
• Presence and listening go hand in hand, true transformational listening helps clients reconnect with their own voice.

Keywords:

Transformational listening, levels of listening in coaching, Nancy Kline listening, generative listening, coaching skills, deep listening, presence in coaching, active listening techniques, emotional listening, effective coaching conversations,

Links & Resources:

• Take the quiz to find the right coaching qualification for you: mycoachingcourse.com

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Have you ever wondered how much deeper your coaching could go if you paused to reflect in a more intentional way?

In this episode of The Coaching Crowd, we explore how reflective practice is the often-overlooked skill that truly elevates coaching. While questioning and listening skills usually get the spotlight, it is reflection that helps us to grow as coaches, find closure with clients, and unlock fresh insight.

As we spoke, we found ourselves noticing how reflective practice is both a personal and professional discipline. It is not about criticising yourself for what you missed, but instead about compassionately noticing what you learned, how you showed up, and how you can expand your practice.

We share a series of reflective questions that you can use for yourself or with your clients, such as:

• How am I feeling now?
• How present and attuned was I during that coaching session?
• What habits was I using, and what new experiments could I try next time?
• What biases or assumptions might have shaped how I showed up?

Together, we explore the difference between reflecting in practice (while in session) and reflecting on practice (afterwards), and how both can help you become more present, more courageous, and more flexible as a coach. We also talk about how reflective practice can happen in different ways, through journaling, walking, recording your thoughts aloud, or even using creative prompts like music and drawing.

One of our personal reflections from this conversation was how important it is to approach reflection with kindness. Growth does not come from berating yourself, but from curiosity and compassion. Reflective practice is a muscle, and with practice, it grows stronger.

This episode is full of questions and perspectives that will help you deepen your practice, connect with your clients at a deeper level, and continue your journey of lifelong learning.

Timestamps:

• 00:50 – Why reflective practice matters in coaching
• 02:12 – Reflecting in practice vs reflecting on practice
• 03:00 – Using body awareness as a catalyst for reflection
• 05:21 – Balancing solution-focus with presence
• 06:47 – The importance of compassion in reflection
• 08:34 – Exploring habits and courage in coaching
• 09:52 – The role of client feedback in reflective practice
• 11:14 – Finding your personal style of reflection
• 12:36 – Considering bias and self-development
• 14:25 – Reflection as a muscle to build over time
• 16:11 – Creative approaches to reflective practice
• 18:32 – Reflection as an ongoing process rather than quick clarity
• 19:23 – The role of CPD in deepening reflection
• 21:19 – Lifelong learning and growth as a coach

Key Lessons Learned:

• Reflective practice is the foundation for deepening your coaching, beyond questioning and listening skills.
• Compassion and curiosity are essential, reflection should not become self-criticism.
• Presence, energy, and body awareness are powerful entry points for reflection.
• Exploring habits, courage, and biases helps coaches to avoid falling into fixed patterns.
• Creative methods such as drawing, music, or recording can unlock new layers of reflection.
• Reflection is not about finding instant answers, but about allowing insight to emerge over time.
• CPD and lifelong learning naturally deepen reflective practice.

Keywords:

reflective practice in coaching, coaching reflection questions, reflective skills for coaches, how to deepen reflective practice, coaching growth, reflective coaching techniques, presence in coaching, self-reflection for coaches, lifelong learning in coaching, reflective practice methods

Links & Resources:

• Website: igcompany.co.uk

Have you ever found yourself torn between who you were before becoming a parent and the new identity that emerges after welcoming a child?

In this episode we explore the deeply personal and transformative journey of maternity coaching.

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest life transitions anyone can go through. We reflect on our own experience of having children while holding onto a strong ambition for our careers and the inner conflict that came with trying to reconcile those two worlds.

We talk about the identity shifts that many parents face, the emotional complexities that can arise during maternity leave, and the challenges of returning to work in environments that may have changed significantly in your absence. Throughout the conversation, we reflect on how valuable maternity coaching would have been for us at that time. Having a confidential space to explore emotions, rebuild confidence, and navigate new responsibilities can be life-changing.

We also expand the conversation to include parental coaching more broadly, recognising that transitions affect all caregivers, whether through adoption, shared parenting, or new family dynamics. Coaching can support individuals in building resilience, having courageous conversations with line managers, and re-establishing confidence in their professional and personal identities.

This discussion highlighted for me how powerful coaching can be in safeguarding against burnout, improving employee engagement, and strengthening relationships at work. It left me appreciating maternity coaching not only as a personal lifeline but also as an organisational strategy that demonstrates care for people beyond their job role.

Timestamps:

• 00:51 – Why maternity coaching matters
• 01:21 – Identity conflict after becoming a parent
• 03:39 – What maternity coaching looks like in practice
• 05:06 – Emotional and cognitive changes during maternity leave
• 06:28 – Rebuilding confidence when returning to work
• 07:48 – Benefits for organisations and leaders
• 09:13 – Extending to parental coaching more broadly
• 11:56 – Productivity shifts after becoming a parent
• 13:21 – Exploring systemic challenges
• 15:39 – Why maternity coaching signals organisational care
• 16:35 – Do we need to label it “maternity coaching”?
• 18:02 – Emotions coaching and life transitions
• 21:46 – Invitation to learn more through our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training

Key Lessons Learned

• Identity transformation is one of the most significant challenges during maternity leave.
• Maternity coaching offers a safe space to explore emotions without judgement.
• Coaching supports smoother transitions back to work, reducing overwhelm and burnout.
• Employers benefit through stronger engagement, productivity, and loyalty.
• Parental coaching is not limited to mothers, it extends to fathers, adoptive parents, and anyone navigating caregiving transitions.
• Coaching helps differentiate between personal beliefs and systemic realities in the workplace.
• Productivity often increases when parents return to work due to sharper focus and time management.
• Emotional coaching skills are essential for supporting clients during major life milestones.

Keywords:

maternity coaching, parental coaching, coaching for parents, identity shift after parenthood, return to work coaching, emotional coaching, workplace transitions, coaching for new parents, confidence after maternity leave, coaching in organisations,

Links & Resources:

• Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training: igcompany.co.uk/emotionscoaching

Have you ever wondered how different life could feel if you were able to pause, step back, and coach yourself through challenges as they arise?

In this episode we explore the practice of self-coaching, what it really means, how it works in everyday life, and why it is such a powerful tool for personal growth.

As coaches, one of the greatest benefits of our training has been learning how to develop our own inner coach. This isn’t about striving for perfection or trying to be a “superhuman.” Instead, it’s about cultivating awareness, curiosity, and reflection in a way that allows us to step out of our experience long enough to gain a fresh perspective.

We talk about the cues that signal when it’s time to coach ourselves, from moments of emotional intensity to times of great joy when we want to understand how to recreate that feeling. Jo shares how she has learned to notice when she is “in something” fully absorbed in an experience and how to hover above it, reflect, and gently question “what’s happening for me”?

We explore a wide range of reflective questions that listeners can add to their own self-coaching toolkit, from belief-based and emotional check-in prompts, to deeper existential reflections. We highlight the importance of differentiating between genuine self-coaching and overthinking, and we talk about the need to balance reflection with action.

Most of all, this conversation reminded us that self-coaching is about the relationship we choose to build with ourselves. Do we want to give energy to our inner critic, or nurture our inner coach? The quality of the questions we ask ourselves often determines whether we stay stuck or move forward.

Whether you are a coach yourself or simply curious about bringing more reflective practice into your life, this episode offers both insight and practical tools to help you grow.

Timestamps

• 00:47 – Why self-coaching matters when resources are limited
• 01:16 – Reflection and noticing: stepping outside your experience
• 03:04 – Core coaching elements that underpin self-coaching
• 04:31 – The myth of needing to self-coach all the time
• 05:25 – Learning from moments of joy and success
• 06:21 – Coaching methodologies that support self-reflection
• 07:46 – Expanding your self-coaching toolkit with powerful questions
• 09:14 – Emotional check-ins and boundaries
• 13:50 – Testing possibilities and taking small, safe steps
• 16:04 – Self-coaching vs overthinking: how to spot the difference
• 17:25 – Radical personal ownership and accountability
• 19:20 – Success criteria for effective self-coaching
• 20:17 – Choosing between your inner critic and your inner coach
• 21:11 – Our invitation for you to reflect, review, and share

Key Lessons Learned

• Self-coaching is grounded in reflection, presence, and awareness, noticing when you need to step back and explore your experience differently.
• It is not about being “on” all the time; sometimes the most powerful growth happens when you simply sit in the messiness of life.
• The quality of the questions you ask yourself matters more than the complexity, simple, courageous questions often lead to the deepest insight.
• Emotional check-ins, belief exploration, and reflective questioning can help uncover hidden patterns and create space for new choices.
• Self-coaching requires balance between reflection and action; growth happens when insights are followed by meaningful steps forward.
• Developing an inner coach strengthens your relationship with yourself and can transform the way you navigate challenges.

Keywords:

Self-coaching, Coaching tools, Reflective practice, Inner coach, Emotional awareness, Personal growth, Coaching questions, Overthinking vs reflection, Coaching mindset, Radical ownership

Links & Resources

• https://www.igcompany.co.uk

Have you ever wished you had a trusted partner by your side in your coaching work, someone who elevates your ideas, shares the load, and helps you grow in ways you could never achieve alone?

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the concept of co-coaching. Co-coaching is about more than simply sharing a client group with another professional. It is about building a relationship of trust, alignment, and mutual respect that enhances both the client experience and your own development as a coach.

We reflect on our own journey together; how we first met, the values that underpin our partnership, and the ways co-coaching has helped us take bolder steps, hold space for complex group dynamics, and recover quickly when our minds go blank. There is a special kind of magic that happens when you can bounce ideas off someone who gets you, challenges you, and sees possibilities you might miss on your own.

We discuss the very real benefits of working alongside another coach, from sharing creative preparation and delivering richer sessions, to having another set of eyes and ears to spot what’s happening in the room. We share how co-coaching has supported us in debriefing after intense sessions, navigating moments of uncertainty, and modelling collaborative, respectful working relationships for our clients.

There is also a strong business case for co-coaching. You gain access to each other’s networks, expand your reach, and benefit from shared opportunities. Beyond that, the joy of celebrating milestones together, and simply having fun, makes the work more fulfilling.

Whether you are considering co-coaching for the first time or want to deepen an existing partnership, this episode offers insights into how to choose the right partner, maintain a healthy dynamic, and create experiences that benefit everyone involved.

Timestamps:

• 00:39 – What co-coaching is and why it matters
• 02:27 – How idea-sharing elevates creativity and confidence
• 04:19 – Handling unexpected moments with authenticity
• 05:42 – Modelling collaboration for clients
• 06:36 – Choosing the right co-coach and aligning values
• 07:58 – The importance of debriefing after sessions
• 10:15 – Unique feedback opportunities through co-coaching
• 11:39 – Building connections and networks without competition
• 12:34 – The business benefits of shared audiences
• 13:58 – Celebrating milestones together and sustaining joy
• 15:50 – The flexibility of working together and independently
• 16:20 – How to explore co-coaching further through our training

Key Lessons Learned:

• Co-coaching provides a unique platform for creativity, confidence, and mutual support.
• Alignment in values, goals, and ways of working is essential for a thriving partnership.
• Having another coach present allows you to see and respond to group dynamics more effectively.
• A healthy co-coaching relationship models collaboration and flexibility for clients.
• The debrief process after sessions is crucial for learning, closure, and moving forward.
• Co-coaching expands your professional network and brings business opportunities.
• Variety in working styles and personalities benefits clients and broadens learning.
• Joy, celebration, and camaraderie are powerful motivators for long-term collaboration.
• Co-coaching can offer emotional resilience by sharing both the highs and the challenges.
• Strong relationships often start in shared learning environments such as CPD programmes.

Keywords:

co-coaching, coaching partnerships, group coaching, team coaching, coach collaboration, professional coaching, coaching networks, coaching business growth, collaborative coaching, coach development,

Links & Resources

• https://www.igcompany.co.uk/gtc
• https://www.igcompany.co.uk/group