What issues come up most often in coaching?
I’ve been reflecting on the last few month’s coaching conversations and looking at patterns. When you sit in a coaching space with leaders, founders, or change-makers, the themes that rise to the surface are often surprisingly universal. Whether I’m working in a corporate setting or with business leaders and SMEs, with different industries, different job titles, different life stories, sometimes the same human questions and issues appear.
Here are some topics that have come up often in recent sessions, perhaps you’ll recognise a few of them in yourself too.
>> Self-care vs. selfishness, establishing a difference
So many leaders struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing without feeling guilty. And there’s so much to do, right? Questions such as ‘Is it selfish to take time for me when my team is stretched?’ is a common refrain. But here’s the truth - sustainable leadership doesn’t come from running on empty. The work is in reframing self-care as the foundation for impact, not an indulgence or an after thought - or indeed a response to burning out.
>> Capacity - learning around our own limits as a foundation for boundaries and respect
There’s never enough time, is there? This isn’t just about workload, it’s about mental and emotional bandwidth - your battery. Many of my clients arrive in coaching because they’re maxed out, spinning multiple plates and wondering if they can keep going. Together, we explore priorities and examine what truly matters, and how to design a way of working that allows space to breathe, and lead.
>> The inner critic - you’re not alone, surprisingly
Imposter syndrome sneaks into even the most accomplished CVs. It’s the voice that says: ‘I’m not ready. They’ll find me out’ or ‘I’m not good enough’. In coaching, we explore that voice with curiosity, not shame, because awareness is the first step to quieting the inner critic and leading with confidence.
>> Communicating with senior leaders - learning around gravitas to handle influencing upwards
‘How do I speak up and actually be heard?’ Is a frequent desire in the corporate space. This is a knotty one for many mid- to senior-level leaders, and as founders negotiating with stakeholders and investors. We look at the art of framing ideas clearly, managing up effectively, and holding your own in conversations where power dynamics can feel intimidating.
>> Balancing wellbeing and performance - on your terms
This one is a constant dance. Leaders often feel the tension between driving results and protecting their energy. Coaching becomes a space to explore the habits and boundaries that allow for both achievement and recovery, because peak performance is unsustainable without wellbeing. My Zone of Brilliance™’ framework starts with Wellbeing Foundations to set this on the right course from the outset.
>> Actually knowing where you want to be - because surprisingly, not all of us do know
This is the quiet, powerful question at the heart of so much coaching - ‘Where do I really want to be?’. It’s easy to get swept along by cultural expectations - career ladders, company priorities, external measures of success. Coaching helps people pause, reflect, and connect with their own version of meaningful progress, and sometimes make significant changes that truly align with who they are at their core.
If you recognise any of these themes, you’re not alone - they’re the very human questions that sit behind ambitious, impactful leadership. Quite often the hurdles aren’t other people or circumstance - it’s US - we are the thing that stand in the way of our own progress. Creating a space to explore this, whether in coaching, reflection, or conversation with peers - isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for leading with clarity, creativity, and purpose.
How about you?
Which of these coaching conversations resonates most with where you are right now? Take a moment to notice it, because awareness is the first step to unlocking your own Zone of Brilliance™.
If you’re ready to explore these themes in a supportive space, I’d love to invite you into my new Finding Brilliance Community—a place to connect, reflect, and grow alongside other leaders who want to flourish, not just function.
Get in touch to join the waitlist and be first to know when doors open.
