On this episode of the Coaching Studio

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Jonathan Passmore for a grounded conversation about coaching as a profession, how it has evolved, and what it takes to do it well in the real world. We start with his path: the early roles, the consulting years, and the move into academia, all shaped by a consistent interest in what actually supports human change, not just what sounds good in theory.

From there we look at the way coaching has shifted over the last two decades. It’s no longer an executive perk tucked inside leadership development. It’s increasingly used at scale inside organizations navigating strategy shifts, mergers, and technology change. Jonathan offers a clear view of what has improved, what has gotten diluted, and why the coaching relationship still matters when everything is moving fast.

We also spend time on the craft: what coaches need to notice, what gets missed when coaching becomes overly procedural, and why presence includes more than good questions. We talk about the role of the body in sense-making, and the importance of humor, not as performance, but as relational timing that builds trust.

AI comes in as one part of the bigger picture. We touch on what it can offer, where it falls short, and why ethics, governance, and discernment matter if coaching is going to expand responsibly. We close with a personal reflection: how this work has shaped Jonathan over time, and what he’s still practicing, especially the ongoing discipline of listening well.

Jonathan’s books – Pick them up today!

Jonathan is a chartered psychologist, holds 5 degrees and three professional qualifications. He has held board level roles in the public, private and not for profit sectors, and is professor of coaching at Henley Business School and Senior Vice President EZRA. He has published widely with over 45 books and 150 peer review journal papers making him one of the most published thinkers in coaching and people development.