
Mastering Coaching Skills
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!
Latest episodes

Jul 8, 2025 • 37min
245. Stop Hiding Your Coaching Failures: Why Transparency Creates Client Trust
Do you ever find yourself thinking, “No one can know I’m struggling with this”? I’ve been there. But this thought might be one of the most dangerous beliefs you can carry as a coach. It’s normal to think you can’t show vulnerability, but what I’ve learned over time is that transparency doesn’t make us less of a coach. It makes us more human and more relatable to our clients. In this episode, I dive into why trying to hide our fails from our clients only isolates us, increases pressure, and ultimately weakens our ability to serve them. I’ll also share how my own struggles with transparency have shaped my approach to coaching, and how embracing vulnerability has created deeper connections with my clients. Perfection is a myth, and it’s time we start normalizing the messy parts of coaching and business. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/245

Jul 1, 2025 • 27min
244. How to Access Your Genius as a Coach
What if the thing you’re best at is the one you’re overlooking because it feels too easy or too obvious? In this episode, I’m sharing a playful story about my two dogs (yes, really!) to help illustrate a powerful truth: your coaching genius is already within you. In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize the skills and traits that come naturally to you and why those are the exact things that can make your coaching stand out. I’ll walk you through real patterns I see in my clients (and myself), and help you reframe the belief that “if it’s easy, it can’t be valuable.” Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/244

Jun 24, 2025 • 18min
243. What Would You Do If There Was No Right Way?
What if the answer to most of your coaching questions isn’t a strategy, but a mindset? In this replay, I’m sharing one of the most powerful responses I give inside my programs and masterminds - one that applies to countless coaching challenges: “There’s no right way. Are you willing to figure it out?” Whether you’re unsure about your next offer, questioning your coaching style, or second-guessing your decisions, this episode will help you see where that one answer might apply to your current dilemma. I’ll walk you through common questions I hear all the time and show you how shifting into experimentation and curiosity can unlock your next step. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/243

Jun 17, 2025 • 42min
242. Reimagine Client Testimonials: A Coach's Guide
Many coaches hesitate to ask for testimonials, feeling they’re self-promotional or uncomfortable to request. This hesitation often comes from misunderstandings about what testimonials are really for. What if I told you they aren’t about you at all? In fact, testimonials are a gift - not only to you, but to your clients as well. What you're about to discover will transform how you think about, ask for, and use testimonials in your business. I'm sharing specific strategies, alternative approaches for different niches (yes, even the private ones), and why celebrating your clients' growth through testimonials actually deepens their transformation. Plus, you'll hear Amanda Gold's powerful testimonial at the end that demonstrates exactly what I mean about testimonials being a gift. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/242

Jun 10, 2025 • 44min
241. How Self-Blame Harms Your Coaching And How to Break Free
Dive into the struggles coaches face with self-blame and its crippling effects on their success. Discover how this mindset can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, keeping you stuck. Learn a powerful reframe question that helps break the cycle of self-judgment. Hear transformative stories of coaches who turned perceived flaws into strengths. Plus, gain practical tips on embracing authenticity and redirecting your thoughts, paving the way for personal growth and stronger client relationships.

Jun 3, 2025 • 32min
240. How to Conduct an Energy Audit to Transform Your Coaching Business
In this episode, I share a powerful yet simple method for evaluating what truly energizes you in your business. By conducting an energy audit, you'll identify which activities, clients, and tasks light you up versus drain you—so you can build a a coaching practice that feels aligned and sustainable. This process works for auditing everything from client sessions to content creation. By rating different aspects of your coaching practice, you'll discover where you can make strategic shifts in how you operate and transform your coaching business. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/240

May 27, 2025 • 27min
239. Signs Your Coaching Business Needs Strategic Reimagining
How do you know when it's time to reimagine your coaching business? After numerous conversations with colleagues and clients in my Reimagine program, I've noticed a pattern of coaches feeling exhausted, bored, or burnt out from doing the same things repeatedly without making strategic shifts when friction appears. In this episode, I share the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that indicate it's time for change in your coaching business. Whether you're experiencing resistance to certain tasks or feeling constant friction, this episode offers guidance on moving forward strategically and avoiding burnout while maintaining what works. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/239

May 20, 2025 • 54min
238. Astrology and AI for Coaches: A Conversation with Robin Langford
What happens when a strategy coach combines AI and astrology to help clients build better systems? Amazing things. In this episode, I sit down with Robin Langford (also known as WickedVeracity) for a fascinating conversation that weaves through multiple disciplines and approaches to coaching. In this episode, Robin shares insights about her coaching approach, her experience in my Reimagine Mastermind, and how she's expanding her business with new offers including an AI membership. You'll hear about the intersection of astrology, AI, and coaching, and how Robin uses these tools to help clients discover their unique design and create systems that work for them rather than trying to fit into someone else's mold. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/238

May 13, 2025 • 25min
237. 3 Steps to Reimagine Your Business
I'm buzzing with excitement about major shifts coming to my business, podcast, and offerings. While I can't reveal all the details just yet, I want to bring you along for the journey as these transformations unfold. These upcoming changes are inspired by my Reimagine process – a framework I've developed and used with clients that's now guiding my own business evolution. Today, I'm sharing the three essential steps of the Reimagine framework that can transform not just your coaching business but any area of your life. Whether you're looking to revamp an existing offer, create something entirely new, or help your clients navigate change, these steps provide a clear path forward. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/237

May 6, 2025 • 22min
236. 1:1 Coaching After Successfully Selling Group Programs: Are You Moving Backwards?
The discussion tackles the surprising skepticism around introducing one-on-one coaching in a thriving group setting. The host passionately defends this strategic decision, emphasizing it as a path of growth rather than regression. Tailored coaching solutions are highlighted as essential for business success, inspiring coaches to innovate and adapt. This engaging dialogue redefines adaptability and encourages listeners to align their services with personal values and market demands.