Have you ever caught yourself labelling your emotions as either good or bad, and wondered how that shapes the way you coach or experience life?

In this episode of the podcast we begin a six-part series exploring the six principles of emotions coaching, drawn from our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training. We open with the very first principle: Emotions are neither good nor bad.

Too often, we attach labels to our feelings. We might view stress or anxiety as “bad” and chase after happiness as “good.” But when we categorise emotions in this way, we miss out on their deeper value. In our conversation, Jo and I share how emotions become defined not by their presence, but by the beliefs we attach to them.

Zoe reflects on her own journey of recognising anxiety, an emotion she once denied, and how opening space for it led her to new levels of self-awareness and healthier strategies. We also discuss how coaches can inadvertently get pulled into their clients’ “get away from” energy, and how holding space with neutrality invites curiosity, possibility, and transformational growth.

Throughout this episode, we show why suspending judgement around emotions is one of the most powerful coaching tools you can bring to your practice. Rather than trying to “fix” a client’s feelings, emotions coaching creates the conditions for richer insight, more authentic self-connection, and ultimately, greater transformation.

Timestamps:

• 00:30 – Introducing the six-part emotions coaching series
• 00:57 – What it means that emotions are neither good nor bad
• 02:20 – How clients bring emotions into coaching sessions
• 03:35 – The role of neutrality and curiosity in coaching
• 06:19 – Zoe’s personal experience of recognising anxiety
• 08:39 – Why emotions carry wisdom and strategies
• 13:16 – Coaching conversations around anger and fear
• 16:38 – Boundaries, aggression, and coaching at the root cause
• 18:40 – Why emotions coaching is not “fluffy” but deeply transformational
• 21:01 – The power of startling questions in coaching
• 22:00 – How to develop your own emotions coaching toolkit

Key Lessons Learned:

• Labelling emotions as good or bad prevents us from accessing their full value.
• Curiosity and neutrality allow clients to explore emotions without fear or resistance.
• Denying emotions (like anxiety or anger) can cause them to resurface in unhelpful ways.
• Emotions often carry wisdom, strategies, and insight when welcomed rather than avoided.
• Coaches add transformational depth by holding space for emotions instead of rushing to “fix” them.
• Leaders, executives, and clients alike benefit from having permission to explore emotions beyond surface goals.

Keywords:

Emotions coaching, Coaching principles, Neutrality in coaching, Transformational coaching, Coaching and anxiety, Emotional intelligence coaching, Anger in coaching conversations, Coaching for leaders, Stress and coaching practice, Emotions are neither good nor bad,

Links & Resources:

• http://www.igcompany.com/emotionscoaching

What is the greatest risk of not developing coaching skills, and how might that decision shape your life and career?

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the risks of not training to be a coach. We reflect on the subtle but significant ways coaching skills transform lives, relationships, leadership, wellbeing, and what happens when we don’t invest in them.

As we explored this theme, we found ourselves thinking back to our own journeys. Had we not stepped into coaching, we know our confidence, resilience, relationships, and even the material aspects of our lives would look entirely different. Coaching has not only deepened our self-awareness but also enabled us to build stronger connections, communicate with impact, and navigate challenges with courage.

In this conversation, we highlight 9.5 key risks that come from not being a coach. We talk about self-awareness as the foundation, the importance of emotional intelligence, and how disconnected intuition often leaves leaders overthinking at 4am. We also discuss the impact of coaching on problem-solving, inclusion, resilience, and future leadership in a world shaped by AI and rapid change.

One of the most profound reflections for me was realising that without coaching skills, we risk staying the same, missing out on our unrealised potential, stronger relationships, and the ability to influence the world around us. The greatest risk may not be failure but never stepping into what could have been possible.

Whether you’re considering training to be a coach, or you’re curious about the wider benefits coaching can bring, this episode will give you a heartfelt and thought-provoking insight into why coaching matters more than ever.

Timestamps:

• 00:29 – Framing the question: what are the risks of not being a coach?
• 01:23 – Self-awareness as the foundation of growth
• 03:16 – Emotional intelligence and relationships
• 07:32 – Advanced communication skills and listening
• 08:30 – Reconnecting with intuition
• 12:09 – The future of work, AI, and the role of coaching
• 14:24 – Inclusion, belonging, and building cultures that matter
• 15:22 – Beyond the self: the systemic risks of not coaching
• 18:11 – Problem-solving, resilience, and wellbeing
• 22:20 – Coaching as courage, presence, and connection
• 24:46 – The greatest risk: staying the same

Key Lessons Learned:

• Without self-awareness, we risk limiting both our growth and the quality of our relationships.
• Emotional intelligence is not optional; it is essential for effective leadership and connection.
• Coaching develops advanced communication skills that prevent misunderstanding and strengthen trust.
• Intuition is an undervalued skill, coaching helps us to reconnect with it and reduce overthinking.
• In a world shaped by AI, coaching and human connection are the differentiators for future leaders.
• Coaching contributes to inclusive cultures and a genuine sense of belonging.
• A coaching mindset supports resilience, problem-solving, and wellbeing.
• Without coaching, we risk playing small, staying in old patterns, and never reaching our potential.
• The systemic risk is greater disconnection in workplaces and communities without coaching skills.

Keywords Used:

coaching skills, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, leadership development, communication skills, intuition, future of work, inclusion and belonging, resilience and wellbeing, risks of not being a coach

Links & Resources:

• Coaching Quiz: mycoachingcourse.com

Do you really listen to ignite transformation, or are you listening to respond?

When we think about our journey as a coach, one of the most powerful realisations has been that listening is not a passive act. It is an intentional, transformational choice that shapes the depth and quality of our conversations. In this episode we revisit listening as a critical coaching skill. Out of more than 200 episodes, we’ve only devoted 1 to listening before, which shows how easy it is to overlook this essential foundation of coaching.

We explore what it means to listen not just with our ears but with our eyes, intuition, body, and presence. We reflect on Nancy Kline’s idea that listening well is not about preparing your next response but about igniting something in another person. From the earliest stage of self-focused listening to Otto Scharmer’s concept of generative listening, we walk through the levels of listening and share how they show up in coaching and everyday life.

We reflect on moments when clients have asked us, “How did you know that?” They hadn’t explicitly told us something, but deep listening allowed us to hear what was unspoken. That level of listening is about creating a space where clients can feel deeply seen and heard, sometimes hearing themselves clearly for the first time in a long while.

We also challenge the myth that one level of listening is “good” and another “bad”. Context matters. For example, neurodivergent clients may experience listening as most supportive when a coach shares something of their own in return. Listening, then, is not linear. It’s about attuning to the needs of the individual in front of you.

This episode is both practical and reflective. We discuss summarising with the client’s own words, listening for emotion as well as content, and noticing the subtle shifts in tone, silence, or energy that can reveal deeper truths. Listening is not just about technique, it is about presence, compassion, and the courage to step aside so the client’s voice can emerge.

If you’ve ever wondered what sets coaching apart from everyday conversation, this episode highlights why listening is the art and science at the heart of transformational coaching.

Timestamps:

• 00:50 – Why listening is the foundation of coaching
• 01:20 – Nancy Kline’s perspective: listening to ignite, not to respond
• 03:11 – Listening with eyes, body, and intuition
• 05:02 – Helping clients hear themselves clearly
• 07:25 – Why context matters: different listening styles for different clients
• 10:40 – The difference between listening in coaching vs everyday conversation
• 13:28 – Listening beyond words: noticing silence, energy, and emotion
• 16:20 – The role of presence and unlearning in coaching conversations
• 19:36 – Giving clients time to find and hear their own voice
• 21:01 – Practising transformational listening in everyday life

Key Lessons Learned:

• Listening is not about waiting to respond, it is about creating space for transformation.
• Different levels of listening exist, from self-focused to generative, and each has a place depending on context.
• Deep listening involves presence, intuition, and attention to both what is said and what is unsaid.
• Coaching requires unlearning conversational habits such as rushing to fix, summarising for ourselves, or inserting our own agenda.
• Presence and listening go hand in hand, true transformational listening helps clients reconnect with their own voice.

Keywords:

Transformational listening, levels of listening in coaching, Nancy Kline listening, generative listening, coaching skills, deep listening, presence in coaching, active listening techniques, emotional listening, effective coaching conversations,

Links & Resources:

• Take the quiz to find the right coaching qualification for you: mycoachingcourse.com

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