As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many insights that have shaped my journey this year—insights gained through coaching conversations, podcasts, connections with inspiring individuals, and self-reflection. Two key themes stand out for me: connection and reflection are the cornerstones of growth—not just for me, but, I suspect, for many others.
At the start of 2024, I set out to better understand the thought leaders in the coaching world while continuing to explore my own place within it. Here are a few highlights from this year’s learning journey:
Coaching as a Catalyst for Growth
This year reaffirmed that coaching creates the space for clarity, choice, and action. From Jenny Rogers’ reminder that coaching helps us “make better choices” (check out her episode on the Coaching and Mentoring Podcast) to Phil Goddard’s perspective that coaching “speeds things up” (The Coaching Life podcast), I was reminded of its transformative power.
As Phil aptly puts it, “It helps things happen quicker.” While self-reflection is powerful, working with a coach brings a unique dynamic—combining our own insights with the coach’s experience to help us move forward. This combination of partnership and reflection remains one of coaching’s greatest strengths.
The Value of Storytelling
David Whyte’s question, “What’s the conversation I need to stop having?” (Coaches Rising Podcast here and here) inspired me to re-examine the stories I tell myself. Exploring alternative narratives beyond the Hero’s Journey has opened new systemic perspectives.
Jennifer Garvey Berger’s insights into “leadership mindtraps” also resonated . Her conversation with Dave Stachowiak (Coaching for Leaders podcast here and here) highlighted how the stories we tell ourselves can shape (and sometimes limit) our leadership capacity. Similarly, David Drake, PhD’s webinars on narrative coaching expanded my understanding of the stories that guide us.
Deep Listening and Inquiry
This year brought deeper insights into what it truly means to listen. Listening, I’ve learned, is not just about hearing—it’s about creating space.
Tom Henschel’s advice to “listen to learn, not fix” here, here, here and here has reshaped how I approach conversations, while the focus of Marcia Reynolds, PsyD, MCC on reflective inquiry has enhanced my ability to listen inwardly. My work with Bill Tierney’s IFS group also deepened this understanding, revealing how our internal “parts” can affect how we listen to others.
Finally, Oscar Trimboli’s work on identifying “listening villains” and adopting strategies for deeper listening has been transformative (listen here, here, here and here). These insights have helped me reflect on how we can all become better listeners—both to ourselves and to others.
Coaching in Education
This year, I primarily worked with teachers and NHS staff, offering coaching to those who might not have otherwise accessed it. At times, providing free coaching sessions to teachers was particularly rewarding, as it underscored the untapped potential of pure coaching in education. For anyone interested, the Teachers Talk Radio podcast has a lot of episodes on coaching in education. Listen here.
While coaching is increasingly used in schools, I’ve noticed that the non-directive, reflective approach I use is less familiar in this space. Witnessing the transformative power of coaching in education has strengthened my commitment to creating reflective spaces for teachers to make sense of their roles and navigate the challenges they face in an increasingly demanding and complex education landscape.
Reflections on Self and Society
From Marshall Goldsmith’s advice to ask “what” instead of “why” to Jennifer Garvey Berger’s metaphor of clearing “gunk from the sink,” 2024 reminded me that small, intentional actions can create big shifts in relationships and personal growth.
L. David Marquet’s work on asking better questions (listen here) also challenged me to think about how we can better hold space for others to express themselves fully. These lessons will stay with me as I continue to cultivate connection and reflection in both my personal and professional life.
Looking Forward to 2025
As I step into the new year, I’m holding onto this question: How can I continue to create spaces where connection, reflection, and growth thrive?
Developing a reflective practice and engaging in coaching changes you—and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to this – my – journey.
Further Readings
- Berger, Jennifer Garvey. Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps: How to Thrive in Complexity. Stanford University Press, 2019.
- DePaul, Gary, and L. David Marquet. Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership: A Guide for Inspiring Creativity, Innovation, and Engagement. Productivity Press, 2022.
- Reynolds, Marcia. Coach the Person, Not the Problem: A Guide to Using Reflective Inquiry. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2020.
- Trimboli, Oscar. Deep Listening: Impact Beyond Words. Oscar Trimboli, 2017.
- Underhill, Brian, Jonathan Passmore, and Marshall Goldsmith, eds. Coach Me! Your Personal Board of Directors: Leadership Advice from the World’s Greatest Coaches. John Wiley & Sons, 2022.
- Whyte, David. Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. Canongate Books, 2019.
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