Great Coaches Don’t Know More—They Do This | Truth #3

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"Great coaches don't know more. They notice more." This powerful insight challenges the fundamental misconception that keeps so many coaches—both beginners and veterans—from reaching their potential. If you've ever felt like you need more tools, frameworks, or knowledge before you can truly help others, this episode will transform your approach to coaching.

We explore why the most meaningful breakthroughs rarely come from impressive techniques or clever questions. Instead, they emerge from creating space where both coach and client can slow down enough to see what's actually happening. When you're fully present, you notice subtle body language shifts, significant word choices, and energetic changes that might otherwise pass unacknowledged. These observations often lead to the most transformative moments in coaching.

The distinction between knowing and noticing couldn't be more relevant in today's information-saturated world. With AI making knowledge increasingly accessible, what people truly crave isn't more information—it's greater clarity that comes through genuine presence. Great coaches understand this intuitively; they coach the whole person, not just the intellect. This same quality of attention transforms not only coaching relationships but all human connections. Think about when someone last gave you their complete attention. How did it feel? We challenge you to bring that level of presence to everyone you meet today—your family, colleagues, and clients. You might be surprised by what becomes possible.

Ready to discover why trying to be the "best" coach might actually be making you worse? Join us for Truth #4 in our next episode.

Interested in learning more about our Coaching Certification program?
Visit us at: https://www.modernleadership.us/certification

Eastern for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the lessons we’ve learned by watching real coaches grow? Visit us at:

https://www.modernleadership.us/mastery

Episode Transcript

Speaker 0 (00:00):
So many new and experienced coaches feel like
they don't know enough to begreat.
What would you say to them?
I would say that belief holdsmore people back than anything
else, and it's not true.
Most people think that being areal coach just means you have a
lot of tools, a lot ofstructure, a lot of framework, a
whole ton of knowledge and awhole bunch of experience, and

(00:21):
all of those things are powerful, but they're not going to help
you when it comes to gettingstarted.
The real truth here, though, isthat great coaches don't know
more.
They notice more.
That's a powerful one, becausereal coaching is about presence,
not simply performance.
I want you to think about apowerful breakthrough that you
went through.
Most of the powerfulbreakthroughs that I've helped

(00:41):
somebody through happened whenwe slowed down and we both had
an opportunity to see what washappening.
It didn't have to do with anyimpressive question that I asked
, but it had everything to dowith just giving us the time and
space and presence so that wecould see what was actually
going on.
That's why today's quote is thebest.
Coaches don't impress you withwhat they know.

(01:02):
They change you by what theynotice.
What are some of the thingsthat great coaches notice that
others don't.
There's a couple of things, oneof which is body language.
When you see somebody lean in,when you see them lean out, when
you see them excited, when younotice that they are looking
down, these are all things thattell you what is actually going

(01:24):
on in your client's mind, and ifyou're not present with them,
you're going to miss it.
Another thing that I've seen iswords that certain coaches
glance over.
Like if I'm on a group call andI hear somebody say something
very specific, I won't glanceover it, I will call it out, but
you have to be present in orderto even hear those words.
And when you do and you askthat follow-up question, you'll

(01:44):
be amazed at how much thatactually helps the other person.
Now, inside of our certification, we talk you through a process
of how to be deeply present, soyou're there to coach the whole
body, not just the brain,because the truth is, the world
doesn't need more information,especially with all the AI out
there.
What they do need is moreclarity and presence.
I want you to think about thelast time you felt really

(02:06):
connected to someone and whatthat experience was like for you
.
Were they fully present?
Were they listening toeverything you were saying?
Were they watching your bodylanguage?
It's powerful.
What can unlock when somebodygives you that level of time,
energy and presence?
And I want to challenge you togo out there and do that today
too.
This is not just with coaching,but also with connection with

(02:27):
your family, your spouse, yourkids, people at work.
You'll be amazed at how muchyou get when you're just fully
present with them.
So today was truth number three.
If you missed truth number two,definitely go back and check it
out.
We talked about why coachingisn't about helping or fixing,
it's about leading.
And now that you know thatpresence matters more than

(02:50):
knowledge, here's the next trapthat a lot of coaches fall into,
and that's truth number four.
It's all about how trying to bethe best coach actually could
be making you worse.
We'll see you in episode four.