Talking about Coaching

The question of how far coaches can go is an increasingly pertinent one. The limits and boundaries around what coaching is and can be quite blurry. In today’s episode of talking about coaching our resident coaches Yannick, Siawash and Nicki discuss whether coaching is the right approach to support someone who’s lost a loved one, or grieving some other significant loss or ending, or whether that sort of work is best left to a therapist. The episode with grief coaching expert Julia Menaul that Yannick referenced can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDweULQZqEg&list=PLEK9UENWT66CUcOyiLjUuEZ6281D6A47M&index=31&t=10s&pp=gAQBiAQB See also: Episode 08 - What if my coaching client needs therapy? _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

It is not uncommon that coaches have dual relationships with their clients. The coaching client may also be a colleague, a parent from the community, or a friend of a friend that they sometimes meet in social circles. Some coaches even coach family members or close friends. And sometimes it’s difficult to tell at what point we’re crossing the line between being a friend and coaching a friend. In this episode our resident coaches Nicki, Yannick and Siawash explore the benefits and pitfalls of coaching people who are close to us, as well as the ethics involved in such relationships. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Many coaches are thinking about, or experimenting with scaling their coaching business to reach more people. But once we market at scale, many of us coaches find ourselves stretched too thin in the face of having to create content, write, sell, and engage a growing social media. If you’re committed to still be the one who’s delivering the work, it can feel impossible grow the business unless you’re working with a team. And once you hire content creators, copy writers or sales people, it’s inevitable that your business is not going to feel 100% like you anymore. The copy doesn’t quite sound like you anymore, the content may be not be exactly what you had in mind, and the website would look different if you had designed it yourself. This presents a number of challenges for those with high values of authenticity, and so in today’s episode of Talking about Coaching our resident coaches Siawash, Yannick and Nicki go on a personal quest to share their experiences, advice, and curiosities around what it takes to scale authentically in an effort to serve more people, but without losing your integrity in the process. See also: Episode 24 - How can I scale my coaching business? Episode 38 - Do I need to be obsessed or grind long hours to be a successful coach? _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Working with a coaching supervisor is the gold standard of maintaining professional standards, figuring out ethical dilemmas, and to continuously grow as a coach. Most coaches look up to their supervisor as someone that they respect and whose approach to working with people they would want to emanate. You could say that a coach doesn’t have to have experience in their client’s area in order to coach them well. Could you also say that a supervisor doesn’t need to be someone with experience in your style of coaching in order to supervise you well? Or is a coaching supervisor invariably someone who’s further ahead on your journey, and hence always some sort of role model for your own practice? And what then would be the difference to mentoring? In this episode of talking about coaching our resident coaches Yannick, Siawash and Nicki will be discussing the role of supervision and the role of a coaching supervisor. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Daniel asked us whether coaching still works if the clients aren’t paying any money for the coaching. This applies to pro-bono coaching and also to circumstances like Daniel’s where it’s not appropriate to charge due to how coaching has been set up within the organisation or institution. In this episode of Talking about Coaching, Nicki, Siawash and Yannick hence discuss the crucial importance of commitment in the coaching relationship, and what other ways there are besides money to create commitment. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Metaphors can be a powerful way to unlock your clients’ thinking and progress in a coaching session. In this episode, our resident coaches Nicki, Siawash and Yannick discuss how to work with metaphors in coaching. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Following question was sent in: “Hi guys. Would love to hear your take on "money back guarantee" policy for your coaching. And possibly why you choose to implement it in a particular way.” So here we are, talking about whether money back guarantees are a great way to create the kind of confidence that gets clients through the door, or whether they add a huge weight to coaches and make it difficult to stay present and let the client do the work. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the show Support the show

Welcome to this episode of Talking about Coaching, the podcast from coaches for coaches. This episode is one of Yannick's deep dives into one topic or person and we're talking to Clare Norman. "With over 20 years of coaching experience, Clare is highly sought after by other expert coaches, as well as successful coach training companies as a Master Mentor Coach. Clare looks to continually sharpen individuals’ coaching edge and upskill mentor coaches so they can deliver high-quality feedback to their coaches-in-development. Her laser focus on mindset shifts and her knack for spotting marginal gains has made her a go-to person for coaches looking for mentorship and practical, meaningful ways to improve their practice. With an international following from both her coaching peers and senior leadership, Clare is making a difference to the world of work via the professional application of coaching. Her mission across all her work is to encourage leaders to put people and the planet before profits. " _____________________________ Continue the conversation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkingaboutcoaching Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HLEWkFImuk60UQO2JA8HpA Find more deep dives into coaching athttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite Short episodes of Talking about Coaching addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching You can also find us on all major podcast platforms. If you'd like to support what we do, please consider a positive review, leave a comment or tell a friend or colleague about this episode. You can also become a Patreon athttps://www.patreon.com/talkingaboutcoaching You can see COACHING DEMOS from many of our podcast guests as part of Yannick's Coaching Lab. In the Lab you’re a “fly on the wall” for a 45min live coaching demo followed by Q&A and conversations with the coach and client and (optional) experimental breakouts in triads. Members of the Lab can re-watch recordings of sessions they’ve missed and VIP Members have access to the entire Vault of available coaching demos: - Become a member: https://gocoachinglab.com/ - Check out upcoming Labs:https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place! Support the show

Sounds a little click-baitey perhaps, but we thought it was time to tackle this question head-on. With a number of episodes on related topics you will find plenty of practical tips on how to grow your business, and we may well do a more classical series of practical advice on how to get 6 figures in your coaching business, but today we wanted to shine a light on the question itself, what it means to be a 6-figure coach, why that may or may not be important to someone, and what’s crucial to reflect on before committing yourself to such a journey. Our resident coaches Siawash and Yannick both turn over well over the minimum threshold (though with quite different mindset around the topic), and Nicki has never really found such figures appealing or worth striving for, so in best TaC style we’re sharing our different perspectives on the topic and hope you’ll find it helpful! See also: Episode 32 - I want to charge more, but I don't feel confident that I'm worth it. Help! Episode 34 - How can I create a steady stream of clients? _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Here’s the full question we’ve received from SY, which I took some editorial liberty with. They asked: “I feel like a fraud sometimes when I'm coaching others on topics that I personally struggle with. I know my coachees are the expert of their own life and I am not a mentor, but can't help feeling a little ashamed/ fear of being judged when I am not at a flourishing, thriving state.” So here we are talking about feeling like an imposter when we feel we don’t have all our ducks in a row, or aren’t quite as aligned to ourselves as we feel we are expected to be. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

The question came up in a recent Coaching Cabinet and lots of helpful advice was offered to a coach who’s just starting out, so we figured we’d add to that list and share a few rounds of things we would have liked to have known when we started out as coaches, and some learnings that we’ve gathered along the way. See also: Episode 01 - Is it important to be qualified, accredited and certified? Episode 05 - How much should I charge for coaching? _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Our colleague Steffano asked us about what to do differently when clients seem excited about working together, but then fall off the bandwagon in the weeks following the consultation. So in this episode of Talking about Coaching our resident coaches Siawash, Nicki and Yannick discuss the DOs and DON’Ts of that first conversation with a prospective client. We share a very much non-exhaustive list of relevant theory mixed with our own experience of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to successfully signing up new coaching clients. See also: Episode 16 - Am I giving too much value during my coaching consultations? Episode 32 - I want to charge more, but I don't feel confident that I'm worth it. Help! _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Stephen brought up the question around preparing for coaching sessions. While it can be helpful to have a set of questions, tools or exercises on hand, it can also distract from being fully present. Moving beyond how to prepare yourself as a coach mentally for a session (see episode 19), in today’s session our resident coaches Yannick, Siawash and Nicki are discussing the benefits and pitfalls of preparing content and questions for your client. See also: Episode 19 - How do you prepare for a coaching session? Episode 36 - How do you start a coaching session? _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

What does coaching look like 'in the real world' (beyond theory and what coaching schools teach us)? Who really is a clean coach (e.g. fully ICF competency compliant or steady within a specific school of thought or particular coaching approach)? What am I allowed and not allowed to do once I’m qualified and “out there”? Inspired by, and celebrating the public launch of the next evolution of Yannick’s Coaching Lab, TaC residents Yannick and Siawash went live on Facebook to discuss these questions. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Most coaching schools teach us to be neutral, not to share our opinions, to work client-led. Coaching in the face of the climate crisis has challenged this perspective. Can coaches also be activists? Is it ever possible not to influence a client? And shouldn’t we be a positive influence in our clients’ lives anyway? How can I be authentic AND neutral? And how might attempting to stay neutral benefit or hinder the coaching process? In today’s episode of Talking about Coaching, our resident coaches Yannick, Siawash and Nicki discuss these questions and more. The conversations Yannick referenced at the beginning, which sparked this episode, can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66CUcOyiLjUuEZ6281D6A47M And the paper on neutrality is available at https://intranet.weatherhead.case.edu/document-upload/docs/2060.pdf _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

There’s been a lot of talk about ChatGPT recently, especially since it coached a few people reasonably well. In a recent study, AI coaches performed better than human coaches on weight loss metrics. The development of AI i exponential, so we can expect huge shifts in quality and ability. So it’s a good time to discuss whether we need to be concerned about AI replacing human coaches, and how we might (need to) partner with AI to deliver best service for our clients, and indeed perhaps to stay relevant in the industry. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the show Support the show

Some clients just really need to hear that they’re on the right path, or that their idea is a good one, or that they’re worthy as human being. It’s a powerful thing to experience, and a gratifying gift to give. Yet, there’s a dark side to validation that our resident coaches Yannick, Siawash and Nicki point to in today’s episode. We chat about getting sucked into “validation games”, when it is and isn’t helpful for a client to validate them or their behaviour, and we explore the difference between acknowledgement and validation. The conversation takes a turn and we open quite a few doors, so we’re curious where you’ll be taking this conversation. Let us know in the comments! _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

Most coaches commit to showing up for their clients. Some do so much so that they’re coaching clients even when they’re really quite ill or would much rather hide under a blanket for one reason or another. What’s your threshold for cancelling a coaching session? How ill do you need to get to say “I can’t make it today”. What might the fallout be? And how might we make those decisions? Due to present circumstances, this and more is what our resident coaches Nicki, Siawash and Yannick discuss in today’s episode. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachinghttps://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support the showSupport the show

We learn and grow so much when we’re coaching clients who are very different to us. Similarly, clients benefit a lot when they work with a coach who is different to them. We probably all appreciate that diversity leads to more innovation, yet most experts will tell us to speak to a very specific kind of person when marketing our coaching businesses, with the inevitable effect that we’re, by definition, reducing diversity in our clientele. Or is it? Today’s question was sparked during a recent episode on another podcast (Animas's Coaching Uncaged Season 13 Episode 4 with Coaching Diversity Institute Founder Towanna Burrous) and our resident coaches Yannick, Nicki and Siawash decided to take the topic up and going a little deeper on the subject matter. _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, would like to talk to us about coaching or generally support what we do: Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachingSign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachingWatch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYgListen to and download all episodes: http://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/Like our Facebook page: http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachingJoin our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkingaboutcoaching Support the show

On some level I always think “what are you hiding?” when I see someone with a blurred or virtual background. Imagine that’s what your client thinks when they first meet you? Does it inspire trust? Not really. On the other hand there are many reasons why a coach may choose not to reveal what’s happening behind them. Same goes for clients, and even if we can see their full frame clearly, we have no idea what’s happening outside of this frame, and it’s really worth getting curious about that. So in this episode of Talking about Coaching our resident coaching Yannick, Nicki and Siawash discuss if, when and how it may or may not be helpful to curate the visual coaching experience - with some big reveals! _____ If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://mailchi.mp/afc10fc74492/talkingaboutcoachinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2cC6sgHdLuhBdRqxQNPYghttp://talkingaboutcoaching.buzzsprout.com/http://fb.me/TalkingAboutCoachingJoin our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3023068731067611/ Support the show