Master the Basics, Build the System: What Coaching Needs Next

In this special year-end episode of The Coaching Edge Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Steve Jeffs and Erwin de Grave reflect on launching the show in 2025, the unexpected depth that emerged from “coffee-style” conversations, and the recurring theme that coaching impact comes less from doing more and more from presence, patience, and responsiveness. They revisit a core insight heard repeatedly across guests: tools and methodologies matter—but what matters more is who the coach is in the moment, and how coach and client co-create outcomes from what’s emerging.

From the business side of C-squared (Coach + CEO), they underline the importance of clear structure—enough to get moving, like steering a ship that must first be in motion—while still leaving space for creativity. They clarify distinct roles many coaches blur: the coach delivering, the CEO building systems, and the business owner focused on profit and return. They also tackle the “selling” tension coaches often face, reframing it from a transactional exchange into a celebrated investment in outcomes, shifting from selling sessions to selling a journey from Point A to Point B.

Looking ahead to 2026, they explore AI as a tool (not a replacement for human connection), predict a renewed emphasis on mastery of basics (black-belt-level fundamentals), and call for greater professionalization and community in coaching—less lone-wolf, more connected learning and shared wisdom. The episode closes with a powerful reflection practice: not just reflecting on the year, but reflecting on your reflection—“As I read this, I notice…”—as a way to carry forward real learning into what’s next.

Watch the full episode: https://thecoachingedgepodcast.com/master-the-basics-build-the-system-what-coaching-needs-next/