The Fast Track to Growth: What Coaching Can Do That You Can’t Do Alone

We all have moments where we feel stuck.

You might be asking yourself questions like:

• Is this really what I want to be doing for the next 10 years?

• Do I still enjoy this work, or am I just good at it?

• Am I making the impact I want to make?

These are normal questions, and they can be incredibly hard to answer alone.

The truth is, growth isn’t always a straight line. Whether it’s in your career, your leadership, or your personal life, progress often comes with discomfort, confusion and doubt. That’s where coaching comes in.

Coaching isn’t about giving you advice or telling you what to do. It’s about creating a space where you can explore, reflect, challenge your assumptions and move forward with clarity and purpose.

In this post, I’ll unpack what coaching can do for you, especially the things that are tough (or even impossible) to do alone. And if you're curious about whether coaching is right for you, read on. By the end, you might just be ready to take that first step.

1. Coaching Helps You Hear Yourself Clearly

We all have inner voices. Some are helpful. Others? Not so much.

When you're navigating change or making big decisions, your thoughts can feel noisy and tangled. A coach listens not just to what you say, but how you say it. They reflect things back to you that you might not have noticed - patterns in your thinking, hesitations in your tone, flashes of insight in passing comments.

This kind of attentive, skilled listening helps you hear yourself more clearly. And once you do that, you start making decisions that are more aligned with who you really are, not just who you think you should be.

2. Coaching Gets You Out of Your Own Way

It’s easy to become your own biggest obstacle.

Maybe you procrastinate because you’re scared of failing. Maybe you downplay your skills because of imposter syndrome. Or maybe you say yes to everything because you’ve been conditioned to please others.

A coach doesn’t just nod along. They help you name the fears and assumptions that are holding you back, and then challenge them, gently but firmly. Together, you start to shift from self-doubt to self-trust.

You’d be amazed how much lighter things feel when you're no longer fighting against yourself.

3. Coaching Brings Structure to Your Growth

Have you ever had a burst of motivation, written pages of goals… and then done nothing with them?

That’s where coaching adds huge value. Growth isn’t just about insight, it’s about action. Coaching gives your development a sense of momentum and accountability. You don’t just talk about what’s important, you decide what you’re going to do next, and how you’ll follow through.

This isn’t about pressure or perfection. It’s about creating a rhythm where change feels possible, bit by bit. And because you’ve got someone walking beside you, you’re far less likely to quit on yourself when things get tough.

4. Coaching Creates a Safe Space for Honest Reflection

In a coaching session, there’s no judgment. No agenda. No “right answer.”

That might sound simple, but it’s surprisingly rare.

In most areas of life, we’re performing. At work, with friends, even with family. We often filter what we say, or pretend to be more confident than we feel.

Coaching is different. It’s one of the few places where you can drop the mask and say, “I don’t know what I want,” or “I’m scared I’m not good enough,” or “I’ve outgrown this version of my life.”

That kind of honesty is powerful. Because once you stop pretending, you can start building something real.

5. Coaching Gives You New Tools and Perspectives

You don’t have to figure everything out from scratch.

A good coach brings a toolkit of frameworks, models and reflective questions to help you think differently. Maybe it’s using values-based exercises to clarify what really matters. Maybe it’s learning to reframe setbacks as learning opportunities. Maybe it’s getting strategic about your career development.

Whatever your goals, you’ll leave coaching with new language, new strategies and a new sense of what’s possible.

This doesn’t just help in the moment - it’s something you’ll carry into the rest of your life.

6. Coaching Helps You Align Action With Purpose

One of the biggest reasons people seek coaching is that something doesn’t feel quite right.

Maybe your career looks good on paper, but it drains you. Maybe you’ve hit a leadership role, but you feel like you’re winging it. Maybe you’ve done everything you were “supposed to” do - but it still feels hollow.

Coaching helps you step back and look at the bigger picture. What do you actually want? What kind of life or work would feel meaningful to you? What kind of impact do you want to make?

Then, we connect that purpose to your everyday decisions, so your energy isn’t scattered, but focused. When your actions align with your values, everything feels more energising and sustainable.

7. Coaching Accelerates Your Growth

Can you grow without a coach? Of course.

But it’s often slower, messier and lonelier.

With coaching, you get the benefit of momentum. You’re moving forward with support, clarity and intention. You’re not stuck in your own head. You’re not repeating the same patterns for years. You’re not constantly second-guessing yourself.

Instead, you’re learning, adapting, and stepping into new possibilities. You’re becoming the person you’ve been growing towards – and faster than you thought possible.

So, Is Coaching Right for You?

If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready for more - coaching might be exactly what you need.

It’s not magic. It’s not therapy. And it’s not an overnight fix.

But it is one of the most powerful tools you can invest in if you want to grow - with more self-awareness, more confidence and more impact.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. And you don’t have to wait until things are falling apart.

You just have to be ready to start.

Ready to take the next step?

I offer friendly, down-to-earth coaching for individuals who want to grow in their careers, their leadership and their lives. Whether you're navigating a big change, feeling stuck in a rut, or simply curious about what’s next, I’d love to help.

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to see if coaching is a good fit for you.
Or drop me a message if you have questions - no pressure, just a chat – simon@wagtailcoaching.com.

Because growth doesn’t have to be lonely. And you don’t have to do it all by yourself

The Fast Track to Growth: What Coaching Can Do That You Can’t Do Alone

What to Do Before a Coaching Session: A Simple Guide

Whether it's your first coaching session or your fifth, you might be wondering: “Is there anything I should be doing to get ready?” The short answer is: yes, but not in a way that feels like homework.

Coaching isn’t about having the “right answers” or arriving with everything perfectly packaged. It’s a space for exploration, reflection and growth. That said, a little intentional preparation can help you get the most out of your session, and make the experience feel more purposeful and powerful.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through some simple, thoughtful ways to prepare for a coaching session, especially if you're working with a professional coach for personal development, leadership, or team growth.

1. Get clear on why you’re coming

Start by asking yourself:
“What brought me to coaching in the first place?”

You might have a clear focus, like preparing for a leadership role, navigating a team challenge, or making a career decision. Or it may be more open-ended: feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready for change.

You don’t need a polished goal - your coach can help with that- but it helps to come in with a sense of what you’re hoping to explore and think about.

Try asking yourself:

• What’s been on my mind lately?

• What feels difficult, confusing, or important?

• What am I hoping will feel different after this session - or this coaching journey?

• How will we know by the end of the session, that it’s been useful?

Jot down a few thoughts. Even if they're messy, they’ll help you and your coach set direction together.

2. Reflect on what’s changed since your last session (if you’ve had one)

If this isn’t your first session, take a few minutes to look back.
Ask yourself:

• What’s happened since our last conversation?

• What did I try, change, or notice?

• What have I learnt about myself?

• What progress have I made, and what’s still feeling sticky?

Coaching is all about momentum. Even if things haven’t gone the way you hoped, reflecting honestly on your experience helps keep the work real and rooted in your day-to-day life.

3. Capture key themes or questions

Sometimes, life feels like a noisy inbox, full of competing thoughts, emotions and decisions. Writing things down can help you spot the signals in the noise.

Before your session, take 10-15 minutes to write down:

• What’s taking up most of your headspace or energy right now?

• Are there patterns you’re noticing in your behaviour or thinking?

• Is there a question you’ve been circling, avoiding, or coming back to?

For example:

• “Why do I keep putting this off?”

• “How can I be more confident and speak up in that meeting?”

• “What do I want from this next stage of my career?”

You might not know the answer, but naming the question is a powerful first step.

4. Bring a real situation to explore

Coaching works best when it’s grounded in your real life, not hypothetical situations. If you’re not sure where to start, consider bringing a specific situation you’d like to unpack.

For example:

• A challenging conversation you’ve been putting off

• A decision that’s weighing on you

• A moment where you felt stuck, overwhelmed, or out of alignment

Bringing a real example allows your coach to help you explore your thoughts, assumptions, emotions and behaviour, and consider new perspectives or approaches.

5. Don’t worry about being “coaching-ready”

This one’s important: you don’t have to come into coaching with it all figured out.
You don’t need to be articulate, confident, or even clear. Coaching is not an interview or performance, it’s a partnership. The coaching session should feel safe, non-judgemental and supportive.

Some of the most powerful sessions begin with someone saying:

• “I’m not sure what I want to talk about today.”

• “I just feel stuck.”

• “Can we figure this out together?”

A good coach will meet you exactly where you are, and help you build clarity from there.

6. Give yourself space before and after

Where possible, try not to rush into or out of your coaching session.

Before:

• Give yourself 10-15 minutes to slow down, breathe and reflect.

• Revisit your notes or questions if you’ve made any.

• Take a moment to transition from “doing mode” to “thinking mode.”

After:

• Avoid diving straight into a meeting or inbox.

• Give yourself time to process the conversation - what resonated, what surprised you, what you might want to do next?

• Jot down key insights or actions while they’re still fresh.

Even a short buffer can make a big difference to how much you absorb and apply.

7. Optional: Gather any tools or notes

If you've had previous coaching sessions or completed reflection tools (e.g. strengths profiles, values exercises, 360 feedback), it can be useful to revisit them.

You might also want to bring:

• A notebook or device for notes

• Any actions you committed to from your last session

• A reminder of your overall coaching goals or themes

But don’t worry if you don’t have any of that. The coaching space is flexible and responsive. It’s about what you need most on the day.

8. Trust the Process

Coaching isn’t about fixing you, it’s about supporting you to think deeply, lead more consciously and move forward in ways that feel right for you.

That means sometimes you’ll leave a session energised, clear and full of ideas. Other times, you may leave still mulling things over, and that’s just as valid.

Some of the biggest shifts happen not in the session, but in the space between them.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a coaching session doesn’t need to be a big task, it’s more about creating the time and space to tune in, reflect and show up with openness.

Whether you’re facing a challenge, exploring a new goal, or just trying to make sense of what’s next, coaching offers a unique space to pause, think differently and move forward with intention.

So take a breath, trust yourself and bring you to the session. That’s more than enough.

Ready to start coaching or deepen your journey?
If you're thinking about starting coaching or want to explore how it could help you or your team, get in touch - we'd love to talk.

What to Do Before a Coaching Session: A Simple Guide

Stronger Together: The Real Impact of Team Coaching in the Workplace

In today’s demanding environments, whether in the NHS or the corporate world, teams are under more pressure than ever. They’re being asked to do more with less, navigate constant change and work across boundaries. Even the most skilled and experienced teams can struggle with alignment, communication, trust and direction.

That’s where team coaching can make a real difference.

Unlike training or team away days, team coaching is an ongoing, developmental process. It supports teams to think more clearly, work more collaboratively and lead more effectively, all while tackling real-life challenges they’re facing in the moment.

What does team coaching do?

At its best, team coaching strengthens both how a team works together and what it delivers. Here’s how:

Builds Trust and Psychological Safety

Trust is the foundation of high-performing teams. Team coaching provides a safe, structured space where individuals can speak openly, understand each other’s perspectives and strengthen their working relationships.

Improves Communication and Collaboration

Misunderstandings, assumptions, differences in core values and siloed working are common, especially in complex systems. Coaching helps teams become more aware of how they communicate and where they can create more clarity, flow and connection.

Aligns the Team Around a Shared Purpose

Through coaching, teams can step back from day-to-day pressures and reconnect with their bigger purpose, clarifying goals, roles, responsibilities and collective priorities. This creates a stronger sense of shared direction and ownership.

Develops Collective Leadership

Team coaching doesn’t just build individuals, it builds a team’s ability to lead itself. Over time, team members take greater ownership, support each other’s development and lead change more confidently, together.

Delivers Tangible Results

Coaching is grounded in real work. Sessions often focus on live business or operational issues, so the learning is practical, applied and immediately valuable. The result? Better decisions, improved performance and stronger team morale.

Who is team coaching for?

Team coaching is ideal for:

• Senior leadership or executive teams navigating change

• Cross-functional teams needing stronger alignment

• Newly formed or restructured teams

• NHS teams working across systems or organisations

• Corporate teams striving to go from good to great

How we work at Wagtail Coaching

We take a tailored, relational and outcome-focused approach. Our experienced team coaches work alongside you from the start, designing a coaching programme that fits your team’s context, challenges and goals. We offer in-person and virtual sessions, with optional one-to-one coaching or stakeholder feedback as part of the wider picture.

Want to find out more?
Get in touch for a free, no-pressure chat about how team coaching could help your team grow, lead and succeed together.