What does it take to end one chapter of work without losing what made it meaningful? In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick talks with Kirsty Elderton about closing her coaching business intentionally and creating a new direction for her work. Kirsty reflects on a career shaped by coaching, consulting, health challenges, and changing ideas about identity and time. At the heart of the conversation is the gap between knowing change is needed and taking action - a gap where doubt, competing opportunities, and other people’s opinions can make it difficult to hold your nerve. Endings don’t have to mean erasing the past. Rituals and deliberate transition markers can help make change real, while allowing people to carry forward relationships, learning, and purpose. Claire and Kirsty also explore what it means to hold work lightly, create space to think, and build a business that doesn’t treat hustle as proof of value. Key takeaways Make important transitions intentional rather than letting them simply fizzle out Notice what can pull you away from a decision you already know is right Use rituals to give change meaning and help it land Carry forward what matters while letting old structures evolve Build work around sustainable practices, not constant busyness Contact: Contact Kirsty through Linked In linkedin.com/in/kirstyelderton or https://www.thepeopleandculture.co/ Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, coaching business, career change, career transition, business transformation, intentional endings, managing change, making difficult decisions, holding your nerve, knowing and doing, coaching insights, leadership skills, coaching competencies, sustainable business, hustle culture, outcome-based pricing, work-life balance, personal growth, identity and work, creating space to think We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.
Most leaders don’t fail because they lack skill. They fail because they keep playing not to lose. What about coaches? Do we accidentally play to lose? In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick talks with Zana Goic-Petričević, author of Leading on the Edge: The Bold Art of Being More Irrational and Less Mediocre. Zana shares how losing her corporate job became a turning point, prompting her to rethink safety, identity, ambition, and what it means to lead boldly. Together, they explore why excessive rationality can become fear in disguise, how discomfort can provide valuable data, and why real safety comes from within rather than from a job title, salary, or organisation. You’ll also discover: How to distinguish fear from intuition and meaningful risk Why coaches must confront their own edges The difference between compassion and pity How self-compassion supports honest, effective coaching Why boldness is about contribution—not aggression How to stop settling for mediocrity and “good enough” If you coach leaders, lead a team, or feel ready for greater courage and aliveness, this conversation will challenge you to ask: What am I avoiding, and what is worth the risk? Here are Zana’s books: Bold Reinvented: Next level leading with Courage, Consciousness and Conviction https://link.amazon/B0fB67C1K Leading on the Edge: The bold art of being more irrational and less mediocre https://link.amazon/B05SgWb3l Contact: Contact Zana through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanagoicpetricevic/ Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, coach development, bold coaching, leadership coaching, personal growth, professional growth, self-compassion, emotional resilience, inner safety, overcoming fear, discomfort and growth, courageous leadership, authentic leadership, coaching mindset, coaching skills, meaningful work, career transformation, overcoming mediocrity, taking risks, personal development We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.
If your coaching, conversations, or presentations feel a little too busy, this episode is a masterclass in what happens when you slow down, listen deeply, and know exactly when to stop. Chris Grimes - motivational comedian, coach, broadcaster, and improviser - shows why the simplest shifts in timing, silence, and presence can transform the way people think, speak, and connect. Today Claire Pedrick and Chris Grimes unpack the improv principle of yes, and as a powerful coaching mindset, exploring why collaboration beats interrogation, why people often listen to reply instead of understand, and how the right question is sometimes no question at all. Chris introduces his idea of The Clearing - the uncluttered space where insight, story, and creativity emerge - and explains how coaching, comedy, and deep listening all come alive there. You’ll discover: why “if you can’t top it, stop it” is a brilliant rule for coaching and communication how timing shapes everything from a joke to a breakthrough conversation why silence can carry more authority than talking what improv teaches us about ensemble, vulnerability, and making other people look good how Chris uses storytelling frameworks like 54321, Pass the Golden Baton, and Legacy Life Reflections to surface meaningful insight Claire and Chris also explore the danger of becoming too mechanical in a world where AI can already imitate process, and the human qualities that still make coaching irreplaceable - warmth, kindness, presence, and the courage to be imperfect. Chris Grimes is a coach, facilitator, and motivational comedian, and the founder of Second Curve, The Good Listening To Show, and Instant Wit, his Bristol-based comedy improvisation company. His work blends performance, listening, and leadership into a style that is as practical as it is unforgettable. Essential listening if you coach, lead, speak, facilitate, or simply want to have better conversations. This one is funny, thoughtful, and packed with ideas you’ll want to use immediately. Contact: Contact Chris through Linked In http://linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com legacylifereflections.com secondcurve.uk instantwit.co.uk Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: podcast coaching, active listening, coaching questions, leadership development, communication skills, personal growth, reflective listening, coaching mindset, effective conversation, self-awareness, team leadership, mindset shift, facilitation skills, deep listening, coaching techniques, emotional intelligence, professional development, coaching tips, conversation skills, leadership coaching We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.
In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick speaks with Sharon Von Stimson, a stand-up comedian and coach, about how comedy and coaching intersect through being real, timing, and the power of the pause. Sharon shares her unusual career journey, moving from a conventional 30-year career in corporate HR into stand-up comedy and then coaching. What began as a search for a more authentic life became a portfolio career that blends comedy, coaching, and a little bit of HR. Along the way, she reflects on midlife change and experiences that reshaped her understanding of who she is and how she wants to live. The conversation explores how comedy and coaching both rely on noticing what is happening in the room. In comedy, that means reading audience reaction, building resonance, and knowing when to create a twist. In coaching, it means paying close attention to the thinker’s response, allowing silence, and creating space for a thought or insight to emerge. Sharon’s message is clear: the pause matters, honesty matters, and sometimes everything has to break before we realize we were never broken. Contact: Contact Sharon through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonvonsimson/ Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, comedy, authenticity, power of pause, timing, resonance, dissonance, audience feedback, active listening, silent pauses, midlife career change, HR transformation, stand-up comedy, coaching and comedy, communication skills, self-awareness, leadership presence, personal reinvention, professional development, emotional intelligence We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.
Most leadership advice focuses on controlling perceptions, but what if true influence comes from being real—really human? In this episode, Julie Smith, founder of Talent Sprout and author of Contagious Confidence, joins Claire Pedrick to reveal how confidence is more than just a feeling—it's a measurable, performance variable that shapes collective success. Discover why leaders who are aware of their signals can inspire trust, foster resilience, and create a culture where confidence fuels performance rather than masks doubt .Julie shares how subtle cues and authentic vulnerability - done thoughtfully - can actually elevate team cohesion. Contact: Contact Julie through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-smith-talent-sprout/ Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Contagious Confidence is available here https://link.amazon/B0fgHHdmF Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: confidence coaching, leadership coaching, authentic leadership, contagious confidence, leadership confidence, coaching confidence, team performance, team trust, vulnerability in leadership, psychological safety, leadership development, confidence building, leadership presence, coaching tips, self-awareness, growth mindset, empowering questions, resilient teams, leadership influence, authentic coaching We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.