Inside the Coaching Conversation: Coaching Demos and Debriefs for Coaches

Crystal Wagnner, PCC
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Have you ever listened to a coaching conversation and wondered why the coach chose that question? Wish you could peek behind the scenes and understand what was happening in the moment? Want to develop your coaching skills without simply being told what to do? You're in the right place. I'm Crystal Wagner, an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), coach educator, mentor coach, coaching supervisor, and LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator. In each episode, you'll listen to a real coaching conversation, then we'll step back together to explore what happened, what I noticed, and how different coaching choices might have shaped the conversation. At the beginning of each episode, I'll give you a little context about the client and invite you to listen for a specific moment in the conversation. After the coaching session, we'll debrief it together. I'll share what I was noticing, consider other coaching choices I could have made, and explore how those choices might have influenced the client's thinking and awareness. You won't hear perfect coaching sessions—and that's intentional. Real coaching is messy, nuanced, and full of moments where several responses could have moved the conversation forward. Instead of striving for perfection, we'll explore the thinking behind the coaching so you can strengthen your judgment, expand your options, and grow in confidence. Rather than giving you formulas to follow, my goal is to help you develop the reflective practice that allows you to trust yourself, listen more deeply, and discover your own authentic coaching voice. Whether you're working toward an ICF credential, building confidence as a coach, or simply looking for thoughtful coaching demos, each episode will invite you to: Notice the subtle moments that shape a coaching conversation.Deepen your coaching presence and listening.Strengthen your reflective practice.Experiment with new approaches in your own coaching.Discover multiple effective ways to coach the same moment. Before we finish each episode, I'll leave you with a question to reflect on and a coaching experiment to try in your own conversations over the coming weeks. If you're ready to learn from real coaching conversations, sharpen your coaching skills, and continue growing one conversation at a time, welcome to Inside the Coaching Conversation. I'm glad you're here.

Episodes

  1. Sep 28

    When AI and the Coach Both Get It Wrong

    What happens when the AI assessment gets part of a coaching call wrong, and the coach does too? In this episode of Inside the Coaching Conversation, you’ll hear a real coaching session with Ashley, who explores the uncertainty, overthinking, and emotions that come up as she works toward building her businesses after a late ADHD diagnosis. What begins as a conversation about why “business” feels so heavy eventually leads to an “Uncertainty Monster” and a practical strategy for getting unstuck. But the most important learning for me came after the session. As I reviewed the transcript and the RaeNotes AI assessment, I noticed a moment when I had an awareness I wanted Ashley to reach and began asking questions designed to take her there. I didn’t recognize it during the session. Looking back, though, I could see that I had quietly put my hand back on the wheel. I also disagreed with part of the AI assessment, but as I reflected further, I realized neither of us had identified the question that might have served the client best. That realization became one of my biggest takeaways from this call. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a coach’s agenda can subtly show up in the questions we ask, even when we believe we’re following the clientWhy noticing an apparent breakthrough can be a cue to explore what the client is learning rather than deciding where to go nextHow time constraints can influence the direction of a coaching conversationWhy a client can still gain meaningful insight even when we don’t demonstrate every coaching skill at the level we wantHow AI assessments can support reflective practice and why they still require context, discernment, and human reflectionThis episode is also an example of why I find AI useful for reflecting on my coaching without treating it as the final authority. RaeNotes didn’t give me all the answers. Its assessment gave me something to wrestle with, and that reflection helped me notice something in my coaching that the AI itself hadn’t identified. Want to see the AI assessment for yourself? Go to the show notes page for this episode to read the RaeNotes assessment of the coaching call and compare its observations with my reflection. Resources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI AssessmentYour Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD by Tamara Rosier PhDThe Powerhouse Guide to ACC, PCC, and MCC Coaching by Jennifer PowersFlourishing with ADHD Seminar Group CoachingWork with me: If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Leave a comment and see the RaeNotes AI Assessment: https://crystalwagner.net/when-ai-and-the-coach-both-get-it-wrong/

  2. Sep 14

    Beyond the Agreement: Knowing When to Move to Next Steps

    What happens when a client gets what they came for earlier than you expected? In this episode of Inside the Coaching Conversation, I share a real coaching conversation with Linda as she explores resistance around two possible master’s degree paths. What begins as a conversation about discernment uncovers a deeper story about identity, old narratives, and what she believes may or may not fit who she is becoming. In my debrief, I reflect on something I almost missed because I was focused on my own coaching development. I was intentionally working to establish and maintain the coaching agreement, especially as the conversation shifted. But in concentrating on the competency, I missed an opportunity to recognize that Linda had already found the insight she came for. Instead of asking, “What should we explore next?” I could have slowed down and helped her integrate what she had already discovered. It’s a reminder that our goal isn’t simply to demonstrate the ICF Core Competencies well. It’s to use them in service of the person in front of us. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why a shift in the conversation doesn’t always mean you need to establish a new directionHow moving too quickly back into exploration can bypass an opportunity for deeper integrationQuestions that can help clients explore the impact of a new awareness and what they want to do with itWhy focusing too closely on demonstrating a coaching competency can sometimes distract us from what the client actually needsHow reflective practice can help you move beyond “Did I demonstrate the competency?” to “How well did this serve the client?”As you listen, consider where you might have slowed down, stayed with an insight longer, or helped the client connect what she discovered to her larger discernment journey. Resources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI AssessmentWork with me: If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Leave a comment: https://crystalwagner.net/beyond-the-agreement-knowing-when-to-move-to-next-steps/

  3. Aug 24

    Deep Coaching Isn’t Always Better Coaching

    What happens when your client doesn’t want to go deeper? In this real coaching conversation, my client comes in overwhelmed by a seemingly simple decision: whether to buy a new car. So many options, questions, and competing considerations leave her unsure where to begin. Throughout the session, I notice several opportunities to explore deeper meaning, identity, and beliefs, and I invite her there. But that isn’t what she needs from this coaching session. What helps her move forward is recognizing that she’s trying to solve the entire problem at once and breaking the decision into manageable steps. In the debrief, I reflect on the difference between developing higher-level coaching skills and feeling like we need to demonstrate them in every session. I also explore feedback from a Raynotes AI assessment suggesting that I could have stayed longer at the meaning level, and why I don’t agree. Sometimes powerful coaching goes deep. Sometimes it’s tactical and strategic. The question isn’t, What level am I coaching at? It’s, What will best serve this client right now? In this episode, you'll hear: Why following the client can be more important than demonstrating a particular coaching approach or skill levelHow a clear coaching agreement can help you stay focused on what the client actually wants from the sessionWhat I would do differently to hold the coaching agreement more consistentlyHow overwhelm and executive function challenges can affect decision-making for clients with ADHDWhy developing PCC- and MCC-level coaching skills outside the session can help you use them more naturally and flexibly inside the sessionHow I use AI coaching assessments as a tool for reflection without automatically accepting the feedback they give meResources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI AssessmentWork with me: If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Leave a comment: https://crystalwagner.net/deep-coaching-isnt-always-better-coaching/

  4. Aug 10

    Exploring Client Metaphors with Cleaner Questions

    In this episode, I share a real coaching conversation with a late-diagnosed ADHD client who came to coaching carrying a quiet, gentle question: Who am I?  After years of being needed by others, she found herself in a new season of life, ready to discover who she was beyond the roles she had always filled. Together, we explored that question through rich metaphors as she reflected on what it might look like to move from being needed to being known. After the coaching demo, I invite you behind the scenes as I reflect on my own coaching. I share where I believe I unintentionally influenced the conversation, what I learned from reviewing the session, and how this reflection is shaping my growth as a coach.  If you're working toward an ICF credential or simply want to become a more intentional coach, I hope this debrief encourages you to embrace reflective practice as one of your most valuable development tools. In this episode, you'll learn: How client-generated metaphors can deepen awareness and unlock new insights.An example of how silence and spaciousness can be some of the most powerful coaching tools.How easily a coach can unintentionally lead a conversation instead of partnering with the client.Questions I would ask differently if I coached this session again.How reflective practice helps you recognize your growth edges and expand your coaching skills over time.Why reviewing your coaching conversations builds confidence and strengthens your coaching presence.Resources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI AssessmentWork with me: If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Leave a comment: https://crystalwagner.net/who-am-i-from-being-needed-to-being-known/

  5. Aug 3

    How to Reflect on Your Coaching Conversations

    How do you improve as a coach after your training is over? In this introductory episode of Inside the Coaching Conversation, I share the reflective practice I use to learn from my coaching conversations. Rather than striving for perfect coaching, I focus on intentional practice—taking time to notice patterns, recognize strengths, explore growth edges, and become more aware of the impact I have on my clients. You'll hear how I reflect immediately after sessions, when I use more structured reflection, how mentor coaching and coaching supervision have shaped my development, and how I use RaeNotes AI alongside my own observations to deepen my learning. This reflection process is the foundation for every episode in this podcast. After each real coaching conversation, you'll hear the reflections I wrote as I considered what stood out, what I learned, and what I want to carry into future coaching sessions. Whether you're preparing for an ICF credential, working to strengthen your coaching skills, or simply looking for practical ways to develop a reflective coaching practice, this episode provides the framework you'll hear throughout the other episodes. In this episode, you'll learn: Why I make reflection a regular part of my coaching practiceThe questions I ask myself after coaching sessions How I use deliberate practice to strengthen my coaching skillsHow mentor coaching, coaching supervision, and AI fit into my learning processWhat to expect in future Inside the Coaching Conversation episodesResources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI AssessmentWork with me: If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Leave a comment: https://crystalwagner.net/how-to-reflect-on-your-coaching-conversations/

  6. Aug 3

    Welcome to Inside the Coaching Conversation and What to Expect

    Welcome to Inside the Coaching Conversation. I'm Crystal Wagner, a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and I'm passionate about spreading the awareness of coaching and helping coaches improve. I work primarily with neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them through life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision.  On this podcast, you'll hear examples of coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision sessions, mostly with neurodivergent and divergent thinking clients or coaches who are supporting them. There will be other episodes periodically as they have something to offer us too.  You'll be able to listen to the calls themselves in their entirety and learn by hearing an example. Most episodes will also have a reflection after the call about what stood out to me and growth edges I would like to work on improving.  These calls are real, unscripted, and unedited. They are not examples of perfect coaching. Instead, they are representative of what a typical coaching conversation is like for me. If you would like to learn about working with me, I offer life coaching, mentor coaching, and coaching supervision. Learn more about life coaching for neurodivergent and out-of-the-box thinkers and those who support them.Learn more about mentor coaching and coaching supervision for neurodivergent coaches or coaches working with neurodivergent clients.Resources mentioned: Reflection Guide for CoachesUsing a Custom Prompt with RaeNotes AI Assessment

  • 6 Episodes

About

Have you ever listened to a coaching conversation and wondered why the coach chose that question? Wish you could peek behind the scenes and understand what was happening in the moment? Want to develop your coaching skills without simply being told what to do? You're in the right place. I'm Crystal Wagner, an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), coach educator, mentor coach, coaching supervisor, and LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator. In each episode, you'll listen to a real coaching conversation, then we'll step back together to explore what happened, what I noticed, and how different coaching choices might have shaped the conversation. At the beginning of each episode, I'll give you a little context about the client and invite you to listen for a specific moment in the conversation. After the coaching session, we'll debrief it together. I'll share what I was noticing, consider other coaching choices I could have made, and explore how those choices might have influenced the client's thinking and awareness. You won't hear perfect coaching sessions—and that's intentional. Real coaching is messy, nuanced, and full of moments where several responses could have moved the conversation forward. Instead of striving for perfection, we'll explore the thinking behind the coaching so you can strengthen your judgment, expand your options, and grow in confidence. Rather than giving you formulas to follow, my goal is to help you develop the reflective practice that allows you to trust yourself, listen more deeply, and discover your own authentic coaching voice. Whether you're working toward an ICF credential, building confidence as a coach, or simply looking for thoughtful coaching demos, each episode will invite you to: Notice the subtle moments that shape a coaching conversation.Deepen your coaching presence and listening.Strengthen your reflective practice.Experiment with new approaches in your own coaching.Discover multiple effective ways to coach the same moment. Before we finish each episode, I'll leave you with a question to reflect on and a coaching experiment to try in your own conversations over the coming weeks. If you're ready to learn from real coaching conversations, sharpen your coaching skills, and continue growing one conversation at a time, welcome to Inside the Coaching Conversation. I'm glad you're here.

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