The Coaching Question

In this episode, we explore the dynamics of "inside-out" versus "outside-in" coaching approaches and how these impact sustainable transformation for leaders.

We discuss the nuanced process of recognising when clients are ready for deeper, reflective work and using "safe experiments" to help leaders overcome resistance and embrace deeper transformation

Touching on frameworks like Immunity to Change, we highlight the importance of creating space for reflection, especially in high-pressure roles. 

We also delve into the evolving journey of coaches themselves, offering valuable insights for anyone aiming to lead from a place of authenticity and resilience.

Resources:

Forbes article on Inside Out Leadership: How Leading From The ‘Inside Out’ Transforms Lives, Work Cultures And Businesses 

Forbes article on Stoic Leadership: Stoic Lessons For A Successful Leadership Mindset

Book: ​​One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer

In this episode, we dive into the nuanced dynamics of coaching relationships, exploring the importance of progress markers, autonomy, and the delicate balance between ongoing support and the risk of dependency. 

We discuss how effective coaching isn’t just about achieving goals, but involves creating a "thinking partnership" that helps clients broaden their perspectives, especially at senior levels. 

We emphasise the value of supervision as a critical tool for coaches to manage relational boundaries, maintain client autonomy, and address potential dependencies on both sides.

Whether you're a coach, a coaching supervisor, or someone in HR commissioning and managing coaching contracts, this episode offers insights into structuring impactful, sustainable coaching engagements.

In this episode, we explore the highly relevant topic of overwhelm and how this shows up in coaching, especially with senior leaders.

We talk about developmental fallback and the need for leaders to be aware of their internal states and triggers, especially during times of stress, So they can avoid reverting to less resourceful behaviours. This is also something coaches need to be aware of to meet their coachees at the appropriate level. 

We discuss the value of taking the time to resource yourself, and paying attention to preparedness, so you can be less reactive to your environment and increase your effectiveness as a leader. You’re in charge of your environment, not vice versa. 

We also touch on practical strategies for reflection, including structured journaling to help leaders become more trigger-aware. We share the power of breathwork as a free, accessible tool for managing stress and enhancing focus. 

Tune in for actionable insights encouraging personal growth and effective leadership in challenging times.

You will notice that this season has a slightly different format of a more casual conversation, perhaps the kind you might have during coaching supervision - we hope you like it!

Resources:

Article: Leaders and overwhelm

Video: Above and below the line

In this episode we continue our exploration of the application of Transactional Analysis in coaching. We build on the previous episode with our fictional case study of Adam.

Adam has moved into a management role where he is managing colleagues who were once teammates, and he is finding it hard to manage their performance. 

We share various coaching techniques we might employ to support Adam, enabling him to understand how best to work with other people. The transition into managing colleagues who were once teammates is one that often comes up in coaching, and we explore how valuable TA can be in understanding how our unconscious drivers can influence our behaviour. 

Listen to this episode to learn various coaching techniques that coaches might employ such as using the ‘allowers’ approach in TA, reframing, non-violent communication, somatic coaching and unpacking beliefs.

In this episode of the Transactional Analysis series of The Coaching Question Podcast, we explore how we might apply TA in our coaching practice using a new fictional case study of a client called Adam.

Adam has recently been promoted to his first 'Manager of Manager' role, struggles to say no, delegate, deal with poor performance and is at danger of burning out. Building on the previous episode, we explore his behavioural drivers and using his challenges as a lens, we illustrate the practical application of TA. 

We share how generating awareness of Driver behaviour leads to clients becoming more aware of the choices they have available to them, rather than sticking with automatic behaviour that their early experiences have taught them.

Listen to this episode to understand more about how TA can add value to coaching challenges and reflect on your own possible triggers and beliefs. 

References:

• The Leadership Pipeline is covered in Season 1, Episode 2
• Feedback and FeedForward are covered in Season 2, Episode 2
• Vertical Development episode is covered in Season 2, Episode 9
• The functional model is described by Samantha Kynaston here
• Ware sequence

In this episode, we continue to delve into Transactional Analysis (TA), with our fictional client named Alicia. Alicia has brought two challenges to coaching; difficulty delegating and a tendency to please others.

You’ll hear about the concept of behavioural drivers within TA, which are behavioural tendencies that we learn in childhood and carry with us into adulthood. In many ways they are a strength, but they can be over-pronounced which can lead to difficulties and stress. In Alicia’s context the behavioural drivers that have made her successful in the past are now getting in the way of her being successful.

Listen to this episode to learn how, as Executive Coaches, we employ our knowledge of behavioural drivers along with other TA tools such as the Drama Triangle to support clients in increasing their self-awareness.

In this episode, we dive into the practical application of TA in a coaching scenario using a fictional character Alicia, who represents a typical client struggling with saying no, setting and maintaining boundaries, resulting in potential burnout.

With Alicia as a fictional case study, we discuss how we might support her as Executive Coaches skilled in applying TA to our work. Building on the PAC model shared in an earlier episode, we use TA to identify possible triggers that might move Alicia into her child ego state when she feels lacking in confidence. We then talk about the importance of becoming trigger aware and managing one's state to shift into the adult ego state. We touch on the challenge of working with deeply embedded patterns and how this can be sensitively done within a coaching relationship.

We mention the Feedforward process developed by Marshall Goldsmith and compared with feedback it is generative and focused on the future rather than the past. 

Listen to this episode to understand how the PAC model can be practically applied to a coaching topic, and how our client’s experiences earlier in life can affect their behaviour in the here and now. 

Resources:

https://marshallgoldsmith.com/articles/try-feedforward-instead-feedback/

In this episode, we build on our introduction to TA by introducing the Drama Triangle.

Explicitly using the Drama Triangle is a technique that is hugely valuable in supporting clients to understand the roles they play in relationships with others. Coaches love working with this tool because it is visual and easy to understand. We present the core idea that as human beings, we are relational, and in our relationships, we play what in TA is called ‘games’.

Listen to this episode to learn about how, as human beings, we can find ourselves unconsciously caught up in relational dynamics that are unhelpful. We tend to interact with others in different ways to receive recognition, and we may find ourselves feeling surprised, irritated, frustrated or even angry following an interaction with another person.

You’ll learn how insightful the drama triangle can be for supporting clients when they have brought some form of a relational challenge to coaching.

In this first episode of Season 4 of The Coaching Question, we introduce the theme of the season - Transactional Analysis (TA) and its application in coaching.

We find that TA offers a valuable lens for coaching, and in this episode we briefly share some of the core ideas offered by TA and highlight how these can support clients to deepen their self-awareness and gain new insights.

Listen to this episode to understand where TA is positioned in relation to other coaching approaches. We share our perspective on the nature of TA, which encompasses both psychodynamic and in-the-moment techniques. TA reflects the importance of how behaviours learned and decisions taken in the past influence our behaviours and actions in the present. Given that TA involves an element of acknowledging the past, we also clarify the distinction between coaching and therapy.

You’ll learn how TA can be practically applied in coaching sessions as we introduce the concept of the Parent-Adult-Child ego states, and how, by raising awareness of these in coaching, clients gain insights into their patterns of behaviour. Transactional Analysis offers a very valuable framework for coaching, helping clients to gain self-awareness, challenge limiting beliefs, and develop new strategies for personal growth.

In this special episode, we chose to reflect on endings in coaching. Gregor was one of four coaches who contributed to an article on this topic for Coaching At Work, and we wanted to take the opportunity to think this through together on our podcast.  

We talk about the emphasis that is placed on the start of coaching engagements, and the importance that is placed on the results that are achieved. Yet, ending a coaching engagement well is a topic that appears to have received less attention, but is crucially important. Listen in if you’d like to learn more about how we can best end coaching engagements.

About the article:

Further to a webinar on ‘Ending Well’, organised by APECS (The Association for Professional Executive Coaches and Supervisors) in November 2021, there was a general recognition that very little had been written on practices related to ending with coaching clients. Wanting to address this topic further, four coaches who had attended the webinar penned an article for Coaching At Work. This has now been published in the May 2022 edition. The intent of the article was to start an inquiry, which may lead to further research that could define and propose best practices within the profession. 

Resources:

Coaching at work - https://www.coaching-at-work.com/

APECS - https://www.apecs.org/