Mastering Coaching Skills

It's easy to look at a polished performance and assume you're seeing the whole story. But behind those few minutes when everything looks effortless, there can be hours of preparation, exhaustion, mistakes, frustration, laughter, and people working together to make it all happen. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a weekend at my daughter's horse show and share why the experience had me thinking so much about coaching and entrepreneurship. From the realities you would never see watching a dressage event on TV to the struggles that happen behind closed doors in business, I explore what changes when you get to see what the experience actually looks like for everyone else. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/303 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

One of the most common moments that makes coaches question themselves is when a client says, "I don't know what I want coaching on today." It can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even like something has gone wrong. But what if that moment is actually giving you valuable information? In this episode, I revisit one of the most popular episodes of the podcast with six years of additional coaching experience. I share how my thinking has evolved, why "I don't know" is often telling you something important, and exactly how I approach these moments before a coaching call, during a session, when it becomes a pattern, and even in group coaching. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/302 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

So many coaches believe there's a point where everything finally clicks, the messaging feels effortless, the self-doubt disappears, and running a business becomes easy. After 10 years in business, I've learned that there isn't a magical "there" waiting for you. In this first episode of my new Unfinished series, I share how these next 10 episodes will bridge the current podcast and the new chapter ahead, while looking back at three defining chapters of my own business journey. Along the way, I explore how my work has evolved, why my niche kept choosing me, how my clients shaped the direction of my business, and what can happen when you follow what feels aligned instead of relying on someone else's formula. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/301 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

What do you do when you know where you want to go, but you can't figure out why you keep getting stuck? Sometimes the answer isn't another mindset shift or a better strategy. The patterns holding you back may not be accessible through your conscious mind at all. As I celebrate Episode 300 of the podcast, I'm diving into the long-awaited follow-up to Episode 296 by exploring why you can still feel stuck even when you genuinely want to move forward. I explain how implicit memory and embodied patterns can influence your actions without you even realizing it, and how to recognize the kind of stuck you're actually experiencing. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/300 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

What happens when you've achieved your dream career, but you start feeling called toward something more? In this episode, I talk with performance and well-being coach Jo Zakany about her journey from spending 20 years as a violist with the Cleveland Orchestra to becoming a full-time coach for classical musicians. We explore how she navigated that transition, the role coaching played in helping her make the decision, and why building a life that reflects your values sometimes means writing a completely new chapter. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/299 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Jo's work here: mindfulopus.com

There are so many ways to approach coaching, business, and personal growth, but finding your own style can sometimes feel harder than learning the actual tools. In this episode, I talk with Amanda Stark, a coach who has helped hundreds of women put themselves first, about Human Design, coaching, and what it takes to build a business that actually fits your life and personality. We explore how Amanda uses Human Design alongside mindset coaching, what she learned from coaching inside another coaching community, and how she developed a coaching style that feels aligned with who she is. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/298 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

Sometimes your business can be working and still not feel like you . Maybe you have had your head down, doing the work, achieving the goals, and keeping things moving, only to look up and realize you feel a little lost. In this episode, I'm sharing powerful prompts for coming back to yourself, your work, and the reason you became a coach in the first place. These questions are designed to help you reconnect with what feels true, what matters most, and the kind of business you actually want to be building. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/297 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

There are certain thoughts that seem to show up at exactly the wrong time. Just when you're working toward something meaningful, they appear and sound so convincing that they feel like facts. Whether it's "I'm not good enough," "I'm not ready yet," or "I'm so far behind," these deeply ingrained beliefs can quietly shape the way you think, act, and coach. In this episode, I share eight coaching strategies for working through core beliefs, both for yourself and for your clients. I explore why these beliefs feel so true, how they become deeply practiced over time, and what to do when logic alone is not enough to loosen their grip. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/296 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

Growing a coaching business can feel exciting until the way you're running it stops supporting the business you've built. If you're successful by most measures but constantly overwhelmed behind the scenes, the problem might not be motivation, discipline, or consistency. In this episode, I talk with Michelle MacNeil, a coach who teaches people systems and processes, about simple systems and how they can make your coaching business more sustainable. We discuss what happens when your business outgrows the way you've been managing it, why systems do not have to be complicated, and how to identify the places where your current processes are making things harder than they need to be. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/295 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Michelle's work: michellemacneil.com

The idea of "having it all" can feel inspiring, unrealistic, or even frustrating depending on who you ask. For many ambitious women, it often feels like there is an invisible tradeoff between success, family, health, relationships, and the things that matter most. In this episode, I talk with colleague and client, Binie Klein, about what it really means to have it all and why the answer may be different than you think. We explore how Binie defines a fulfilling life, the role priorities play in shaping your choices, and why being intentional with your time is about much more than productivity. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/294 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Binie's work: binieklein.com

Every coaching business has two roles running behind the scenes: the part of you making the big decisions and the part of you doing the day-to-day work. When those two roles are not communicating clearly, your business can start to feel heavier, more chaotic, or harder to run than it needs to. In this episode, I talk about the relationship between your inner CEO and inner employee and how that dynamic shapes the way you make decisions, follow through, evaluate results, and talk to yourself when things do not go as planned. This is not about spending more time as the CEO and less time as the employee, but about understanding how both roles show up in your business. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/293 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

There comes a point in many coaching businesses when what once worked starts to feel harder to sustain. Not because anything is wrong, but because you've grown, your priorities have changed, or the business you've built no longer fits the life you want to live. In this episode, I talk with one of my incredible clients, Melisa Liberman, about the process of reimagining her coaching business. We explore her transition from years of one-on-one coaching to group programs, the mindset shifts that made those changes possible, and how she learned to focus on solving the right problem at the right time rather than getting distracted by everything that might come next. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/292 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Melisa's work: melisaliberman.com

So many coaches spend time looking for the next certification, strategy, or breakthrough while completely overlooking the things already getting in the way of their coaching. Sometimes the biggest obstacles are not a lack of talent or potential, but the thoughts, habits, and pressures we carry into our work. In this episode, I talk about some of the most common things I see standing between coaches and their best possible coaching. From overtraining and comparison to rushing clients and questioning yourself, I break down the patterns that can quietly interfere with the way you show up as a coach. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/291 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

As coaches, we can often get caught up in the idea that we have to be in constant transformation energy to be successful in our coaching businesses. But what happens when we stay in that constant state of transformation and forget to shift into our coaching expertise? In this episode, I dive into how staying in transformation energy can lead to burnout and a constant sense of needing to change everything. I also share why moving into your coaching expertise can actually create more stability and confidence in your business, allowing you to serve your clients at a higher level without always chasing the next transformation. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/290 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

Confusion, anxiety, and constant second-guessing in your business are not always signs that something bigger is wrong. Sometimes, the real issue is much simpler: decisions that have never actually been made. In this episode, I break down how unmade decisions can quietly create chaos, uncertainty, and unnecessary stress in your business. I share how to spot these unmade decisions that may be draining your energy, why they often go unnoticed, and how making them can help you move forward with more confidence, simplicity, and momentum. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/289 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

At some point in your coaching business, you may find yourself questioning whether you truly want to keep going. In an industry that often treats quitting as failure, many coaches never give themselves permission to honestly evaluate whether their business still aligns with what they want. In this episode, I talk about the difference between quitting or recommitting to your coaching business, and how honestly considering both options can create clarity, confidence, and a more intentional path forward. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/288 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

We often face a decision as coaches: do we dive deep into mindset and beliefs with our clients, or focus on quick, practical strategies for immediate results? In this episode, I break down how to balance deep dives and quick wins in your coaching practice. I share the strengths and downsides of each strategy, how to use both to your advantage, and specific coaching examples showing how these strategies can be applied in real life to get clients unstuck. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/287 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

As a coach, there are certain things you need to learn to love in order to build a thriving business. But what if some of the things you avoid or resist are the exact tools that can help you grow? In this episode, I'll share five key things every coach must embrace to achieve long-term success and sustainability in their business. I dive into why these five things are not only essential but also transformative for your business. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/286 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

Almost every coach I know has had a moment when they realize they were not using their own coaching tools. In this episode, I'm talking about what really happens in that moment and why it can quickly turn into something bigger. There is a turning point available to you, a fork in the road where you can choose to spiral or pivot, a choice between continuing down a familiar path or shifting direction in a way that changes everything. I explore what it looks like to notice this pattern without judgment, how quickly things can change once you see it, and why this experience is not a sign that something has gone wrong. If you have ever questioned yourself in moments like this, this episode will give you a new way to think about it. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/285 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

What if growing your coaching business isn't about getting it right the first time, but about being willing to try something, pay attention, and adjust? This conversation offers an honest way to think about building a business that actually fits your life. In this episode, I'm joined by Mary Okon, a life and wellness coach and one of my clients, who shares how she approaches her business through what she is actively learning and applying in her own life. We talk about experimenting and evaluating in your coaching business, along with how she uses mindset, self-care, visual ways of thinking, and other simple practices. If you've been questioning what is working or what to try next, this episode will give you a different way to approach it. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/284 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf