The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins cover art

The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins

The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins

By: Jo Wheatley and Zoe Hawkins
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 The Coaching Crowd® Podcast is a weekly podcast for compassionate, courageous leaders, HR professionals and high achievers who are passionate about helping others to find alignment in their lives through coaching, and who are thinking of training and developing as a coach. Hosted by Zoe Hawkins and Jo Wheatley, Founders of Global Coaching Training Company "In Good Company" (https://www.igcompany.co.uk). Zoe and Jo are Master Accredited, Award Winning and Multi Award Nominated coaches, coach trainers and coach supervisors. They are authors of the best selling book 'Deciding to Coach: The Mindset & Business Strategy For Aspiring Coaches'. Each episode focuses on a different element of what it is to be a coach and you'll listen in as Zoe and Jo discuss the topic through different lenses. You'll discover practical tools and resources you need to support your coaching as you learn all about becoming a qualified and certified coach. This podcast is a go-to resource for learning more about coaching and the mindset needed to be a world class coach. You'll learn how to enable clients to truly know who they are, what their hearts call for and how to understand their values, beliefs and unconscious needs. Coaching goes beyond professional success and personal fulfilment and focuses on supporting everyday mental health. As you learn more about coaching, you learn to coach yourself. You are In Good Company with The Coaching Crowd®. In Good Company offers accredited coaching qualifications for individuals and organisations around the world, as well as ground breaking accredited CPD for coaches such as the trade marked Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training. You can join our courses and learn more about our communities here www.igcompany.co.uk and take our free quiz to find out which coaching course is right for you www.mycoachingcourse.com.© 2025 In Good Company Career Success Economics Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Is the Coaching Market Saturated?

    Is the Coaching Market Saturated?
    Nov 24 2025
    Have you ever looked around at the growing number of coaches and wondered whether there is still space for you to build a thriving practice? In this episode we explore one of the most common concerns we hear from aspiring and experienced coaches: whether the coaching market is saturated. It is a question often rooted in fear and uncertainty, particularly for those stepping into the profession for the first time. As we reflect on this conversation, we notice how often this question reveals something deeper. It is rarely about the market itself. It is usually about whether there is space for me. Throughout the episode, we walk through the realities of an expanding coaching industry and what that means for those entering the field today. Demand for personal and professional development continues to rise and coaching has become a mainstream development tool across organisations, wellbeing programmes and leadership pipelines. Yet it is easy to feel overwhelmed when every social feed appears full of coaches promoting their services. Decision fatigue is real, and so is the sense of comparison. We share honest reflections on why differentiation matters more than ever. When we understand how we help people, what problems we solve and who we serve, the market suddenly feels much less crowded. We talk about the importance of niche clarity, emotional connection and business strategy, and how coaches can create meaningful impact by aligning their work with their values, expertise and purpose. We also explore fast-growing areas of coaching including neurodiversity coaching, team coaching and group coaching, as well as the shifting landscape created by AI. Some coaches incorporate technology into their practice while others intentionally lean into a deeply human approach. Both routes have value. Both reveal opportunities for growth. This episode is a reminder that saturation is a perspective, not a fixed truth. When you zoom out and consider the billions of people navigating work, life and change, the opportunities for coaching are vast. The real question becomes: how can I differentiate myself within a thriving, expanding market and create the conditions to succeed? If you are curious about training as a coach and want support in choosing the right route for you, I signpost you to the Coaching Crowd quiz, which brings clarity to that decision-making process and helps you understand where you fit best within the coaching world. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and framing the question 01:20 Why people worry about market saturation 03:00 The rise in coaching demand and industry growth 04:10 How niche clarity cuts through market noise 05:40 Perspective, fear and evidence-gathering 07:15 Zooming out to a global view of opportunity 08:50 Emerging coaching niches and industry trends 10:00 The role of AI and future-ready coaching models 11:20 Differentiation through values, credibility and brand 12:45 How coaching training shapes identity and purpose 14:10 Why coaching is now a mainstream development strategy 16:10 Personal and professional growth through coaching skills 18:20 Realism, resilience and navigating industry cycles 19:40 Why demand for ethical, skilled coaches continues to grow 20:55 Final reflections and invitation to take the Coaching Crowd quiz Key Lessons Learned: Saturation is often a fear-based perspective rather than an industry reality.Differentiation is key. When you communicate your value clearly, the market feels significantly less competitive.Demand for coaching continues to grow across corporate, personal development and wellbeing sectors.Coaching niches are expanding rapidly, particularly in neurodiversity, team development and group coaching.Global demand far exceeds current coaching capacity, creating long-term opportunity.Technology and AI will shape future coaching models, but human connection remains irreplaceable.Clear positioning, professional training and accreditation create confidence for both coach and client.Coaches who understand their purpose and values attract clients who resonate with their approach.Coaching skills enhance leadership capability far beyond traditional coaching roles.Becoming a coach often leads individuals to invest more deeply in coaching themselves, further growing the market. Keywords: coaching industry growth, coaching market saturation, becoming a coach, coaching niches, coaching demand, wellbeing and coaching, neurodiversity coaching, coaching qualifications, group coaching, leadership coaching skills, Links and Resources: www.mycoachingcourse.com
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    20 mins
  • Is Coaching Who You Are or What You Do

    Is Coaching Who You Are or What You Do
    Nov 17 2025

    Have you ever wondered whether coaching is something you do or something you are?

    In this episode, we dive into a powerful identity-based question that often emerges when people consider a future in coaching: is coaching fundamentally a skillset, or is it an expression of who we are at our core?

    We explore how coaching can be seen as an external activity, a profession where we learn models, techniques and structures to support people with their goals. Coaching becomes the thing we do to make a living, with our craft built through continuous learning and development.

    At the same time, coaching can also be deeply rooted in how we naturally move through the world. When curiosity, deep listening and a desire to understand others feel instinctive, coaching may feel like an extension of our identity rather than a role to step into.

    We reflect on our own journey, where coaching felt like who we were before it became what we did. We share that, learning the skills came first, which then enabled us to identity as a coach to grow. We've seen so many coaches discover coaching in both directions, and neither path is more valid or successful than the other.

    We also discuss the reality that coaching evolves over time. As our coaching maturity develops, our presence deepens. The identity a coach holds today will not be the same identity they hold in ten years. Coaching can grow with us as our practice and confidence expand.

    And crucially, coaches are human beings first. There can be pressure when we over-identify with the coach role. We talk openly about releasing the expectation to embody our coach persona in every moment of life, especially when parenting, navigating stress, or juggling the many facets of running a business.

    This episode is an invitation to reflect, stretch your thinking, and recognise that both identity and action shape what it means to coach. You don't need a definitive answer. Sometimes the power lies in the exploration itself.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 – Why we're asking: is coaching who you are or what you do?
    00:53 – Defining coaching as a skillset and profession
    02:24 – Coaching as identity and a way of being
    03:46 – How coaches find their path into coaching
    05:12 – Innate qualities vs trained skills
    07:03 – Coaching styles, diversity and inclusivity
    09:16 – Presence and how it shapes our experience of coaching
    10:11 – Over-identifying with the coach identity
    12:26 – The energy and consciousness behind coaching
    15:21 – Who gets to define what coaching is?
    17:16 – Evolution of coaching practice and competencies
    18:41 – Final reflections and invitation to explore coaching further

    Key Lessons Learned:

    • Coaching can be both a role we perform and a core part of who we are
    • Skill development and personal identity evolve together in coaching practice
    • No single pathway into coaching is more valid than another
    • Over-identification with being a coach can limit our humanity
    • Coaching continues to change and modernise as the profession matures
    • Presence requires energy, awareness and skill, it is not a constant state
    • The freedom to define your style is one of the greatest strengths of coaching

    Keywords:

    coaching identity, coaching skills, what is coaching, coaching profession, coach development, becoming a coach, coaching mindset, deep listening, coaching journey, coaching presence,

    Links & Resources:

    • igcompany.com/ilmcall
    • igcompany.com
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • How to become an ADHD Coach

    How to become an ADHD Coach
    Nov 10 2025
    Have you ever felt drawn to help others navigate the unique challenges and strengths that come with ADHD, yet wondered what it truly takes to call yourself an ADHD coach? In this episode, we explore one of the questions we're asked most often; How to become an ADHD coach. As more people receive ADHD diagnoses, many coaches are curious about how they can ethically and effectively support this community. Through our discussion, we share insights from our experience as accredited training providers and as coaches who work extensively in the neurodivergent space. We begin by unpacking the difference between being a coach who works with clients who have ADHD and being an ADHD specialist coach. That distinction matters, because it shapes how you present yourself in the market and the depth of knowledge you need to support clients responsibly. We discuss why true ADHD coaching requires more than a quick online certificate. Coaching neurodivergent clients demands strong foundational coaching skills and a deep understanding of neurodivergence, trauma, and inclusivity. Ethical practice starts with accreditation, understanding professional standards, codes of conduct, and trauma-informed approaches. We also reflect on the importance of seeing clients as whole people, not as a label or diagnosis. While ADHD may influence how someone experiences the world, it doesn't define them. In every coaching conversation, we meet individuals with careers, relationships, goals, and emotions that extend far beyond their diagnosis. A powerful part of our conversation focuses on lived experience. Many aspiring ADHD coaches are themselves neurodivergent, which brings empathy and connection, but it can also blur professional boundaries. We explore how to honour that lived experience without projecting it onto clients and how supervision and reflective practice protect both coach and client. As we close, we talk about the routes available for coaches who want to deepen their expertise, from our Level 7 Coaching Qualification to our Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching Essentials and full Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching Programme. Whether you're starting your coaching journey or looking to specialise, this episode offers a grounded view of what ethical, inclusive ADHD coaching looks like in practice. Timestamps: 00:48 – The difference between an ADHD coach and a coach working with ADHD clients02:35 – Understanding co-occurring conditions and the importance of inclusivity04:29 – Why short ADHD coach training courses can be misleading05:47 – Seeing the whole person, not just the diagnosis09:55 – Accreditation, CPD and what ethical practice looks like12:02 – The role of lived experience in building trust and navigating boundaries14:20 – How neurodivergence changes the way we interpret client behaviour15:34 – Recognising gaps in your knowledge and choosing the right training16:59 – Celebrating the growing demand for inclusive coaching Key Lessons Learned: Ethical ADHD coaching begins with strong, accredited foundational coaching skills.ADHD rarely exists in isolation; understanding co-occurring conditions is vital.Lived experience can build trust, but reflection and supervision protect the coaching relationship.Trauma-informed and inclusive practice are essential for supporting neurodivergent clients.True specialism requires depth, time, and commitment, not a quick online course.Clients want coaches who understand their individuality, not their label.Accreditation demonstrates professionalism and builds client confidence.Continuous professional development ensures you evolve with the growing field of neurodiversity.Inclusive language and awareness create safer, more empowering coaching spaces.The future of coaching lies in understanding and celebrating neurodiversity, not reducing it to a niche. Keywords: ADHD coach, ADHD coaching training, neurodivergent inclusive coaching, ICF accredited coaching, ethical coaching, trauma-informed coaching, neurodiversity in coaching, ADHD coaching certification UK, inclusive coaching practice, professional coach accreditation, Links & Resources: igcompany.com/ndessentialsigcompany.com
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
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