Mastering Coaching Skills

Hosted by Lindsay Dotzlaf

Business Education

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Episodes

307

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

If you want to compete in the coaching industry, you need to be GOOD at coaching. But there are some things you simply couldn't know when you were training to be a coach - and while it's tempting to keep studying, take another course, or dive into a certification program, you really need to build the practical skills and confidence to handle whatever your clients throw at you. Each week life coach Lindsay Dotzlaf shares stories, tips and advice to continually develop your skills as a coach. She knows what it's like to feel overwhelmed and anxious about coaching in the moment, and will teach you why shifting your mindset around your own abilities as a coach will make all the difference. If you've got clients but want to become the absolute best coach you can be, you'll find answers, advice and support here. Learn more at lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com!

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60 recent

August 18, 202632 min

303. Unfinished: What You Don't See Behind the Scenes

It's easy to look at a polished performance and assume you're seeing the whole story. But behind those few minutes when everything looks effortless, there can be hours of preparation, exhaustion, mistakes, frustration, laughter, and people working together to make it all happen. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a weekend at my daughter's horse show and share why the experience had me thinking so much about coaching and entrepreneurship. From the realities you would never see watching a dressage event on TV to the struggles that happen behind closed doors in business, I explore what changes when you get to see what the experience actually looks like for everyone else. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/303 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

August 11, 202639 min

302. Unfinished: When Clients Don't Know What They Want Coaching On

One of the most common moments that makes coaches question themselves is when a client says, "I don't know what I want coaching on today." It can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even like something has gone wrong. But what if that moment is actually giving you valuable information? In this episode, I revisit one of the most popular episodes of the podcast with six years of additional coaching experience. I share how my thinking has evolved, why "I don't know" is often telling you something important, and exactly how I approach these moments before a coaching call, during a session, when it becomes a pattern, and even in group coaching. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/302 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

August 4, 202642 min

301. Unfinished: Why There's No Magical "There"

So many coaches believe there's a point where everything finally clicks, the messaging feels effortless, the self-doubt disappears, and running a business becomes easy. After 10 years in business, I've learned that there isn't a magical "there" waiting for you. In this first episode of my new Unfinished series, I share how these next 10 episodes will bridge the current podcast and the new chapter ahead, while looking back at three defining chapters of my own business journey. Along the way, I explore how my work has evolved, why my niche kept choosing me, how my clients shaped the direction of my business, and what can happen when you follow what feels aligned instead of relying on someone else's formula. For full show notes, transcript, and to submit your question, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/301 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

July 28, 202621 min

300. Beyond Core Beliefs: Why You Still Feel Stuck

What do you do when you know where you want to go, but you can't figure out why you keep getting stuck? Sometimes the answer isn't another mindset shift or a better strategy. The patterns holding you back may not be accessible through your conscious mind at all. As I celebrate Episode 300 of the podcast, I'm diving into the long-awaited follow-up to Episode 296 by exploring why you can still feel stuck even when you genuinely want to move forward. I explain how implicit memory and embodied patterns can influence your actions without you even realizing it, and how to recognize the kind of stuck you're actually experiencing. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/300 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

July 21, 20261 hr 3 min

299. When Your Dream Career Isn't Your Final Chapter with Jo Zakany

What happens when you've achieved your dream career, but you start feeling called toward something more? In this episode, I talk with performance and well-being coach Jo Zakany about her journey from spending 20 years as a violist with the Cleveland Orchestra to becoming a full-time coach for classical musicians. We explore how she navigated that transition, the role coaching played in helping her make the decision, and why building a life that reflects your values sometimes means writing a completely new chapter. For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/299 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Jo's work here: mindfulopus.com

July 14, 202644 min

298. Human Design, Coaching, & Finding Your Own Style with Amanda Stark

There are so many ways to approach coaching, business, and personal growth, but finding your own style can sometimes feel harder than learning the actual tools. In this episode, I talk with Amanda Stark, a coach who has helped hundreds of women put themselves first, about Human Design, coaching, and what it takes to build a business that actually fits your life and personality. We explore how Amanda uses Human Design alongside mindset coaching, what she learned from coaching inside another coaching community, and how she developed a coaching style that feels aligned with who she is. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/298 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

July 7, 202611 min

297. Powerful Prompts for Coming Back to Yourself

Sometimes your business can be working and still not feel like you . Maybe you have had your head down, doing the work, achieving the goals, and keeping things moving, only to look up and realize you feel a little lost. In this episode, I'm sharing powerful prompts for coming back to yourself, your work, and the reason you became a coach in the first place. These questions are designed to help you reconnect with what feels true, what matters most, and the kind of business you actually want to be building. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/297 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

June 30, 202636 min

296. 8 Coaching Strategies for Working Through Core Beliefs

There are certain thoughts that seem to show up at exactly the wrong time. Just when you're working toward something meaningful, they appear and sound so convincing that they feel like facts. Whether it's "I'm not good enough," "I'm not ready yet," or "I'm so far behind," these deeply ingrained beliefs can quietly shape the way you think, act, and coach. In this episode, I share eight coaching strategies for working through core beliefs, both for yourself and for your clients. I explore why these beliefs feel so true, how they become deeply practiced over time, and what to do when logic alone is not enough to loosen their grip. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/296 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

June 23, 202659 min

295. Simple Systems for a More Sustainable Coaching Business with Michelle MacNeil

Growing a coaching business can feel exciting until the way you're running it stops supporting the business you've built. If you're successful by most measures but constantly overwhelmed behind the scenes, the problem might not be motivation, discipline, or consistency. In this episode, I talk with Michelle MacNeil, a coach who teaches people systems and processes, about simple systems and how they can make your coaching business more sustainable. We discuss what happens when your business outgrows the way you've been managing it, why systems do not have to be complicated, and how to identify the places where your current processes are making things harder than they need to be. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/295 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Michelle's work: michellemacneil.com

June 16, 202658 min

294. What It Really Means to Have It All with Binie Klein

The idea of "having it all" can feel inspiring, unrealistic, or even frustrating depending on who you ask. For many ambitious women, it often feels like there is an invisible tradeoff between success, family, health, relationships, and the things that matter most. In this episode, I talk with colleague and client, Binie Klein, about what it really means to have it all and why the answer may be different than you think. We explore how Binie defines a fulfilling life, the role priorities play in shaping your choices, and why being intentional with your time is about much more than productivity. For full show notes, transcript, and to join the waitlist for Reimagine, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/294 Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf Learn more about Binie's work: binieklein.com