Have you ever paused to consider where you truly are in your growth as a coach and what your current stage of development reveals about the way you show up for your clients?

In this episode, we walk through the evolving arc of our professional identity and the way our presence deepens as we move from doing coaching to being a coach. It is a journey rich with curiosity, discomfort, insight, and ultimately, transformation.

During the conversation, we unpack the three broad stages of coach maturity. We explore the ways we develop from novice coach to intuitive practitioner and eventually to a place where we work with the wider system that sits around each client. As we revisit these stages, we were reminded of the moments in our own journeys when we grappled with self-doubt, longed for structure, and later found liberation in silence, emergence, and reflective practice.

We discuss what this pathway can look like in real life. Early on, the focus often sits on learning models like GROW or CLEAR, trying to get coaching "right", and wondering whether you are offering enough value. As maturity builds, the focus shifts toward deep relational awareness. Questions such as how we are being together begin to matter more than the specific tools we use. There is more acknowledgment of intuition, pattern spotting, boundaries, ethics, and the energy in the space between coach and client.

As the journey progresses, the coaching relationship becomes a gateway into something broader. We delve into the systemic nature of coaching and what happens when we are able to sit in not knowing without fear. This phase is rich, existential, and deeply grounding. It calls for humility, self-awareness, regulated presence, and the ability to hold space for emergence. We reflect on how this stage can be both liberating and challenging. At times we have found it confronting, and at others we have found it to be the most expansive area of professional growth.

Throughout this episode, the recurring theme for me is that coaching maturity is not time served. It is about what we integrate, how we reflect, and the courage we bring to our own development. Every phase offers value. Every phase has its purpose. And every coach will move through the continuum in their own way. Our hope is that this conversation sparks meaningful self-reflection and gives you a clearer sense of where you are today and where your next stretch might be.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and introduction to coaching maturity
01:20 Why the competency frameworks can feel confusing
02:17 From doing coaching to being a coach
03:35 The ongoing evolution of a coach
05:01 Coach maturity as continual development rather than destination
06:29 Stage one indicators and early coaching experiences
08:25 Navigating self doubt and value questions
09:50 Transitioning into a more relational coaching style
11:20 Deep listening, intuition and pattern spotting
12:45 Creativity and presence in coaching
14:11 How the coaching space mirrors client experiences
16:08 Sitting with not knowing and supporting emergence
18:05 Humility and letting go of ego
19:34 How supervision supports growth
20:31 Using coaching maturity reflections as a development catalyst
21:30 Why different clients need different levels of maturity
22:55 Maturity is not time served
24:18 Understanding learning edges
25:44 Encouragement for self-reflection and next steps
26:08 Coaching training quiz and CPD options

Key Lessons Learned:

• Coaching maturity evolves from doing coaching to embodying the role of coach in a grounded, relational way
• Early stages often include self-doubt, reliance on tools, and a desire to get things right
• Growth involves increased trust in intuition, deeper presence, and comfortable use of silence
• Systemic awareness becomes central as maturity develops
• Reflective practice and supervision accelerate progression
• Not knowing can be a powerful portal for insight and emergence
• Maturity is not about years of experience but about integration and self-awareness

Keywords:

coaching maturity, coach development, reflective practice, coaching presence, coaching intuition, systemic coaching, coaching evolution, coaching confidence, professional coaching skills, coaching competence

Links and Resources:

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