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Have you ever felt your mind go blank in a coaching session and wondered what you are supposed to do next?
We explore the moments coaches can experience as panic: a client arrives with an unexpected goal, shares something difficult, asks what we would do, or sits in silence while we search for the perfect question. We reflect on how these moments can show up as anxiety, uncertainty, shock or feeling lost, for new and experienced coaches alike.
We discuss how panic can be information rather than a problem to eliminate. When we rush to fill silence, reach for a model, give advice or steer the conversation towards a solution, we may be trying to manage our own discomfort instead of staying alongside the client. We consider how to recognise whose panic might be present, notice what is happening in the body and mind, and question the expectations we place on ourselves. Coaching does not require us to have an instant answer, and the client remains responsible for their own progress.
We share practical ways to work with a blank mind or a stalled conversation, including asking what feels important, what the client is noticing, or what might happen if we did not try to solve the issue yet. We also explore how coaching supervision and reflective practice can help us understand recurring patterns beneath our panic. The conversation returns to a central idea: the coach's presence, curiosity and capacity to sit with uncertainty can be more valuable than having another tool to use.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Introducing panic in coaching
- 02:47 Treating panic as information
- 04:52 Whose panic is in the room?
- 06:57 When interventions ease the coach's discomfort
- 09:25 Expectations and the fear of not knowing
- 12:00 Questions to use when a session feels stuck
- 15:33 Moving beyond problem solving
- 18:24 Exploring recurring panic in supervision
- 22:02 Building self-understanding as a coach
- 23:57 Pausing, grounding and returning to the relationship
- 25:36 Emotions coaching practitioner training
Key Lessons Learned:
- Panic can offer useful information about the coach, the client or the wider context.
- Before intervening, ask whose discomfort the intervention is trying to resolve.
- A moment of silence or uncertainty does not mean the session has failed.
- The client is responsible for their progress; the coach does not need to solve the goal for them.
- Simple questions can reopen exploration when a coach feels stuck.
- Supervision can help uncover the beliefs and patterns behind recurring coaching anxiety.
- Self-awareness helps coaches notice activation and return to curiosity and connection.
Keywords:
Coaching panic, coaching anxiety, emotions coaching, coaching supervision, reflective practice for coaches, coaching skills, client autonomy, managing uncertainty in coaching.
Links & Resources
- Emotions Coaching Practitioner Training: igcompany.com/emotionscoaching
