What Coaching Actually Is (And Why Organisational Coaching Misses the Mark)
Show Notes
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Episode 23 What Real Coaching Actually Is (And Why Organisational Coaching Misses the Mark)
Hello, my lovely!
back to the Leader Within Podcast. I'm Sue-Anne Higgins, and today we're shifting gears to explore something that's equally transformative but widely misunderstood: real coaching.
If you've been with me since Episode 1, you know everything we've built together has been about helping you lead from within, break through your plateaus, and create the impact you're meant to have. But here's the crucial discovery I've made after coaching hundreds of women leaders: many of you have never actually experienced real coaching—or you've had a deluded version that completely missed the mark.
Today, I'm challenging a belief that might be keeping you stuck. I'm addressing the myths about what coaching actually is. And most importantly, I'm revealing why waiting for your organisation to offer coaching might mean you're waiting forever for the breakthrough you deserve.
Listen to discover:
👉The fundamental difference between real coaching and what organizations call "coaching"
👉Why psychological safety is the secret ingredient most organizational coaching lacks
👉The 5 non-negotiables for choosing a coach who creates real transformation
👉How self-invested coaching changes everything (spoiler: it's a third of your salary worth of impact)
👉The one crucial first step to take before you invest in any coaching relationship
Episode Navigation: What You'll Discover
[00:00:52] The Belief Holding You Back
Discover the deeply ingrained belief that keeps brilliant women leaders stuck: "Good leaders should be able to figure it out themselves." Sue-Anne unpacks why needing support feels like weakness—and why top performers in every field never buy into this lie. Serena Williams has coaches. Oprah credits multiple mentors. So why do you feel like you should do it all alone?
[00:03:58] Why Even Boss-Coaching Fails
Sue-Anne reveals a transformative moment from her own career: being coached by a senior executive (her boss) who had the best intentions—but the fundamental limitation that changed everything. Learn why vulnerability can't exist when career advancement hangs in the balance, and how this led to her discovering what real coaching looks like.
[00:08:30] The Four Hidden Limitations
Uncover the hidden limitations of company-offered coaching that prevent real transformation:
You don't choose your coach
The scope stays surface-level
Hidden agendas compromise the space
Access is reserved for the "golden inner circle"
Each limitation explains why you might have felt like you were "going through the motions" in coaching before.
[00:14:20] The Five Non-Negotiables for Real Coaching Breakthrough
Sue-Anne reveals the exact criteria for choosing a coach who actually creates transformation. Learn why credentials matter less than you think, what "methodology that goes beyond the surface" actually looks like, and why a "true confidential sanctuary" is the dealbreaker most leaders miss. This is the framework that separates transformational coaching from expensive conversations.
[00:20:15] The Power of Self-Invested Coaching
Discover why the decision to invest your own money in coaching shifts everything. When you choose yourself, you gain the power to: select your coach, bring your whole self, and work on what actually matters. Hear directly from Jacki, a leader coached by Sue-Anne, as she shares the tangible ROI: "For me, it has actually added a third to my salary over five years."
[00:25:00] One Crucial First Step
Learn why getting crystal clear on your primary challenge is the most important step before investing in coaching. Discover the Power Move Blueprint - the high-touch experience Sue-Anne created specifically to eliminate the guesswork before you invest. This is the clarity-building process that prevents scattered, expensive coaching efforts.
[READY TO IMPLEMENT? WATCH THE FULL EPISODE: by clicking the video link above]
Why This Episode Is Essential Viewing
Listen if any of these resonate with you:
⭐You've been told (or you believe) that needing coaching means you're not capable enough
⭐You're waiting for your organization to invest in coaching—and waiting is making you feel stuck
⭐You've tried organizational coaching and felt like you were managing impressions instead of exploring breakthroughs
⭐You have too many challenges and don't know where to start with coaching
⭐You're wondering if the cost of coaching is actually worth the investment
⭐You're exhausted from trying to figure everything out alone when other leaders have support
⭐You want to understand the difference between real coaching and everything else you've tried
What You'll Walk Away With
✅Crystal-Clear Coaching Intelligence You'll understand exactly what real coaching is (and isn't), equipped to recognize the difference between coaching, mentoring, therapy, and performance management.
✅The Reframe You Need You'll see why investing in your own coaching isn't selfish—it's strategic. And why "good leaders figure it out themselves" is the exact thought that needs reconstructing.
✅A Practical Framework You'll know the 5 non-negotiables for choosing a coach, so you don't waste time or money on the wrong approach.
✅Permission to Invest in Yourself You'll hear from a real leader about the tangible impact of self-invested coaching—and understand why it's one of the best ROI decisions you can make.
✅A Clear First Step You'll discover the Power Move Blueprint—the initial clarity-building experience that takes the guesswork out of where to focus in your coaching journey.
[TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP APPROACH: WATCH NOW - Click the Video Above]
Ready to Go Deeper?
You deserve coaching that actually creates transformation—not just conversations that feel good.
The most transformative coaching isn't the kind your organization offers. It's the kind you choose for yourself.
If you're ready to move from feeling stuck to having a clear plan, it's time to get your Power Move Blueprint.
This is a personalized, high-touch experience where you:
Answer deep reflection questions via VideoAsk (no awkward call required)
Receive a personal video coaching session from Sue-Anne
Get your one power move for immediate relief
Receive a 30-day blueprint to make it stick
Score a golden ticket to the Leader Within Collective group coaching call
This entire experience is just $67 AUD because Sue-Anne knows that having a clear plan is the first, most critical step to a real breakthrough.
What's Next?
Next episode, we're diving even deeper into what makes coaching different from everything else you've tried. We'll explore the specific differences between coaching and mentoring, and why some development approaches work while others leave you exactly where you started.
If you've ever wondered why some coaching created breakthroughs while other approaches felt like expensive therapy, you won't want to miss it.
Until Then, Remember...
You're only one reconstructed thought away from the breakthrough you deserve in your leadership journey and in your life.
The right coaching relationship will be the best investment you've ever made in yourself. The wrong one will cost you more than just money—it will cost you your time, energy, and potentially your belief in your ability to change.
Choose wisely. Choose you.
Lead with clarity, passion, and purpose.
Sue-Anne Higgins
Host, The Leader Within Podcast
