The Coaching Crowd® Podcast with Jo Wheatley & Zoe Hawkins

What becomes possible in your coaching when you are no longer afraid of emotions, but fully equipped to work with them?
In this episode, we open the door to a programme that so many coaches feel drawn to, yet often hesitate to step into. We wanted to explore not only what the Emotions Coaching Practitioner training is, but why it has such a profound impact on the way we coach, the way we experience our work and the way our clients transform.
The most powerful coaching conversations have always been the ones where emotions are present. They are the moments where change happens in real time. There is no long list of actions to take away and force into an already busy life. Instead, the shift happens in the session. Clients see themselves differently. They experience their challenges differently. Something that once felt fixed dissolves because it has finally been seen and understood.
We talk about how this depth of work amplifies every part of your coaching practice. Your confidence grows because you know how to hold the space when life happens for your clients. Senior leaders navigating grief, diagnosis, burnout, fertility struggles or overwhelming pressure do not need to be turned away or redirected. They need a coach who can stay present, ethical and grounded while still working towards their goals. That is the mastery this training develops.
There is also a personal dimension that cannot be separated from the professional. As you expand your own emotional capacity, your ability to co regulate, remain present and work within the coaching competencies becomes stronger. You are no longer second guessing whether something is too much. You are equipped, supported and deeply resourced.
We share how this training gives coaches the courage to finally step into the niche they feel called towards. So many people carry lived experience of menopause, neurodivergence, burnout, divorce, grief or major life transitions and feel a strong pull to support others in those spaces. Yet they dilute their message because they are unsure how to hold the emotional depth. This programme removes that barrier. It gives you the tools, the ethical framework and the community to go all in on the work that matters most to you.
What continues to move us is the feedback from our alumni. They describe the programme as life changing, as the missing piece of coaching, as a direct route to deeper client transformation. They talk about the immediate difference in their sessions, the new services they create, the group programmes they design and the impact they bring into organisations through workshops and wellbeing initiatives.
We also reflect on the future of the coaching profession. In a world where AI can replicate structured coaching models, what will always remain uniquely human is presence, emotional depth and the ability to sit with another person in their most real moments. This is mastery level coaching. It is how you future proof your practice and raise the standard of the industry.
At its heart, this programme is about belonging to something bigger. It is about being part of a movement that brings emotional work into coaching in a way that is ethical, rigorous, practical and deeply human. And it is about creating a space for yourself as a coach where your own growth, resilience and authenticity are continually supported.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to the Emotions Coaching Practitioner
00:31 Why coaches feel called to this training
01:00 The power of emotional work in client transformation
02:36 Greater enjoyment and depth in your coaching practice
03:06 Real client impact at senior leadership level
03:33 Alumni experiences and life changing outcomes
04:26 Programme structure and learning experience
05:21 Coaches with lived experience and the call to niche
06:21 Working in emotive fields with confidence and ethics
07:18 Holding space for complex client realities
08:17 Creating psychological safety for your clients
10:10 Coaching versus therapy and staying within contract
11:08 Co regulation and coach resilience
13:28 The missing piece in many coaching approaches
14:27 From natural supporter to skilled practitioner
15:26 New services, group programmes and organisational delivery
16:24 A mastery level CPD experience
17:21 Future proofing coaching in an AI world
18:19 Sustaining yourself emotionally as a coach
19:17 The intimacy and community of the programme
20:33 Depth, authenticity and transformative learning
22:20 A full spectrum understanding of emotions
22:58 How to find out more and enrol
 
Key Lessons Learned:
Emotional work creates immediate and lasting transformation for clients.
Mastery in coaching comes from the ability to hold presence in complex human experiences.
Expanding your own emotional capacity strengthens your professional confidence and resilience.
This training enables coaches to step fully into meaningful niches.
Deep emotional competence is a way to future proof your coaching in an AI influenced world.
The programme supports personal growth, commercial expansion and ethical practice.
Belonging to a community of emotionally focused coaches elevates standards across the profession.
 
Keywords:
emotions coaching practitioner, emotional intelligence coaching training, mastery level coaching skills, coaching with emotions, trauma informed coaching CPD, niche coaching confidence, future proof your coaching business, advanced coaching certification UK, coaching presence and co regulation, transformational coaching methods,
 
Links & Resources:
Emotions Coaching Practitioner programme: https://www.igcompany.com/emotions-coaching

What if building a career in coaching did not require you to run your own business at all?
In this episode, we open up a conversation that we realise we have not explored nearly enough. We often talk about creating a coaching business or becoming a coaching leader, yet there is a growing and exciting landscape of coaching jobs inside organisations that deserves real attention.
This discussion was sparked by the noticeable rise in coaching roles appearing across LinkedIn and within our own community. As we began to explore them more closely, we reflect on our own experience of returning to an in-house role where coaching formed the heart of my work. It brought together everything we loved about developing people, with the stability of a regular income and without the constant need to generate clients. That combination created a deep sense of alignment and ease.
We share the wide range of ways coaching now shows up in organisations. Some roles are fully dedicated internal coach positions. Others sit within learning and development, people development, leadership, apprenticeships or culture transformation. In many cases, coaching becomes the differentiating skill that allows someone to move from one profession into another and close the experience gap that once felt like a barrier.
What becomes clear in this conversation is that there is no single pathway. For some people, the idea of running a business and stepping into a CEO identity is energising. For others, it is not where their passion lies. There is equal value in a role where you are paid to do the work you love every day, making a tangible difference to individuals and teams, without needing to manage marketing, sales and operations.
We also reflect on the increasing recognition within organisations that coaching improves performance, supports wellbeing and helps retain talented people. As executive coaching has proven its impact, companies are now asking how to create that same level of support at scale. This is where internal coaching capability and coaching cultures are being built, and it is opening doors to roles that simply did not exist a decade ago.
One of the most important themes running through this episode is possibility. Coaching training is not only about becoming a coach in private practice. It is a powerful, transferable professional development that allows you to reshape your current role, step into a new one or design a portfolio career that blends stability with independence.
We also talk about timeframes, because the journey is often far more achievable than people imagine. Within a year to eighteen months, it is entirely possible to gain a qualification, apply your existing experience and position yourself as the ideal candidate for roles that previously felt out of reach.
At its core, this episode is about contribution. It is about being paid to make a meaningful difference, to work with people in a way that feels purposeful, and to build a career that reflects how you truly want to spend your time.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to coaching jobs in organisations
00:26 Jo's in-house coaching role and the value of income stability
01:48 Searching for coaching roles and surprising results
03:17 Using coaching to bring strengths and passions together
04:17 A success story of moving into an internal coaching role
05:11 New and emerging coaching career pathways
06:05 Coaching qualifications as a bridge into people roles
07:02 The scope and creativity within L&D and development roles
08:27 Portfolio careers and university coaching work
09:24 The rise of in-house coaching in global organisations
10:23 Building coaching capability at scale
11:21 Organisational support for coaching development
12:13 Coaching roles shaped by culture and organisational need
13:10 Business owner versus employed coach pathways
14:04 Part-time roles and blended career models
15:00 Being paid to make a meaningful difference
15:56 How quickly career change can happen through coaching
16:52 Transferable skills from other industries
17:22 First steps to explore coaching opportunities
 
Key Lessons Learned:
A coaching career can exist fully inside an organisation without running a business.
Coaching qualifications create powerful bridges into people development and L&D roles.
Internal coaching is growing as organisations seek performance, wellbeing and retention at scale.
Portfolio careers allow a blend of stability, flexibility and independence.
Transferable skills from many industries align naturally with coaching.
It is possible to reposition your career within one to eighteen months.
Being paid to make a meaningful contribution is a valid and achievable goal.
 
Keywords:
coaching jobs in organisations, internal coach roles UK, learning and development coaching careers
coaching qualification career change, people development roles coaching, portfolio coaching career
coaching culture in organisations, executive coaching internal capability, transferable skills into coaching, coaching career pathways,
 
Links & Resources:
IG Company website: https://www.igcompany.com
Coaching course quiz: https://www.mycoachingcourse.com

What if the real transformation from coaching is not the career, but the way every relationship in your life begins to evolve?
In this episode, we explore a conversation that began with a simple observation about how difficult it can feel to form meaningful friendships in adulthood and unfolded into something far more profound. As we reflected on our own journeys and the experiences of the coaches we train, it became clear that coaching is not only a professional pathway. It is a catalyst for deeper connection, richer communication and a more intentional relationship with ourselves and others.
We share how learning to coach invites a level of self-awareness that reshapes what we look for in friendships, partnerships and working relationships. For us, this has meant moving towards more soulful, values-led connections. Relationships become less about proximity or history and more about alignment, growth and authenticity. That shift can feel expansive and, at times, confronting, particularly when boundaries become clearer and we recognise what no longer fits.
We talk openly about how coaching can strengthen marriages and long-term partnerships, not because the relationship is the focus of the coaching, but because personal insight changes the way we communicate, express needs and listen. When one person grows, the relationship is invited to grow too. Sometimes that leads to renewal and deeper intimacy. Sometimes it leads to difficult but necessary change.
There is also a powerful ripple effect. When one person invests in their development, it often inspires others to pursue their own path, whether through coaching, therapy or long-held ambitions. This is self-leadership in action. Going first creates permission for others to follow in their own way.
We reflect on the subtle transformations that coaching brings to everyday life. The relationship with work can shift from endurance to joy. The way we lead teams becomes more empowering and less about control. Parenting becomes more conscious. Even our relationship with time, health, possessions and rest can change as our values become clearer.
One of the most meaningful themes in this conversation is the evolving relationship with ourselves. Coaching reveals the hidden beliefs and internal patterns that quietly shape our decisions. As those come into awareness, we begin to live more by design and less by default. With that comes greater self-trust, a stronger connection to the future version of ourselves and the courage to take steps that once felt out of reach.
This episode is an honest reflection on growth. Coaching does not remove life's complexity, but it gives us the capacity to navigate it with intention, compassion and clarity. And in doing so, every relationship we have begins to change shape.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to how coaching changes relationships
00:30 Why meaningful friendships can feel harder in adulthood
01:28 The search for purpose, connection and depth
02:24 How coaching strengthens partnerships and marriages
04:15 Boundaries and relationships that no longer fit
05:10 Inspiring growth in others through self-leadership
06:37 Redefining expectations of joy in work
07:35 Coaching and the changing relationship with children and teams
09:28 Closure, reintegration and subtle personal shifts
10:53 Discovering blind spots and hidden beliefs
12:38 Living life by design and conscious choice
14:04 Changing relationships with health, time and physical possessions
15:37 Trusting intuition and following the inner call to coach
17:33 Finding your people through coaching
18:02 Connecting with your future self
20:27 Recognising clarity, purpose and momentum in others
22:12 Big life changes during coach training
23:09 How to start your coaching journey
 
Key Lessons Learned:
Deep self-awareness transforms the quality and depth of every relationship.
Clear boundaries create space for more aligned and sustainable connections.
Personal growth often inspires growth in partners, friends and colleagues.
Coaching shifts leadership from control to empowerment and legacy.
Living by design strengthens self-trust and decision making.
Joy at work is a belief that can be learned and embodied.
Following the pull towards coaching is often a response to an inner knowing.
 
Keywords:
coaching and relationships, how coaching changes your life, coach training personal transformation
self awareness and relationships, values based living, coaching for confidence and clarity, leadership and coaching skills, boundary setting and personal growth, finding your purpose through coaching
life by design coaching,
 
Links & Resources:
IG Company website: https://www.igcompany.com
Coaching course quiz: https://www.mycoachingcourse.com

What happens in the coaching space when the body tightens, the breath shortens, and the words become careful because something meaningful is at stake?
In this episode of the podcast, we explored what it truly means to coach nervous clients and why nervousness is far more than a surface emotion. From our perspective, nervousness is both physiological and psychological, a temporary state that signals uncertainty, risk, and often the presence of something deeply important to the client.
We reflected on how nervousness can show up even in highly capable, articulate, and senior leaders. It may appear as guarded language, rehearsed responses, or subtle somatic cues such as shallow breathing or tension in the shoulders. As coaches, we often sense it before it is ever named. We spoke about how nervousness can magnify automatic behaviours, pushing clients into protection strategies such as intellectualising, closing down emotionally, or striving to perform rather than authentically explore.
During our conversation, we noticed how easily a coach's own nervous system can become activated in response. When this happens, there is a risk of rushing, over reassuring, or moving too quickly into goals and action. We reflected on the importance of co regulation, slowing the pace, and allowing the client to arrive fully into the session before asking for depth, vulnerability, or clarity of outcomes.
We also shared personal experiences of nervousness within coaching and supervision, recognising how being seen in a new way can create an edge that feels exposing. This led us to discuss how ethical emotional coaching is not about fixing nervousness, but about staying with it, being curious about it, and allowing it to be explored as meaningful information rather than something to remove.
A key theme was the power of working somatically and relationally. Grounding, noticing breath, tone of voice, and subtle shifts in the body can create safety and support nervous system regulation. We spoke about gently naming what we observe, such as changes in pace or posture, and using this as an invitation to awareness rather than an interpretation.
Finally, we explored nervousness as a coaching topic in its own right. Whether a client is facing a difficult stakeholder, a career transition, or a significant conversation, nervousness can be an entry point into deeper beliefs, values, and identity. By coaching the emotion rather than bypassing it, clients can access a wider emotional range, including steadiness, empowerment, and confidence alongside their nerves.
Timestamps:
00:31 Understanding what nervousness looks like in coaching
01:01 Nervousness as a physiological and psychological response
03:45 Default protection strategies and emotional regulation
05:11 How coaches can become dysregulated too
08:21 Slowing down and focusing on the relationship
10:41 Grounding and somatic approaches with nervous clients
12:34 Using gentle observations to build awareness
14:27 Coaching nervousness as the topic, not something to fix
18:12 Emotions as signals that want to move and be understood
Key Lessons Learned:
Nervousness signals that something meaningful and uncertain is present for the client.
A coach's nervous system plays a central role in creating safety and co regulation.
Slowing the pace helps clients move from performance into authenticity.
Somatic awareness and grounding can support emotional regulation before cognitive exploration.
Coaching the emotion itself allows deeper insight than trying to remove or bypass it.
Nervousness can coexist with empowerment rather than needing to disappear.
Keywords:
coaching nervous clients, emotional coaching, nervous system regulation, co regulation in coaching, somatic coaching, confidence coaching, psychological safety, coaching emotions, leadership coaching, executive coaching
 
Links and Resources:
Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training: www.igcompany.com/emotionscoaching
https://igcompany.co.uk/howto

What if redundancy was not the end of your career story, but the moment you finally stepped into the work you were meant to do?
In this episode, we explore what it truly means to redundancy proof your career in a world where roles are disappearing, industries are reshaping, and AI is accelerating change at a pace many people never expected. We reflect on how redundancy is rarely only about the loss of a job. It touches identity, confidence, security, and the deep question of who we are when our professional label is removed.
We talk openly about how coaching training develops skills that cannot be automated. Deep listening, emotional intelligence, self regulation, perspective taking, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate complexity. These are the human capabilities that organisations need more than ever and that individuals need in order to remain adaptable, resilient, and employable across multiple career transitions.
We share how redundancy often creates a crossroads moment. Sometimes it arrives as a shock. Sometimes it arrives as the nudge we secretly needed to leave a role that no longer fitted. Either way, it invites reflection. Who am I beyond my job title. What do I want my work to stand for. What am I being called towards next.
From personal experience, we reflect on how coach training acts as both an insurance policy and a catalyst. It builds metacognition, the ability to notice how you think as well as what you think. It supports emotional regulation during uncertainty. It strengthens decision making and helps people move from fear driven reactions into intentional, values led choices.
We also explore how professional accredited coaching qualifications signal ethical maturity and leadership capability in a changing employment market. Whether you want to become a coach, lead through change, work at board level, build a portfolio career, or future proof yourself against redundancy, the psychological shift that comes through coaching training changes how you experience work, identity, and possibility.
Ultimately, we reflect on how redundancy does not have to be something that happens to you. With the right mindset and skills, it can become something you co create with. A doorway rather than a dead end. A transition rather than a termination.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and why redundancy is now a widespread reality
01:20 Redundancy and identity, why it feels personal
02:10 Skills that cannot be automated through coaching training
03:20 Redundancy as a crossroads and opportunity
05:10 Coach training as a multiplier and resilience builder
07:00 Zoe's personal redundancy story and stepping into business
09:50 Metacognition and emotional regulation in uncertainty
11:40 Coaching skills in leadership and organisational change
13:30 Coaching qualifications as career insurance
15:00 Redundancy as a niche for coaches and organisations
16:50 Decision making, intuition, and embodied confidence
18:45 Choice, perspective, and emotional intelligence
21:00 Depersonalising redundancy and seeing the bigger system
23:00 The psychological shift that future proofs your career
24:00 Next steps and resources
Key Lessons Learned:
Redundancy often impacts identity more than income and requires emotional as well as practical resilience.
Coaching training develops human skills that AI and automation cannot replace.
Metacognition helps people move from fear driven thinking to intentional career choices.
Accredited coach training signals emotional intelligence, ethical maturity, and leadership capability to organisations.
Redundancy can become a catalyst for aligned career change rather than a crisis when supported by reflective practice.
Coaching skills enable adaptability across portfolio careers, leadership roles, consultancy, and board level positions.
Keywords:
Redundancy proofing, coach training, future proof your career, career resilience, emotional intelligence at work, leadership development, career transition support, redundancy coaching, professional coaching qualification, adaptability in the workplace, career change mindset, executive coaching skills.
Links and Resources
www.mycoachingcourse.com 
www.igcompany.com/ilm-call
https://igcompany.co.uk/howto