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,