The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins

• 5 Best Things about Coaching

  Have you ever wondered what truly makes coaching one of the most rewarding careers you could pursue? In this episode we take a heartfelt wander through what we believe are the very best things about being a coach. Spoiler alert: we didn’t stop at five! This conversation is all about celebrating coaching, not just as a profession, but as a way of living that aligns with our values, passions, and purpose. The 5 things we believe makes coaching the best profession: Combining passion and talent Meeting incredible people and joining a supportive coaching community Flexibility and autonomy in designing your own hours and environment Authenticity; being your own kind of coach The human connection and deep fulfilment coaching brings This episode is a celebration of everything coaching can be. And if you’re new to coaching or wondering if it’s “your thing,” we hope this opens a door for you. If you’re new to coaching or rediscovering your purpose as a coach, this episode is for you. If it sparked something in you, let us know! We love hearing how the podcast lands, what it catalyses, and what you'd love us to talk about next. Explore our coach training programmes at https://igcompany.co.uk or simply get in touch and say hello.   Timestamps: 00:00 — Why celebrate coaching? 01:10 — #1: Combining passion and talent 03:15 — #2: Meeting amazing people around the world 06:40 — #3: Flexibility, autonomy, and designing your own life 10:20 — #4: Being your authentic coaching self 13:30 — #5: A humbling, deeply human profession 17:50 — Parallel process, systemic thinking, and intergenerational insight 21:15 — Broader impact: on family, life, and values 24:30 — Working outdoors and location freedom 27:40 — Coaching as personal choice and alignment 30:00 — Final thoughts: Coaching gives us joy, meaning, and community   Key Lessons Learned Coaching is not just a job, it’s a calling. You can align your work life with your values through coaching. Coaching offers flexibility, autonomy, and location independence. The coaching community is warm, supportive, and collaborative. You get to be yourself, and support others in being themselves. Coaching teaches you about the world, humanity, and your place in it. The ripple effect of coaching touches your clients, family, and future.   Keywords: Best things about coaching, Why become a coach, Benefits of coaching as a career, Coaching flexibility, Coaching community, Coaching lifestyle, Coaching impact on family, Coaching self-employment, Working as a coach, Life as a professional coach,   Links: All coaching programmes mentioned (Emotions Coaching, Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching, CPD, Foundations to Masters):https://igcompany.co.uk

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  20:08
• Coaching and Fertility

  How does coaching help individuals navigate the emotional complexity of fertility challenges? [TRIGGER WARNING: This episode explores themes around fertility coaching, including infertility, miscarriage, and the emotional complexities of family planning. Our goal is to provide insight, support, and resources for those navigating this journey. We approach these discussions with care, aiming to empower and inform rather than overwhelm. Please listen in a way that feels right for you.] In today’s episode, we delve into a deeply personal and emotionally sensitive area, coaching and fertility. It’s a topic close to the hearts of many, including coaches who are drawn to this space after their own experiences with infertility, miscarriage, or navigating the complex decisions surrounding parenthood. It’s a specialism that requires an intricate understanding of emotions coaching and a strong foundation in trauma-informed coaching. Coaching in the fertility space is uniquely challenging and deeply rewarding. It supports clients navigating emotional complexities, such as uncertainty, high-stakes decisions, or the impact on relationships. Fertility coaching often requires a shift from a future-focused approach to helping clients find balance in the present. This niche demands strong foundational training, particularly in emotions coaching, to effectively address sensitive topics and maintain ethical boundaries. Coaches may help clients process emotional blockers like stress or unresolved experiences that can influence fertility. Many fertility coaches are drawn to this work through personal experiences, making self-awareness essential to provide unbiased, emotionally attuned support. Long-term engagement is often necessary, as clients’ needs evolve through treatments or decisions like adoption or living child-free. The role of coaching here is to provide a safe space for reflection, emotional processing, and alignment with personal values, ensuring clients feel supported throughout their journey. If you’re a coach looking to deepen your expertise in this area, you may find our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training invaluable. It provides a deeper understanding of emotional dynamics and the psychological aspects of coaching, ensuring you can support clients in the best possible way. Key Lessons Learned: Robust training is essential for fertility coaches to ensure they operate within ethical boundaries and provide meaningful support. Coaching in this space is both emotionally sensitive and deeply fulfilling, requiring careful emotional attunement. Clients in fertility coaching often live in uncertainty, and the coaching process must prioritise presence over a purely future-focused approach. Personal experience often draws coaches to this niche, but self-awareness is crucial to avoid emotional bias in coaching interactions. Coaching engagements may need to be long-term, adjusting to the evolving emotional and practical needs of clients. Timestamps: 00:31 – Introduction to fertility coaching and its emotional sensitivity 01:00 – Discussion on foundational coaching training for infertility and loss coaching 03:16 – Key coaching areas: decision-making, relationships, and emotional depth 05:08 – The importance of emotions coaching in fertility coaching 07:26 – Exploring emotional blockers and their potential impact on fertility 09:14 – Coaches’ personal experiences influencing their approach 14:28 – The shift from future-focused coaching to presence-based coaching 17:47 – Long-term coaching support and flexible engagement structures 21:47 – Final thoughts on specialist training for fertility coaching Keywords: Fertility coaching, Infertility support, Coaching for fertility, Emotions coaching, Trauma-informed coaching, Miscarriage support, Navigating fertility challenges, Fertility and mental health, Decision-making in fertility, Couples coaching for infertility, IVF coaching, Adoption and coaching, Surrogacy coaching, Emotional resilience in fertility, Links: Emotions Coaching https://www.igcompany.co.uk/emotions-coaching All coaching programmes mentioned (Emotions Coaching, Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching, CPD, Foundations to Masters):https://igcompany.co.uk

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  21:58
• What is Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching

  NDI Coaching Programme & Resources https://igcompany.co.uk/ND Is kindness enough when it comes to creating inclusive coaching spaces, or do we need something more intentional, informed, and powerful? In this episode we explore something that sits deeply in our hearts and runs through our work: neurodivergent inclusive coaching. As coaches, we often say we're inclusive. We’re empathic. We care deeply. But as we discovered through both personal experience and professional insight, good intentions aren’t always enough. Kindness can’t replace knowledge and inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. Many of our clients are neurodivergent. Some know it. Some don’t. But all of them deserve a coaching space where they can be who they are, without masking, adjusting, or feeling “too much.” That’s the space we’re committed to helping others build. We talk about how neurodivergent inclusive coaching isn’t just about working with those who are autistic or have ADHD. It’s about setting a tone in our language, our websites, our chemistry calls, and our sessions that says; “You are safe here.” We break down why language matters so much. For instance, referring to someone as “a person with autism” versus “an autistic person” may seem like a detail, but it can reflect respect or a lack of understanding. These nuances define how welcoming our spaces feel. We dive into strength-based coaching, trauma-informed practice, sensory sensitivity awareness, communication differences, and how to adapt your coaching rather than expecting clients to conform. So often, neurodivergent clients have lived through trauma, especially from workplaces or education systems that weren’t built with their needs in mind. These layers show up in coaching, and we need the skills to recognise, honour, and support that. From eye contact and body language to executive functioning and stimming, we explore practical ways to create a truly inclusive space, and challenge the assumption that neutrality equals inclusivity. It doesn’t. Creating neurodivergent inclusive coaching isn’t optional if you care about inclusion. It’s not just about adding a string to your bow. It’s about making your coaching safer, deeper, and more human. Timestamps: 00:00 — Why this topic matters so much to us 01:30 — What it means to be neurodivergent inclusive 03:50 — The power of language and identity 06:15 — Strength-based coaching, masking, and belonging 10:00 — Trauma and internalised neuro-negativity 13:50 — Creating space for unmasking and authentic presence 17:30 — Sensory sensitivity, communication preferences & micro-adjustments 23:40 — Why inclusion must be intentional, not assumed 27:00 — What’s in the NDI Coaching Programme and how to join Key Lessons Learned: Inclusion isn’t passive: it requires education, intention, and effort. Neurodivergent clients have often experienced trauma: understanding that changes the way we coach. Language and labels matter: small shifts can build or break trust. Masking is exhausting: coaching should be the space where people can unmask safely. Strength-based approaches honour neurodivergence instead of trying to “fix” it. Your job as a coach is to adapt: not to expect your client to adjust to you. Kindness is not enough: inclusion takes ongoing learning and humility. Keywords: Neurodivergent inclusive coaching, Coaching for neurodivergent clients, Inclusive coaching environments, Trauma-informed coaching, Coaching and masking, ADHD coaching strategies, Autism friendly coaching, Neurodiversity in coaching, Strength-based coaching, Sensory sensitivity in coaching, Links: NDI Coaching Programme & Resources https://igcompany.co.uk/ND All coaching programmes mentioned (Emotions Coaching, Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching, CPD, Foundations to Masters):https://igcompany.co.uk

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  24:35
• Coaching and HR

  FREE ACCESS to Introduction to Group and Team Coaching – Group & Team Coaching: https://igcompany.co.uk/GTC Have you ever wondered if coaching could be the missing piece to thriving and not just surviving in your HR role? In this episode we take a heartfelt look back at our own HR roots and how those experiences eventually led us to embrace coaching not just as a skill, but as a calling. Back when we were in HR, we wore every hat going. One minute we were leading disciplinary meetings, the next we were guiding people through career development plans, followed by workforce planning and trying to boost team morale, all while being the go-to for engagement and wellbeing. Sound familiar? We talk about how HR professionals are often expected to magically facilitate group dynamics or support complex team conversations, not because they've been trained to do so, but because they're "good with people." And while those talents are real, the demand can feel overwhelming without the right tools. That’s where coaching started to show up in our world, quietly, in feedback calls, tricky line manager conversations, or wellbeing chats that left us emotionally drained. We didn’t know it yet, but we were already coaching, we just didn’t have the language or training for it. The emotional demands of HR can be enormous especially when you're holding space for others while secretly needing someone to hold space for you. When we trained as coaches, not only did it sharpen our skillset, it also gave us community, clarity, and confidence. Coaching also helps you step back and de-personalise what can feel like daily emotional battles in HR. It rounds your edges, helps you reflect, and puts your professional growth into perspective. And sometimes, coaching isn’t just an enhancement, it’s a doorway. A path out of corporate life into consultancy, freedom, creativity and impact. That was our journey, and maybe, just maybe, it could be yours too. Timestamps: 00:00 — Our personal journey from HR to coaching 01:50 — The unrealistic expectations placed on HR professionals 03:15 — The hidden coaching already embedded in HR roles 04:40 — Coaching skills HR people already have (and can enhance) 07:24 — Holding space for others when you're depleted 11:06 — Why training in coaching helps you lead better in HR 14:23 — Depersonalising the emotional weight of HR 20:00 — The creative and freeing side of coaching careers Key Lessons Learned: HR professionals are natural coaches; they just don’t always realise it. Coaching enhances confidence, resilience, and relational skills in emotionally intense roles. Holding space for others is valuable; but you must also be held. Developing coaching skills isn’t just for coaches, it benefits every HR decision and conversation. Personal development and professional growth go hand-in-hand in HR. Coaching can be both a career evolution and an exit strategy. Keywords: Coaching for HR professionals, HR coaching skills, Career change from HR to coaching, How to become a coach from HR, Building a coaching culture in organisations, Emotional intelligence in HR, Leadership development HR, Group and team coaching, Neurodiversity and inclusive coaching, Personal development for HR teams, Links: Free Intro Lesson – Group & Team Coaching: https://igcompany.co.uk/GTC All coaching programmes mentioned (Emotions Coaching, Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching, CPD, Foundations to Masters): https://igcompany.co.uk

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  21:48
• Complexities of Team Coaching

  FREE ACCESS to Introduction to Group and Team Coaching: https://www.igcompany.co.uk/gtcnow Why is team coaching often messier, harder and more rewarding than we expect? In this episode, we dive into one of the most nuanced areas of our work: team coaching. If you've ever been asked to work with a team after coaching an individual, perhaps a senior leader, you may have felt that wave of uncertainty: Can I do this? What do I need to know? Am I ready? We’ve been there too. Team coaching is richly rewarding, but it’s also layered, unpredictable, and deeply human. Through this conversation, we unpack many of the real-world complexities you’ll encounter when stepping into this space to show you just how powerful and transformative this work can be. We talk about: Team coaching starts early: success depends on pre-contracting, stakeholder conversations, and clear groundwork before any workshops begin. The team leader’s presence is complex: they may influence or disrupt dynamics; sometimes they lead, other times they step back too far. Nested systems within teams matter: old rivalries, power imbalances, and “ghosts of past managers” can quietly shape the group dynamic. Emotional realities are unavoidable: burnout, reluctance, and anxiety about visibility are common and need sensitive handling. The coach must stay present and neutral: it’s easy to be pulled into the team’s dynamics, but observation without judgement is key. Beware the pull of belonging: coaches can be tempted to become “one of the team,” especially if they miss team environments from past roles, but boundaries are crucial. We wrap up by reminding ourselves (and you) that team coaching is perfectly messy. There’s no tidy formula, but with curiosity, courage, and structure, it becomes one of the most impactful forms of coaching there is. If you’re curious about stepping into this work, we invite you to access our free introduction to group and team coaching course. Whether you’re a coach, a team leader, or someone wanting to navigate team dynamics with more skill and confidence, this is a great place to begin. Key Lessons Learnt: Team coaching starts before the coaching begins. Pre-contracting and alignment conversations are critical. Nested systems matter. Power dynamics, past relationships, and unspoken tensions affect everything. Psychological safety isn’t guaranteed. It must be created, respected, and nurtured. You are not a team member. As a coach, your role is to observe the system without being absorbed into it. It’s okay to feel uncertain. Team coaching is messy by nature, embrace the ambiguity. Timestamps: 00:30 – The reality of being asked to coach a team 01:56 – When the team leader is part of the coaching 03:22 – Nested relationships and power dynamics 05:16 – Creating psychological safety and trust 06:40 – Contracting with the whole team vs. individuals 08:09 – When team members aren’t fully invested 10:19 – Blurred team boundaries and who should be in the room 11:45 – The “ghosts” of past leaders and emotional baggage 13:37 – What to do when someone questions your method 14:35 – Anxiety, exposure, and resistance in team coaching 16:29 – Managing your own bias as the coach 17:53 – The danger of “falling in love” with the team 19:28 – Supervision and support in navigating complexity 20:54 – There’s no one way: team coaching is perfectly messy 21:24 – Free access to the introductory module Keywords: team coaching, complexities of team coaching, coaching team dynamics, psychological safety in teams, coaching resistant teams, coaching team leaders, nested systems in teams, coaching in matrix organisations, team coaching training, group coaching for leaders, how to coach a team, free team coaching course, Links: Free Intro Course: https://www.igcompany.co.uk/gtcnow Main Website: https://www.igcompany.co.uk  

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  21:56

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About The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins