Have you ever felt confused by seemingly conflicting messages in your coaching journey?

Whether you’re training to become a coach, have been in practice for years, or are simply curious about coaching, you’ve probably come across contradictions that make you pause and wonder: Is this right? Or is it wrong? Or… could it be both?

In this episode we dive into some of the most common contradictions that coaches face, especially during training and development. We reflect on the nuances we encounter as coach trainers and practitioners, unpicking the complexities of coaching goals, non-directiveness, sharing of self, professional boundaries, and the role of structure versus fluidity.

This episode was such a joy to record because it gave us space to validate the “messy middle” where so many coaches find themselves. That tension between learning the rules and evolving beyond them. It reminded me of how deeply coaching is rooted in conscious choice, relationship, and reflection.

From the irony of learning rigid frameworks only to outgrow them, to the beauty of coaching mastery as an art of flow and discernment, this episode is all about embracing paradox. If you're someone who finds themselves craving clarity while swimming in contradiction, you’ll likely feel seen here.

We also talk about the journey of personal growth alongside professional development, how who we are as people directly influences who we become as coaches. There are no hard and fast rules, and that’s both liberating and confronting.

We hope this conversation helps you feel a little more grounded in the uncertainty, and even a little more curious.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why contradictions in coaching matter
01:00 – The goals paradox: clarity at the start… or at the end?
05:15 – Is coaching really non-directive?
08:35 – When and how to share your own experience as a coach
13:25 – What clients actually need and how this impacts your role
16:00 – Coaching bodies and different competency frameworks
17:40 – The craving for models: structure, freedom, and finding your style
22:00 – What coaching mastery really looks like
23:45 – Clients bring contradictions too
24:40 – Final reflections and invitation to explore coaching further

Key Lessons Learned:

• Goals aren’t always clear at the start and sometimes clarity is the goal.
• Non-directiveness is a principle, not a rule; conscious choice is the key.
• Self-disclosure can build connection when used with intention and care.
• Frameworks and models are useful, until they become restrictive.
• Mastery lies in flexibility, knowing when to hold structure and when to release it.
• Clients themselves live in contradiction, and your role is to help them make sense of that tension.
• Coaching isn’t just future-focused, it often invites reflection on the past.
• There are many paths to being a great coach and none of them are identical.

Keywords:

coaching contradictions, non-directive coaching, coaching goals, coaching frameworks, coaching training UK, becoming a coach, coaching vs mentoring, emotional coaching, self-disclosure in coaching, coaching mastery,

Links & Resources:

• mycoachingcourse.com – Take the quiz and explore our coaching training programmes

• https://igcompany.co.uk/

Have you ever found yourself wondering why so many people are suddenly becoming coaches? What’s drawing them in, and what are they finding once they’re there?

In this episode we reflect on a question we’re often asked: “Why is everyone training to be a coach?” And the truth is, it’s a powerful question with many deeply personal and professional answers.

This is a warm, grounded, and honest discussion between the two of us as co-hosts, coaching trainers, and long-time practitioners. We unpack the inner and outer reasons why coaching is booming, from the “life hack” of increased self-awareness to the ripple effect it has on careers, relationships, and wellbeing.

We share our own stories and insights about:

• Why coaching is becoming more than just a career path, it's a form of self-expression, healing, and contribution
• How coaching training creates a sense of community and deep human connection
• The irreplaceable power of coaching in a world increasingly dominated by AI and automation
• How people are discovering peace, confidence, and clarity through coaching training
• The difference between facilitated and self-guided programmes and why that matters

We also explore the soulful, spiritual side of coaching, what it means to be attuned to yourself and others, how it lights people up from the inside, and why so many of our trainees say they’ve “found what they’ve been looking for.”

Whether you’re considering becoming a coach yourself or you’re just curious about what’s fuelling this global movement, we hope this conversation offers insight, clarity, and maybe even a spark of inspiration.

Timestamps:

• 00:47 – The ‘life hack’ of coach training and why people tell everyone about it.

• 02:14 – How coaching strengthens career prospects and relationships at work.

• 03:37 – Surprising personal benefits, even in dating and family life.

• 05:22 – Coaching as a decision-making and confidence-building tool.

• 06:49 – Why coaching is an essential skill in an AI-driven world.

• 09:34 – When coach training becomes a route to healing and self-discovery

• 12:15 – “AI for the soul” and other powerful reflections on the heart of coaching.

Key Lessons Learned

• Coaching training is a powerful gateway to personal transformation, not just professional development
• Deep self-awareness, boundary-setting, and emotional clarity are common outcomes of coach training
• Coaching prepares leaders for a future shaped by AI by amplifying essential human skills
• The sense of community and shared purpose in a coaching cohort is deeply nourishing
• People are drawn to coaching because it helps them find meaning, peace, and a way to contribute to others

Keywords:

train to be a coach, coaching training programmes, become a coach UK, why become a coach, coaching and self-awareness, coaching for leaders, AI and coaching, coaching for wellbeing, personal growth through coaching, human connection in coaching

Links & Resources:

• Take the Quiz to Discover Your Coaching Pathway
• The Coaching Crowd Website

Ever wondered what it really looks like to hold safe, structured, and powerful space for emotions in a coaching session?

In this episode we did something we’ve not done in a long time on the podcast, we brought you inside a real-life coaching demonstration, using one of the techniques from our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Programme.

The session is a genuine conversation between us, non-scripted, not rehearsed. Just Jo as the coachee, working through a very real, emotionally loaded decision: whether or not to say yes to buying a new home.

We use the EMOTION coaching model, a semi-structured framework that walks through:

• E — Engaging the emotional coaching contract
• M — Making contact (somatic/emotional awareness)
• O — Exploring the opportunity
• T — Connecting with thoughts
• I — Exploring intuition
• O — Outcomes
• N — What’s needed now

This demo is about more than just the house. It’s a window into how emotion-based coaching can support real-life decision-making, personal growth, and clarity, without pressure or prescription.

If you found this demo insightful, whether as a coach or as someone exploring their own emotions check out our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Programme. You’ll learn how to safely support clients through deep, meaningful conversations, using structure without script.

https://igcompany.co.uk/emotionsdemo

We’d love to hear what insights this brought up for you. Let us know!

Key Lessons Learned:

1. Emotions are never “too much”, they’re powerful sources of insight when held safely.
2. Coaching doesn’t need to fix, it needs to create space.
3. Body wisdom holds emotional truth, pay attention to sensations.
4. A structured model can support emotional freedom, not restrict it.
5. You don’t need a solution, just clarity and the ability to feel.
6. Trust your intuition, it’s more grounded than we realise.
7. Coaching demos are powerful tools for learning, both as a coach and a coachee.

Keywords:

emotions coaching demo, how to coach emotions, coaching demonstrations, EMOTION coaching model, emotions coaching practitioner training, live coaching example, decision-making in coaching, emotional regulation in coaching, somatic coaching techniques, emotion-focused coaching skills,

Links:

Watch another emotions coaching demo:
https://igcompany.co.uk/emotionsdemo