The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins

What happens when a client walks into a session with an issue you did not prepare for, and you have to trust your presence rather than your plan?
In this episode of the Podcast, we to explore one of the most real and sometimes unsettling parts of being a coach: not knowing what a client is going to bring, yet being fully responsible for creating a space that can hold it.
We reflected on how often coaches ask questions like, how do I coach confidence, fear, conflict, burnout, overwhelm, or decision making. Beneath those questions is usually something deeper. A desire to feel competent. A wish to feel resourced. A fear of being caught out when a client arrives with something emotionally charged, complex, or unfamiliar.
What struck us during the conversation is how much of coaching is about unlearning the need for control. In most areas of life, we walk into conversations with a sense of the agenda. Coaching is different. The agenda emerges. The topic may be named, but the real work often sits underneath in emotion, belief, identity, or uncertainty.
We talked about how coach training gives us core skills that apply to any topic, yet many coaches still crave practical anchors. Questions, frames, observations, and ways of working that help them feel steady when a client says, I feel overwhelmed, I am stuck in fear, I cannot decide, or I have lost confidence. That is where topic based learning and community become powerful, not as scripts to follow, but as ways to deepen awareness and broaden choice.
We shared how, as coaches, we can sometimes narrow in too quickly on the words a client uses, or unconsciously overlay our own relationship with that topic. When a client brings fear, uncertainty, or burnout, it can trigger our own stories and associations. Building familiarity with common coaching themes helps us stay grounded, curious, and spacious rather than reactive or overly cognitive.
We also explored the fine balance between holding space and offering structure. There are moments when a client genuinely wants to hear what might be possible. A menu of approaches. A sense of what others have found useful. Knowing when to lean in with suggestions and when to stay with emergence is part of the art of coaching, and it develops with experience, supervision, and reflective practice.
One of the deepest reflections for us is that clients rarely bring what they actually need to work on. They bring what they can currently see. The coaching happens in the gap between the stated goal and the hidden pattern, emotion, or belief that is getting in the way. When we deepen our understanding of themes like uncertainty, self trust, overwhelm, decision making, and emotional regulation, we become better at noticing what is present but unspoken.
This episode is also an invitation to coaches who want to accelerate their confidence and capability. Through our how to series and accredited CPD, we are creating spaces to explore topics such as beliefs, burnout, confidence, conflict, fear, overwhelm, procrastination, certainty, metaphors, and constellations. Not to provide formulas, but to build presence, perception, and practical range so that whatever walks into the room, you can meet it with calm, clarity, and skill.
Coaching is not about mastering topics. It is about mastering yourself in the presence of whatever topic arrives.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and why coaches ask how do I coach specific topics
02:20 The unpredictability of coaching and letting go of control
04:30 Building confidence through topic familiarity and CPD
06:40 Balancing suggestion with client led focus
08:10 Fear, uncertainty, and staying resourced as a coach
10:05 Deep dive into coaching uncertainty and emotional states
12:00 Clients bring goals, but the work is often underneath
14:00 The art of observation and naming what is emerging
15:00 CPD programme and community invitation
 
Key Lessons Learned:
Coaching competence grows when we trust the core skills rather than seeking topic specific formulas
Clients rarely name the real issue at the start of a session
Emotional states such as fear, overwhelm, and uncertainty often drive the presenting topic
Supervision, community, and shared learning accelerate a coach's confidence and pattern recognition
The balance between presence and practical structure is a developmental edge for every coach
Observations offered with care can reveal what clients cannot yet see for themselves
 
Keywords:
How to coach confidence, coaching uncertainty, emotional coaching, coaching overwhelm, coaching fear, coaching decision making, coach development, coaching presence, coaching supervision, coaching CPD, leadership coaching, self trust in coaching
 
Links and Resources:
https://igcompany.co.uk/howto

Are you looking for CPD that actually fits into real life while still deepening your confidence and capability as a coach?
As we recorded this episode, we found ourselves reflecting on the growing gap between what coaches need from professional development and what most CPD programmes actually deliver. We know how busy life is. We know how difficult it can be to commit to long programmes with heavy time demands. And we also know how frustrating it feels to learn theory without truly knowing how to apply it in real coaching conversations.
This episode is our response to that reality.
We introduce our Done for You 2026 CPD programme, the How To Series, a bite size, practical and accredited professional development journey designed specifically around the topics coaches face every day. Each session is rooted in a popular Coaching Crowd podcast episode and translated into a facilitated, interactive learning experience that bridges the gap between insight and action.
Across the conversation, we talk openly about why this series matters to us. We share how the idea was born from listening closely to our community and noticing which podcast episodes consistently resonate, such as coaching confidence, fear, burnout, overwhelm and uncertainty. These are not abstract topics. They are live issues showing up in coaching rooms week after week.
Each 'How To' session is a two and a half hour live workshop that includes a focused teaching summary, a practical coaching activity, live demonstrations, peer practice, feedback, and reflective discussion. We wanted to create CPD that feels immediately useful, supports skill integration, and builds real coaching confidence. This is learning you can take straight into your next client session.
We also reflect on accessibility. This series is designed for qualified coaches, leaders, managers and those using coaching skills in their work. It is accredited, offering CCEs, while remaining financially accessible and flexible. Coaches can attend individual sessions or commit to the full year and have their 2026 CPD fully mapped out in advance.
Throughout the episode, we talk about community, experimentation and our desire to create a shared learning space where coaches can connect, practise, ask real questions and grow together. This is about more than content. It is about confidence, capability and belonging within the coaching profession.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and why this episode matters
00:57 Why bite size CPD works for busy coaches
01:26 What is included in each How To session
01:55 Overview of the 10 coaching topics
02:24 Creating a full CPD plan for 2026
02:51 Accreditation, CCEs and pricing structure
03:46 Why these topics resonate with coaches
04:06 Who this CPD is designed for
05:04 How to access the programme and resources
06:02 Community, connection and future possibilities
07:43 Limited time offer and enrolment window
08:33 Who can attend and who it is suitable for
09:57 Live demos and experiential learning
12:21 Practice, feedback and reflective integration
13:43 Flexibility, value and long term impact
15:20 Closing reflections and invitation
 
Key Lessons Learned:
CPD is most effective when it supports immediate application in real coaching conversations
Bite size learning can deliver depth when it is well designed and facilitated
Coaches value live demonstrations as a bridge between theory and practice
Accessibility and affordability increase engagement and consistency with professional development
Community and shared learning strengthen confidence, identity and capability as a coach
 
Links and Resources:
https://igcompany.co.uk/howto
 
Keywords:
Coaching CPD 2026, accredited coaching CPD, bite size coaching training, coaching professional development, coaching skills development, coaching confidence training, coaching burnout CPD, live coaching workshops, coach accreditation CCEs, The Coaching Crowd podcast

What if the thought of training as a coach has been sitting with you for years for a reason you have not yet fully acknowledged?
As the new year begins, we slow the conversation down and ask a bigger question than whether coach training is a good idea. We explore whether 2026 is the year you finally make a clear decision either to step forward or to consciously let the idea go.
In this episode, we reflect on why coach training often stays on people's mental to do lists for far longer than expected. For many, it is not about gaining a qualification. It is about meaning, connection, identity, and the desire to do work that feels more aligned with personal values. We talk openly about the emotional and practical drivers behind the decision to train as a coach, including career pivots, leadership development, self-awareness, and the longing for deeper conversations at work and in life.
We also address what can quietly hold people back. Waiting to feel ready. Decision paralysis when comparing training providers. The pressure to have a fully formed plan before taking the first step. We share why readiness is rarely something you feel before you act and how clarity often follows commitment rather than precedes it.
Drawing on our own experiences, we reflect on how coach training develops far more than coaching skills. It builds emotional intelligence, confidence, boundaries, ethical practice, and the ability to work with human complexity in a grounded and responsible way. We discuss what coach training really involves and why discomfort and growth are part of the process rather than signs you are doing it wrong.
We also offer a balanced perspective on when coach training may not be the right choice. If you are seeking a quick financial fix, external validation, or if working with emotion actively drains you, this may not be the right investment at this stage of your life. Equally, we share why coaching continues to grow in relevance as human centred skills become more valuable in a world shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid change.
Throughout the conversation, we come back to a simple decision framework. Does it make sense in your head? Does it feel meaningful in your heart? Is there space in your calendar to make it work? When those three align, 2026 may well be the year you move forward.
This episode is an invitation to stop circling the same question and to make a conscious choice that frees up energy, whether that choice is to train as a coach or to redirect your focus elsewhere with confidence.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Why this question keeps returning year after year
01:21 Understanding the deeper needs behind coach training
03:09 Common reasons people feel drawn to coaching
04:03 What coach training actually involves
05:24 The myth of waiting until you feel ready
06:22 Choosing a training provider without paralysis
07:42 Questions to ask before committing to a programme
08:55 When coach training may not be the right choice
09:49 Sampling coaching before making a decision
12:37 Career strategy, confidence, and professional identity
14:26 How coach training can change your direction
15:49 Human skills in an AI driven world
18:32 A simple framework for making the decision
20:17 Taking action rather than waiting
 
Key Lessons Learned:
Coach training is rarely about the certificate and more about meaning, identity, and growth
Waiting to feel ready often delays clarity rather than creating it
Decision making improves when you listen to both head and heart
Coach training develops emotional intelligence, boundaries, and self-awareness
You do not need a full plan for how coaching will fit into your future to begin
Conscious decisions free up mental and emotional capacity
Human centred skills are becoming more valuable, not less
 
Links and Resources:
https://mycoachingcourse.com
https://igcompany.com
 
Keywords:
coach training, train as a coach, coaching career, coaching skills, becoming a coach, leadership coaching, personal development, emotional intelligence, career change coaching,

2026 CPD Accelerator: https://igcompany.com/CPD2026
What if the way you approach your CPD this year could fundamentally shape your confidence, energy, and impact as a coach?
In this episode, we sat down to have an honest, grounded conversation about what continuous professional development really looks like for coaches in practice, not theory. As Master Accredited Coaches and founders of an accredited coach training provider, we reflected openly on our own CPD journeys, including the years of intense learning, the quieter phases focused on business growth, and the moments where CPD crept up on us through deadlines, reaccreditation reminders, or a deep need for stimulation and renewal.
We explored why so many coaches fall into reactive CPD patterns, binge learning one year and neglecting it the next, and what happens when CPD becomes something you chase at the last minute rather than plan with intention. Throughout the conversation, we found ourseleves reflecting on how powerful it feels when CPD is aligned with who you are as a coach, the clients you serve, and the impact you want to have, rather than driven by fear, comparison, or industry pressure.
We talked about compassion fatigue, confidence dips, and the quiet anxiety that can show up when CV requests or accreditation deadlines land unexpectedly. We also explored the joy of learning for learning's sake, the gift of community and connection that comes from cohort-based CPD, and the way one programme can open doors you did not even know existed.
This episode is also about practicality. We discussed the importance of anchoring CPD into your diary, planning financially, and understanding your own learning preferences, whether that is bite-sized learning, intensive programmes, or facilitated cohorts. We share reflections on how CPD can reignite momentum for early-stage coaches, support experienced coaches returning after time away, and help those who trained years ago feel current, capable, and confident again in today's coaching landscape.
As we step into 2026, this conversation is an invitation to pause, reflect, and choose your CPD with clarity and intention. We also introduced the CPD Accelerator, a short, focused experience designed to help you map out your CPD for the year ahead in a way that feels supportive, energising, and achievable.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and why CPD matters at the start of a new year
00:57 Our personal experiences of binge learning and CPD cycles
01:50 Why coaches need CPD that reflects real client issues
03:36 Planning CPD with intention rather than urgency
04:35 Compassion fatigue and filling your own cup as a coach
06:18 Missing opportunities and the cost of not planning ahead
08:30 Choosing CPD from confidence rather than fear
09:49 The power of community and cohort-based learning
11:28 CPD for early-stage and returning coaches
14:37 When CPD is imperfect and still valuable
18:15 Introducing the CPD Accelerator for 2026
 
Key Lessons Learned:
CPD has the power to shape not only your skills, but your confidence, energy, and identity as a coach.
Planning CPD early creates focus, financial clarity, and space to choose learning that truly fits.
The best CPD is aligned with your strengths, gaps, and the clients you want to serve.
Community and connection are often as valuable as the content itself.
CPD works best when entered from a place of intention rather than panic or comparison.
 
Links & Resources:
CPD Accelerator: https://igcompany.com/CPD2026
 
Keywords:
Coach CPD 2026, coaching continuous professional development, CPD planning for coaches, coach accreditation CPD, coaching confidence development, professional development for coaches, coaching CPD programmes, coach learning and development,

What does a year of growth really look like when you step away from the highlight reel and tell the truth?
As we reach the end of 2025, we wanted to pause and pull back the curtain on what this year has genuinely been like for us behind the scenes. This episode is an honest, reflective conversation about the reality of running a values led coaching business through a year of challenge, change, and deep learning.
We talk openly about the tension between what people often see from the outside and what it has actually felt like to be inside the business. This year has asked a lot of us. There have been moments of momentum and celebration alongside periods of complexity, uncertainty, and sustained effort that few people ever witness.
We reflect on how a trip to Dubai at the start of the year became a catalyst for significant shifts in our thinking. Stepping into a different environment gave us the space to see long standing business bottlenecks with fresh eyes. What had felt heavy and immovable suddenly became solvable. That experience reshaped how we approached systems, automation, and the role technology plays in supporting rather than draining a coaching business.
We share what it took to bring our Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching programme to life, both in its full facilitated form and later through the Essentials offering. These programmes hold enormous meaning for us, not only because of their impact on coaches and clients, but because of the care, collaboration, and emotional labour involved in creating them well. This year reminded us why programme creation is so demanding and why integrity in delivery matters deeply to us.
Much of 2025 has been about strengthening the foundations of the business. We talk about the unglamorous but essential work of refining processes, documenting systems, onboarding team members, and rebuilding parts of the business from the ground up to support scale. This included changing payment systems, migrating our website from co.uk to com, securing trademarks, and rethinking how we structure qualifications and CPD.
Alongside all of this, there has been personal growth. We reflect on stepping back into facilitation, reconnecting with learners, and the fulfilment that comes from being closer to the heart of the work. We also share how this year has prompted bigger questions about brand identity, marketing, and how we want to be known as a global coaching organisation.
This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own year with honesty and compassion. Whether you are running a coaching business, leading in an organisation, or navigating change, we hope our reflections offer reassurance, perspective, and a reminder that progress is often quieter and messier than it appears.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and why we reflect at the end of each year
01:24 Why 2025 felt challenging as well as successful
01:54 The Dubai trip that changed how we saw our business
02:53 Gaining fresh perspective on systems and processes
05:17 Launching our Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching programme
06:42 Creating accessible pathways through Essentials
08:04 Rebuilding systems and standard operating procedures
09:52 Moving from co.uk to com and what it represented
11:48 Returning to facilitation and reconnecting with learners
14:32 Securing trademarks and protecting the brand
15:29 Refreshing our ILM Level 3 coaching qualification
16:55 Corporate partnerships and ripple effects of coaching
18:22 Scaling responsibly and supporting hundreds of learners
21:29 Looking ahead to 2026 with clarity and optimism
 
Key Lessons Learned:
Stepping away from the day to day can unlock solutions that feel impossible when you stay too close
Strong systems are not restrictive, they create freedom and sustainability
Inclusive programme design requires time, care, and collaboration
Scaling a coaching business often means rebuilding rather than adding on
Reconnecting with clients and learners keeps the heart of the work alive
Brand decisions are as emotional as they are strategic
Continuous improvement is demanding but deeply worthwhile
 
Links and Resources:
www.igcompany.com/ilmcall
www.mycoachingcourse.com 
 
Keywords:
coaching business growth, behind the scenes coaching, neurodivergent inclusive coaching, coaching qualifications UK, coaching CPD programmes, emotional coaching practice, coaching business systems, coach training programmes, coaching leadership development, The Coaching Crowd podcast,