What’s truly holding you back as a coach? In this episode of The Coaching Hub Podcast, I dig into why your biggest limitation isn’t your clients or your coaching tools, it’s your own self-awareness.

I discuss the surprising truth that only a small percentage of people are genuinely self-aware, even though most of us think we know ourselves well. I share how self-awareness shapes every aspect of your coaching: how you relate, hold space, manage your energy, and respond in the moment.

Covering why having your own coach is essential - not just for learning new techniques, but to truly see your blind spots, evoke new insights, and grow into your identity as a coach. I break down the importance of supervision and mentor coaching as opportunities to reflect, challenge yourself, and get external feedback, all crucial steps for ongoing growth and mastery.

Ultimately, embracing self-awareness is the starting point, not the endpoint, of mastering your coaching practice.

What’s inside:

Why self-awareness is the key limitation and asset in your coaching practice
Why almost every coach should work with their own coach to build self-awareness
How coach training and using coaching techniques increase your self-awareness through reflection
Why emotional and nervous system regulation are crucial for understanding your own state as a coach
Supervision offers a sacred space for coaches to process their reactions and gain insights
Mentor coaching and observation help reveal blind spots and further develop coaching mastery
Growth as a coach depends on holding space for yourself as well as for your clients
Welcoming challenge and difficult feedback is essential for improving coaching skills

Key topics covered:

00:00 Intro: How do become more self aware as a coach?

00:24 Only 10-15% of people are truly self-aware

00:52 Working with your own coach is vital for personal insight and growth.

02:32 Building self-awareness helps coaches see patterns they might miss

02:49 Emotional and nervous system regulation is essential

03:44 Supervision provides a sacred space to process challenges and recognise patterns

04:36 Mentor coaching gives valuable external feedback through observed sessions

06:26 Therapy can help coaches recognise and manage their personal triggers

08:12 Self-awareness is an ongoing journey, not a destination

10:04 Discomfort or defensiveness in coaching signals there are areas for further development.

About Ruth Kudzi:

Ruth is the founder of Optimus Coaching Academy and a well-respected and successful coach, speaker and author who has worked across sectors including leadership, career and more recently business and mindset. She has over 10,000 coaching hours and has completed hundreds of hours of training and coaching supervision. Ruth is an MCC-level coach with the ICF and is our course director and CEO. Prior to becoming a coach, Ruth was a senior leader in education.