Coaching Under Pressure: How to Stay Calm, Focused, and Effective
Coaching is a deeply fulfilling profession, but let’s be honest—it can also be a bit of a pressure cooker. We hold space for our clients’ emotions, navigate unpredictable sessions, and somehow manage to stay composed while they have breakthroughs, breakdowns, or (on truly special days) both in the same hour.
Despite being a Master Coach, Coaching Supervisor, and general expert in “holding it together”, I am, in fact, still human. Which means I, too, experience stress. The difference? I now have a secret weapon… and a small, bearded stress-management guru named Indie.
The Science Bit (Because We’re Professionals, After All)
Stress isn’t always bad. Short bursts of it—aka “good stress” (eustress)—can boost focus, motivation, and performance. But when stress overstays its welcome, it hijacks our nervous system, making clear thinking and calm decision-making nearly impossible. Chronic stress shrinks our capacity for rational thought, creativity, and connection—all things essential for great coaching.
So, what can we do when we’re knee-deep in overwhelm? We could ignore it (spoiler: doesn’t work), or we could learn from Indie the Mini Schnauzer.
Shake It Off—Literally
Indie has a foolproof stress relief strategy. When something rattles him—a loud noise, an overenthusiastic Labrador, my attempt at singing—he shakes it off. Literally. A full-body wiggle, followed by trotting off as if nothing happened. Stress gone.
As humans, we tend to overcomplicate things. We hold onto stress, analyse it, and—if we’re feeling particularly unhelpful—spiral into catastrophic “what ifs.” What we need is a quick, reliable way to reset our frazzled minds and regain clarity.
Enter: Flower Flow.
The “Flower Flow” Tool: Stress Relief in Four Petals
This simple, powerful exercise helps coaches (and clients!) shift from stress overload to a calm, focused mindset. It’s like having a mental reset button—minus the rebooting time.
Here’s how it works:
- Draw a simple flower—a centre circle with four petals.
- Label each petal with What, When, Who, Where.
- In each petal, write down:
- What helps you feel calm and in flow?
- When do you feel most relaxed?
- Who helps you de-stress?
- Where do you feel most at peace?
- Pick one and do it. Ideally right now. (Unless you’re mid-session—then maybe wait.)
For example, my Full-Flower Calm™ would be:
🐕 What: Walking
🌲 Where: In the woods
🕰 When: Lunchtime
😂 Who: A fellow dog walker who makes me laugh—even when I’m ranting about my inbox
The final step? Find a visual reminder (a word, image, or mantra) and pop it in the centre of your flower. This is your “pause and reset” button for stress. Think of it like a warning light on your car dashboard. After all, you wouldn’t remove the bulb to stop the light annoying you, you’d go and get it sorted.
From Frazzled to Focused
The next time stress starts creeping in—whether in a high-stakes coaching session or just life in general—try Flower Flow. It’s a simple yet powerful way to recharge, refocus, and show up fully present for your clients (and yourself).
And if all else fails? Take a page from Indie’s book… and just shake it off.
P.S. Want More Tools Like This?
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