What happens when coaches slow down, listen deeply, and answer the questions they are rarely asked out loud?

This episode felt different from the outset. This week we sat down without scripts, without rehearsed answers, and without certainty about where the conversation would land. What we had instead was trust. Trust in the coaching process, trust in each other, and trust in the questions our listeners brought to us.

We invited our listeners to share the coaching questions they find themselves holding, whether that is something they wrestle with in sessions, reflect on in supervision, or wonder about quietly in their own practice. What came back was a rich mix of practical dilemmas, reflective prompts, and deeply human concerns about confidence, emotional boundaries, challenge, and connection.

As we read each question aloud, we answered in real time. That meant responding from lived experience rather than polished theory. At points we noticed ourselves pausing, reflecting, and even sitting with uncertainty. That felt important. Coaching does not always offer clean answers, and this episode honours that reality.

We explored what it means to interrupt a client with care, how to think about failure when it does not feel like the real blocker, and what to do when a client triggers discomfort or resistance in us as coaches. We also talked honestly about homework in coaching, emotional load, negativity, and the blurred edges between coaching and everyday relationships with family.

What stayed with us after recording, was a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the honesty of our listeners, for the depth of the coaching profession, and for the privilege of being trusted with these kinds of questions. This episode is less about expertise and more about presence, reflection, and shared learning.

Listener Questions and Reflections

How do you catch a client who talks incessantly and keeps going over old ground without feeling disrespectful

We reflected on the power of contracting at the start of sessions and being intentional with opening questions. Clear focus, permission to interrupt, and shared agreement on how to work together can transform this dynamic. we were particularly struck by the invitation to explore our own beliefs about interruption and respect, and how supervision can help unpack what feels uncomfortable for us as coaches.

What would you do if you could not fail

This question opened a deeper exploration of fear, risk, and attachment to outcomes. Neither of us felt that failure itself was the real barrier. Instead, we reflected on decision-making, tolerance for uncertainty, and how detachment from outcomes can create freedom and momentum.

What do you do if you do not like a client

Rather than seeing this as a problem, we framed it as data. Strong reactions are information. They invite curiosity, supervision, and self-reflection. Often, the clients who challenge us the most offer the richest learning and some of our most impactful coaching.

Is homework essential for progress in coaching

Our shared view was clear. Homework is not essential and should never be imposed. Progress comes from what the client chooses to take forward. Suggestions can be offered with care and consent, but the relationship must remain adult to adult, not expert to student.

How can coaches hold space without taking on emotional load

This question led us into beliefs about emotions, responsibility, and energy. We talked about preparation, grounding practices, and trusting that clients are capable of holding their own emotional experience. Sustainable coaching starts with how we relate to emotions, including our own.

Is coaching friends and family ever a challenge

We shared honest reflections about boundaries, self-awareness, and knowing when to step out of the coaching role. Coaching training changes how we see the world, but discernment matters. Not every moment calls for a coaching response.

How do you coach someone who always returns to negativity

We emphasised the importance of contracting for challenge and being honest about usefulness. Coaching is not about forcing change. Sometimes the most ethical choice is to question whether the coaching relationship remains the right support.

Are there clients who stay with you the most

Rather than naming one individual, we spoke about groups of clients who shape us at different stages of our development. What stayed with us was the sense of privilege in being invited into someone's inner world and witnessing their growth over time.

What keeps you awake at night

This question brought humour, honesty, and insight. From ideas and inspiration to family life and physical rhythms, it was a reminder that coaches are human first, reflective second, and professional always.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and episode context 01:00 Coaching a client who talks incessantly 06:45 What would you do if you could not fail 11:36 What if you do not like a client 14:20 Is homework essential in coaching 18:30 Holding space without taking on emotional load 22:36 Coaching in everyday family conversations 28:04 Coaching clients who focus on negativity 30:33 Clients who stay with you the most 33:46 What keeps you awake at night 37:25 Closing reflections and invitation to listeners

Keywords:

coaching questions, coaching confidence, emotional coaching, holding space in coaching, coaching supervision, coach client relationship, coaching boundaries, coaching reflection, coaching challenges professional coaching practice,

Links and Resources:

www.igcompany.com/ilmcall www.mycoachingcourse.com