Have you ever reached a point where burnout reshaped your sense of who you are and what you want next in life?

In this episode, we explore the tender, transformative journey that so many people move through when they decide to train as a coach after experiencing burnout. This conversation matters because burnout rarely leaves life untouched. It rewires priorities, reframes identity, and forces us to acknowledge that our wellbeing is the most important asset we have.

Throughout the discussion, we reflect on why individuals arrive at coach training following burnout and what they discover about themselves in the process. We talk about the shift from depletion to purpose, the desire to reconnect with meaning, and the way burnout creates fertile ground for growth once we begin to resource ourselves again.

We acknowledge how disorientating burnout can be. It can feel frightening and destabilising, yet it can also illuminate our non-negotiables and reveal the parts of life that need to change. As we explore this, we share how coaching becomes a powerful pathway towards rebuilding confidence, rediscovering identity, and reconnecting with values.

We dive into the emotional experience behind this choice. Many people arrive having encountered support through counselling, therapy, mentoring or coaching, realising that they want to help others in the same way they have been supported. Others arrive because their old world no longer fits who they have become. They do not return to their pre burnout life because it no longer feels like home. Coaching offers a forward focused space where they can shape what comes next.

Throughout the episode, we reflect on the deep sense of safety and acceptance within the coaching community. We talk about how shame often accompanies burnout and how that shame is released when individuals step into an environment where life experience is valued rather than judged.

We explore how coaching training becomes a healing process. Not always intentionally so, but in practice it reconnects people with the belief that they are enough. It helps them see themselves with compassion rather than criticism. It builds emotional honesty, self-awareness, and a renewed sense of possibility.

We also reflect on how passion and purpose must be channelled with awareness. Burnout can occur in work that is deeply meaningful as well as work that is unfulfilling. Coaching training helps individuals see where their needs are not being met, where boundaries must shift, and how systemic pressures may be influencing their wellbeing.

This episode is an invitation to anyone who has experienced burnout to consider how that experience might become a catalyst for growth. Coaching training can be the place where confidence is rebuilt, identity is reclaimed, and a new sense of purpose emerges.

Timestamps:

00.00 Welcome and introduction 00.28 Why burnout leads people towards coach training 00.56 How burnout reshapes identity 01.48 Rebuilding confidence and recognising personal needs 03.45 Entering the fertile ground of growth after burnout 04.14 When returning to old roles no longer feels aligned 05.11 Developing the belief that we are enough 06.13 Releasing shame and finding acceptance in coaching communities 07.32 Understanding mindset, values and beliefs during coach training 08.56 The courage required to share personal experiences 10.21 Recognising burnout risks and unmet needs 11.18 Monitoring wellbeing and understanding control 12.39 Increasing self awareness through coaching skills 14.36 The emotional honesty coaching encourages 15.05 Recognising burnout in clients and systemic pressures 17.00 Why people seek the source of coaching skills 17.58 Channelling ambition into something healthy 19.22 Feeling busy without becoming depleted 20.20 Creating a sustainable coaching life 20.49 Coaching as an oasis after burnout 21.18 How to explore coach training

Key Lessons Learned:

• Burnout often becomes a catalyst for reassessing identity, values and life direction.
• Coaching training provides a safe, accepting environment where individuals can release shame and rebuild confidence.
• The coaching journey is as healing as it is educational, helping people reconnect with the belief that they are enough.
• Passion driven individuals are at risk of burnout, and coaching skills help them understand and manage their needs.
• Coaching offers a future focused path that helps people move forward when returning to old roles no longer feels possible.
• Self awareness, emotional honesty and compassion are key outcomes of coach training after burnout.
• Life experience becomes a powerful asset within the coaching profession, not a limitation.

Keywords:

training to be a coach, coaching after burnout, burnout recovery, coach training journey, emotional wellbeing, values led coaching, identity after burnout, confidence building, self-awareness coaching, healing through coaching

Links and Resources:

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

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

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

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 clients
• 02:35 – Understanding co-occurring conditions and the importance of inclusivity
• 04:29 – Why short ADHD coach training courses can be misleading
• 05:47 – Seeing the whole person, not just the diagnosis
• 09:55 – Accreditation, CPD and what ethical practice looks like
• 12:02 – The role of lived experience in building trust and navigating boundaries
• 14:20 – How neurodivergence changes the way we interpret client behaviour
• 15:34 – Recognising gaps in your knowledge and choosing the right training
• 16:59 – 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/ndessentials
• igcompany.com

Have you ever wondered how people manage to train as a coach while juggling a full-time job, family, and everything else life throws their way?

In this episode, we explore one of the most common questions we hear:

How can I train as a coach when I already work full time?

We know from experience that most people who come to train with us are balancing busy lives, full-time jobs, caring responsibilities, and personal commitments. And yet, many find that their coaching qualification becomes the highlight of their week, a time to step into a space that's entirely for them.

We talk about the practicalities, mindset, and support systems that make this possible. From flexible formats and payment options to honest conversations with employers, we share the approaches that have helped hundreds of learners succeed in training while working full time.

We discuss the range of formats available, including evening, morning, weekend, and self-guided options, and how learners find creative ways to integrate their studies into their lives. Whether it's fitting in lessons during lunch breaks, listening to content while walking the dog, or negotiating time off work, there are countless routes to make it work.

Beyond logistics, we explore the mindset that makes the biggest difference. Training to be a coach isn't only a professional investment, it's a personal one. The moment you shift from asking "Am I ready?" to "How can I make this work?", everything changes.

We share personal stories from our own coaching journeys, from completing qualifications with young children to navigating demanding roles, and the lessons that shaped how we now support others through this process.

We also talk about the value of employer sponsorship and how organisations increasingly recognise coaching as a way to develop culture, leadership and connection within teams. Many of our learners find that their organisations not only support them financially but also benefit from the ripple effects of their growth.

By the end of this episode, you'll come away with practical tools, encouragement and the reassurance that training to be a coach while working full time isn't only possible, it could be one of the most transformative decisions you ever make.

Timestamps:

• 00:01 – Why most trainee coaches balance learning with full-time work
• 00:57 – How life commitments coexist with coaching study
• 02:21 – Flexible learning formats that fit around your schedule
• 03:51 – Managing missed sessions and staying on track
• 04:17 – Payment options and accessibility
• 05:17 – Choosing the format that fits your energy and lifestyle
• 06:34 – Employer support and building a business case for funding
• 09:24 – The mindset shift that helps you commit and thrive
• 10:52 – Making coaching a personal priority
• 12:20 – Understanding the true time commitment
• 13:15 – Practising through triads and structured peer learning
• 14:44 – Why investing in coaching changes everything
• 15:37 – Finding time by changing perspective and routine
• 16:30 – Adapting your learning style for flexibility
• 17:00 – How to make your environment support your goal
• 18:51 – Role modelling lifelong learning for others
• 19:17 – Turning intention into reality and taking the next step

Key Lessons Learned:

• It's entirely possible to train as a coach while working full time with the right mindset and structure.
• Flexibility in format and timing means coaching qualifications can fit around real life.
• Shifting your question from "Is it the right time?" to "How can I make it work?" changes everything.
• Employer sponsorship can create win–win outcome, for your growth and your organisation's culture.
• Treating your coaching training as an act of self-investment fuels motivation and resilience.
• Clear time planning and communication at home and work are essential for success.
• Every learner's journey is unique, there's no single "perfect" way to do it.
• Training as a coach while working builds powerful habits of reflection and self-leadership.
• The return on investment goes far beyond career progression, it transforms how you think, feel and connect.
• Starting now often becomes the most impactful decision for your future self.

Keywords:

train as a coach while working full time, coaching qualification, coaching career development, flexible coaching training, online coaching courses UK, emotional coaching, mindset for success, accredited coaching programmes, coaching while employed, professional coach training,

Links & Resources:

• Take our Coaching Course Quiz – mycoachingcourse.com
• Explore Accredited Coaching Qualifications – igcompany.com
• Book a call – igcompany.com/ILM-call

Have you ever felt like your emotions are running the show, as though you're at the mercy of how you feel rather than in control of it?

In this episode, we explore one of the most liberating principles in emotional coaching, the idea that:

You can choose your emotions.

It might sound idealistic at first, yet through our conversation we unpack what it truly means to take ownership of your emotional world and experience greater freedom within it.

As we close our six-part Emotions Coaching series, we dive deep into how this principle nurtures confidence, emotional resilience, and wellbeing. We talk about the belief that while we can't always choose our circumstances or the people around us, we can always choose how we respond. This is what we call emotional freedom, being response-able rather than reactive.

Throughout the episode, we reflect on how coaching invites people to explore how they want to feel, not only how they currently feel. It's a powerful shift that opens the door to new possibilities and helps align emotions with meaningful action.

We discuss the importance of moving from default emotional scripts towards more conscious, choice-driven responses that honour who we are today and who we aspire to become.

We also share how this principle comes alive in real coaching sessions: how a gentle "What if you could choose how you feel right now?" can help clients open up new emotional landscapes, and why validating current emotions before introducing this idea is crucial.

From building self-leadership to navigating the tension between responsibility and blame, this episode encourages listeners to experiment with emotional choice in their daily lives. We even share a light-hearted story about how this plays out in our own relationships, proof that emotional awareness doesn't mean perfection, but presence, curiosity, and compassion.

Choosing your emotions is about living life by design. When you step into the belief that emotional choice is possible, you begin shaping a life led by intention, not reaction.

Timestamps:

• 00:27 – Why emotional choice nurtures confidence and wellbeing
• 01:25 – Understanding emotional freedom and being "response-able"
• 02:18 – Coaching conversations that invite emotional choice
• 03:44 – Breaking free from default emotional scripts
• 05:10 – Aligning emotions and action in coaching
• 06:03 – The power of "What if you could choose how you feel right now?"
• 07:28 – Recognising emotional discounting in clients
• 09:45 – Emotional choice as part of everyday self-leadership
• 11:11 – Designing your emotional experience
• 13:02 – How to introduce emotional choice safely in coaching
• 15:12 – Projection, resistance, and emotional responsibility
• 17:51 – Balancing ownership with compassion
• 18:48 – Emotional choice as liberation and empowerment
• 19:17 – How to learn more through our accredited programmes

Key Lessons Learned:

• Emotional choice begins with awareness, recognising you can shift how you feel opens the door to freedom.
• Coaching creates a unique space where people can explore how they want to feel, not only how they currently feel.
• Emotional freedom means moving from reaction to response, from script to self-leadership.
• Taking ownership of your emotions enhances confidence and wellbeing, especially when life feels uncertain.
• Introducing emotional choice requires sensitivity, timing and compassion are key to helping clients embrace it.
• Living by emotional design means choosing alignment between feeling, thinking, and doing.
• Responsibility brings freedom; when we own our emotions, we access choice, growth, and empowerment.

Keywords:

emotional freedom, emotions coaching, choosing emotions, emotional intelligence, self-leadership, coaching skills, personal growth, mindset coaching, emotional resilience, emotional awareness

Links:

Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training (ICF accredited): igcompany.com/emotionscoaching

Coaching Qualifications and Quiz: mycoachingcourse.com

Have you ever noticed how emotions from the past or fears of the future can quietly shape the choices you make today?

In this episode, we explore the fifth principle from our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training that,

…emotions are interlinked.

We reflect on how emotions move through time, intertwining between past, present and future, and how this shows up in coaching conversations. We discuss how clients can become anchored in the future, unable to act in the present, and how others may carry echoes of past experiences that colour their emotions today.

Through our own reflections and client examples, we talk about what happens when a person's emotions are entangled with future outcomes that haven't yet arrived. Zoe shares a personal story about navigating a family decision and the moment she realised that her emotions were not rooted in the present, but in imagined futures. By recognising that, she was able to return to the here and now, where clarity and confidence could emerge.

We talk about how, as coaches, our role is not to fix or rescue but to help clients notice and make sense of their emotional experience. This involves recognising when a client is operating from thought rather than feeling and guiding them gently back to contact with their emotions. We explore what happens when clients begin to recognise the difference between what they think and what they feel, and how that awareness opens new insight and direction.

Another aspect of this principle is the coexistence of multiple emotions. Clients often describe being both excited and frightened, or relieved and sad, at the same time. These "parts" can represent internal conflicts that, when explored with compassion, bring valuable understanding. We reflect on how emotions interlink not only with thoughts and actions, but also with the wider world, from relationships and teams to global events that shape how we feel and behave.

This principle is a reminder that emotions are rarely isolated. They are threads in a much wider emotional web, and when we as coaches can hold space for that complexity, we enable our clients to connect with the deeper truth of their experience.

As we close, we reflect on the power of emotional awareness in coaching. It's what makes coaching transformative. When clients understand how their emotions are interlinked and learn to navigate them consciously, they move forward with greater balance, authenticity and resilience.

If you'd like to explore how emotions shape behaviour and learn practical tools to work with emotions in your coaching practice, join us on our Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training at igcompany.com/emotionscoaching.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Exploring the fifth principle: emotions are interlinked 00:28 – How emotions connect through time – past, present and future 01:56 – Recognising emotional anchors from the past 03:23 – Unhooking from future emotions to find clarity in the present 04:20 – Personal example of separating imagined emotions from reality 05:14 – Anchoring clients in the here and now 06:38 – Differentiating between thoughts and feelings in coaching conversations 09:29 – Working with emotional "parts" and internal conflict 12:14 – Understanding how personal emotions link with global and systemic emotions 14:12 – Emotional honesty and the value of vulnerability in practitioner training 15:39 – The ripple effect of emotional awareness on coaching impact 16:40 – Coaching as a life-changing process

Key Lessons Learned:

• Emotions are rarely isolated; they are interlinked across time, thought and experience.
• Helping clients to identify whether emotions stem from the past, present or future builds clarity and focus.
• Recognising the distinction between thoughts and feelings is a gateway to deeper self-awareness.
• Exploring "parts" allows clients to acknowledge internal conflict and move towards emotional integration.
• Coaches must hold space for complex, often conflicting emotions without trying to fix or rescue.
• Emotional awareness elevates both coach and client, deepening the transformational potential of coaching conversations.

Keywords:

emotional coaching, emotions in coaching, emotions coaching practitioner training, coaching skills, emotional awareness, emotional intelligence for coaches, coaching emotions, understanding feelings in coaching, emotional interlinking, self-awareness in coaching

Links & Resources

• mycoachingcourse.com – Take the quiz to find which coaching course is right for you
• igcompany.com/emotionscoaching – Explore our CPD on emotions coaching

Have you ever wondered whether the emotions your clients share are the full story or whether there's something deeper waiting to be uncovered?

In this week's episode of the podcast we explore one of the most thought-provoking principles in our series:

Emotions are not always Authentic.

At first, this concept can feel like a puzzle. As coaches, we often take our clients' emotions at face value, believing that frustration, anger, or disappointment are clear and complete emotional truths. Yet, as we discuss in this episode, emotions can be layered and sometimes conceal a more authentic emotional experience beneath the surface.

We begin by exploring what happens when a client describes feeling "frustrated" about their lack of progress toward a goal. Through curiosity and emotional exploration, it may become clear that what lies beneath isn't frustration at all; but sadness, grief, or even fear. Recognising this difference can be transformative.

As we unpack this principle, we reflect on our own experience of connecting with an authentic emotion. There was a moment when we realised that what we thought we felt was simply a cover for something deeper. When that deeper emotion surfaced, raw and unfiltered, it brought relief, understanding, and healing.

We also discuss how coaching with emotions isn't about lingering endlessly in feelings. Rather, it's about clarity and progress. By helping clients access their authentic emotions, we enable them to process their experiences, meet their needs, and move forward with greater confidence.

Throughout this conversation, we reflect on:

• How emotions can mask one another
• The difference between surface and authentic emotional experiences
• The role of conditioning in shaping which emotions we allow ourselves to express
• Why authentic emotional awareness accelerates coaching progress
• How understanding emotional authenticity helps resolve conflict, both internally and interpersonally

This episode is a reminder that coaching is emotional work at its core. As we deepen our awareness of authentic emotion, both our own and our clients', we open the door to greater compassion, insight, and transformational change.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the six principles series 01:00 – What does it mean for emotions to be "inauthentic"? 02:30 – Exploring client examples and the layers beneath frustration 04:30 – How curiosity reveals the real emotion beneath the surface 05:20 – Personal reflection: recognising authentic emotions in real life 08:45 – Conditioning and the emotions we learn to suppress 10:40 – The difference between primary and secondary emotions 12:00 – Why emotions coaching accelerates progress 14:30 – Conflict and communication from an inauthentic emotional place 16:20 – How understanding emotions transforms coaching conversations 17:00 – Resources for learning more about emotional coaching

Key Lessons Learned:

• Authentic emotions often sit beneath surface-level expressions such as frustration or anger.
• Helping clients explore their emotional depth leads to clarity, not confusion.
• Emotional awareness accelerates progress by dissolving unseen barriers.
• Self-reflection allows coaches to better recognise authentic emotion in others.
• Social and cultural conditioning shape how we experience and express emotions.
• Conflict often persists when people communicate from inauthentic emotional places.
• Recognising authentic emotion helps meet unmet needs and fosters true fulfilment.
• Emotional coaching isn't "fluffy" it's foundational to effective practice.
• Exploring emotions supports ethical, person-centred coaching.
• Curiosity is the key to uncovering authentic emotional truth.

Keywords:

emotional coaching, authentic emotions, coaching training, emotion awareness, emotional authenticity, coaching conversations, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, emotional growth, professional coaching

Links & Resources

• mycoachingcourse.com – Take the quiz to find which coaching course is right for you
• igcompany.com/emotionscoaching – Explore our CPD on emotions coaching

Have you ever paused to ask yourself what your emotions are really trying to tell you?

In this episode, we explore one of the most transformative principles in emotional coaching:

the idea that emotions are unmet needs.

This concept reshapes how we relate to our inner experiences, moving from seeing emotions as random or inconvenient to viewing them as valuable signposts guiding us toward greater self-understanding and balance.

As we reflect on this principle, we're reminded of how often our emotions offer insight into something deeper, such as a need for safety, connection, clarity, or growth. When we shift from judging our emotions to becoming curious about them, we begin to uncover their hidden wisdom. That curiosity is where transformation begins, both for ourselves and for our coaching clients.

In our conversation, we explore what happens when we approach emotions not as problems to fix but as messages to interpret. We discuss how naming emotions helps to release their intensity and how exploring the need beneath them invites self-compassion and meaningful action. Sometimes that insight can be profound, and at other times beautifully simple, like realising that nervousness before a meeting might be calling for preparation time or reassurance.

This approach creates space for honesty and courage. Many clients have never been asked, "What does that feeling need?" Giving permission to express an unmet need, whether for clarity, respect, or support, can be profoundly healing. When we help clients identify and articulate those needs, we empower them to take small, grounded steps that lead to significant change.

We also explore how this principle connects to values, beliefs, and goals, which together form the four core pillars of coaching. Unmet needs often sit at the intersection of values and emotions, revealing what truly matters to each individual. When clients begin to interpret their emotions as meaningful signals rather than irrational responses, their relationship with themselves transforms. They move from feeling controlled by emotions to feeling more in control because of them.

Ultimately, this principle is not only a coaching tool but a life skill. By listening to our emotions and recognising what is missing, we nurture emotional intelligence, deepen self-awareness, and create a more compassionate relationship with ourselves and others.

Timestamps:

00:28 - Understanding emotions as unmet needs 01:21 - Common examples of emotions signalling deeper needs 02:20 - Using curiosity to step outside the emotional experience 03:19 - How curiosity dissipates emotional intensity 04:33 - The power of expressing unmet needs in coaching 06:00 - Moving from judgment to understanding 07:29 - Bringing lightness and simplicity to emotions work 08:27 - The three steps of emotions coaching in practice 10:21 - Applying the principle to coaching preparation 11:15 - Linking emotions to values, beliefs, and goals 12:44 - Turning emotional awareness into action and growth 13:39 - Helping clients feel more in control of emotions 15:06 - The ripple effect of emotional awareness in coaching practice 16:00 - Learning more through the Emotions Coaching Practitioner programme

Key Lessons Learned:

• Emotions are valuable messages that reveal unmet needs rather than random feelings.
• Curiosity helps create distance from emotional intensity and opens access to insight.
• Asking "What does this feeling need?" empowers clients to name and meet their needs.
• Emotional exploration is both deep and light, transformative yet practical.
• Linking emotions to values and beliefs creates powerful coaching breakthroughs.
• Emotional awareness builds self-regulation, confidence, and compassion.
• Naming emotions and identifying needs enhances client agency and resilience.
• The principle of unmet needs applies to both coaching and everyday life.
• Emotional literacy helps shift from reactivity to reflection.
• This work creates a ripple effect of personal and professional transformation.

Keywords:

emotional coaching, unmet needs, coaching practice, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, values-based coaching, emotions in coaching, emotional literacy, coaching psychology, curiosity in coaching,

Links & Resources

• Emotions Coaching Demo: igcompany.com/emotionsdemo

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

What if the emotions you feel are not who you are?

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I'm not confident" or "I'm an anxious person"? In this episode of the podcast, we explore principle two of our Six Principles of Emotion series: You are not your emotions.

So many of us, and our clients, confuse feelings with identity. We slip into patterns of speech where we equate ourselves with an emotion, making it part of who we are. This is where coaching can create powerful transformation. By helping clients separate their sense of self from the emotions they experience, we open the door to growth, choice, and freedom.

In this conversation, we reflect on how over-identifying with emotions such as anxiety, fear, or guilt can keep people stuck. We also consider how positive emotions like joy or calm can become limiting when they are tied too tightly to identity. A client might say, "I'm a calm person," yet find themselves disturbed by stress, which creates inner conflict. Through emotions coaching, we can offer new perspectives that allow people to explore who they are beyond these emotional labels.

I found myself reflecting on the liberating power of simple shifts in language, from "I am anxious" to "I am feeling anxious right now." That pause changes everything. It reminds us that emotions are designed to move and do not define us. When clients see this, they often regain clarity, confidence, and connection with themselves.

This episode is an invitation to lean into conversations around emotions in your coaching. It's about helping clients see they are more than their feelings and guiding them towards new ways of being that support their goals and wellbeing.

Timestamps:

• 00:30 – Why emotions are central to coaching conversations
• 01:00 – How clients over-identify with emotions
• 02:20 – Understanding emotions as temporary and designed to move
• 03:20 – Shifting language: from "I am" to "I feel"
• 06:00 – Exploring fear and preparing for confidence
• 08:00 – The liberating effect of separating self from emotion
• 10:00 – Recognising the emotions gap in coaching
• 13:00 – Using metaphors and perspectives to unlock insight
• 15:00 – When positive emotions create internal conflict
• 17:00 – Spotting identity narratives in coaching conversations
• 19:00 – Resources and training opportunities

Key Lessons Learned:

• Emotions are experiences, not identity. You are not your emotions.
• Language matters, small shifts from "I am" to "I feel" can unlock new perspectives.
• Over-identifying with both negative and positive emotions can create internal conflict.
• Coaching provides space for clients to separate themselves from their emotional experiences.
• Emotions coaching is about helping clients explore new perspectives, not telling them what to believe.
• Emotions are designed to move, getting stuck in them often signals where coaching can help.

Keywords

emotions coaching, coaching and identity, confidence in coaching, separating self from emotions, emotional coaching principles, imposter syndrome coaching, managing anxiety in coaching, positive emotions and identity, coaching for emotional growth, language in coaching conversations,

Links & Resources

• Emotions Coaching Demo: igcompany.com/emotionsdemo

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